Rookie growing pains no longer an issue

[CRA]

I hope you are right rayzor. I have been VERY hard on Godfrey but if he continue to take steps like he did last year he could work out to be a very good player. He just was painful to watch as he simply didn't look to improve from year 1 to year 2.....but I guess a new defense could have delayed a young guy still getting use to the position.

I still want to see much more improvement from him as an open field tackler though.

[panthers55]

I hope you are right rayzor. I have been VERY hard on Godfrey but if he continue to take steps like he did last year he could work out to be a very good player. He just was painful to watch as he simply didn't look to improve from year 1 to year 2.....but I guess a new defense could have delayed a young guy still getting use to the position.

I still want to see much more improvement from him as an open field tackler though.

In all fairness he had to learn a new scheme last year and obviously needed more time than guys like Martin who seemed to pick it up faster. When he came back after watching and studying he obviously had a better grasp. Hopefully he is even better this year and doesn't have to start off slow if he has to transition from FS to SS. Otherwise it wouldn't be inconceivable that Martin plays SS and Godfrey play FS especially if Martin seems to pick things up faster and is more instinctive.

[The Don]

In all fairness he had to learn a new scheme last year and obviously needed more time than guys like Martin who seemed to pick it up faster. When he came back after watching and studying he obviously had a better grasp. Hopefully he is even better this year and doesn't have to start off slow if he has to transition from FS to SS. Otherwise it wouldn't be inconceivable that Martin plays SS and Godfrey play FS especially if Martin seems to pick things up faster and is more instinctive.

I think you guys have pretty much hit the nail on the coffin, but maybe I can clear it up a bit. What we're all trying to get at is that Godfrey played an entire season under Trgo, then Meeks comes in with an entirely different playbook. Which is where Sherrod Martin gets his break. Martin comes straight out of college as a rookie, into a new system... whereas Godfrey came out of college, learned a playbook, then had to scratch the entire playbook and start all over... so he was basically a rookie too, but he still had Trgo's playbook in the back of his mind. After he got the time to sit back and watch last season, he started to grasp the concept of what Meeks was looking for. Now that he knows the playbook better, I think it'll be night and day out there for him this season.

And seriously though... Sherrod Martin is gonna be our Ed Reed. I already know it. I'm calling 8 INT's for Martin this season. At least 8.

[PantherDude]

Good read on Martin. I like what we seen from him by getting some INT. from the opposing teams QB. Smart dude with being at the right place & the right time to get the balls. Can't wait to see more of that this season soon. :thumbsup:

[CRA]

I think you guys have pretty much hit the nail on the coffin, but maybe I can clear it up a bit. What we're all trying to get at is that Godfrey played an entire season under Trgo, then Meeks comes in with an entirely different playbook. Which is where Sherrod Martin gets his break. Martin comes straight out of college as a rookie, into a new system... whereas Godfrey came out of college, learned a playbook, then had to scratch the entire playbook and start all over... so he was basically a rookie too, but he still had Trgo's playbook in the back of his mind. After he got the time to sit back and watch last season, he started to grasp the concept of what Meeks was looking for. Now that he knows the playbook better, I think it'll be night and day out there for him this season.

I'd rather see Martin at SS the more I think about it.

And seriously though... Sherrod Martin is gonna be our Ed Reed. I already know it. I'm calling 8 INT's for Martin this season. At least 8.

the only problem I had with Godfrey (I can accept being out of position b/c of a lack of grasping different new NFL schemes) but the fact he simply looked so sad at times with basics. Like open field tackling.....scheme and playbooks are thrown at the window. He just seemed to bad at a lot of basics for a S. People got excited about his FFs but those weren't open field tackles and those types he where you are going for a big hit not wrapping up are often go wrong.

[panthers55]

the only problem I had with Godfrey (I can accept being out of position b/c of a lack of grasping different new NFL schemes) but the fact he simply looked so sad at times with basics. Like open field tackling.....scheme and playbooks are thrown at the window. He just seemed to bad at a lot of basics for a S. People got excited about his FFs but those weren't open field tackles and those types he where you are going for a big hit not wrapping up are often go wrong.

Being out of position and tackling with poor technique are often related. First he has to think where he should be and is out of position so the receiver is wide open. He then tries to make up for it by getting here and causing a fumble which caused him to press and easily get faked out of his jock. So he not only looks lost but then looks foolish to boot. All of that is negated if he is where he should be which either allows him to defend the pass or at least make the tackle and limit YAC.

Just sayin......................

[CRA]

Being out of position and tackling with poor technique are often related. First he has to think where he should be and is out of position so the receiver is wide open. He then tries to make up for it by getting here and causing a fumble which caused him to press and easily get faked out of his jock. So he not only looks lost but then looks foolish to boot. All of that is negated if he is where he should be which either allows him to defend the pass or at least make the tackle and limit YAC.

Just sayin......................

I don't know man, there is tons of footage of him just almost pointlessly throwing his body around prior to that injury last season. Don't get me wrong, I hear you and agree to some extent......kid still has a lot of improvement to make imo before we should feel comfortable we have the S spots locked up for a bit.

Martin needs to prove he is the guy we saw in that small window also.