Tale Of The Tape: Free Safety

[KendrickPanther]

pretty much none of this is going to matter in training camp or in the season.

only people looking at this are people making threads and people getting sucked into reading said threads.

That's a lazy and easy response. Being taller, jumping higher, running faster, and having more live experience always matter in training camp and games. It's an open competition but Martin clearly has the advantage going in.

[Jesse]

That's a lazy and easy response. Being taller, jumping higher, running faster, and having more live experience always matter in training camp and games. It's an open competition but Martin clearly has the advantage going in.

Yes he does; he knows the playbook, calls, and has the experience. However, Nakamura and Smith don't have the baggage that Rivera and JR hold with Martin.

[Raskle]

Coach is going to pick who he picks... whomever that is, I feel confident that RR is not going to let them just slide once named starter. I expect a decent improvement this year out of the secondary, with a wishful thinking of actually being good together. I know, I know.. I'm getting my hopes up too high, but I can't help myself.

[Razeyfingers]

Lol yeah compare the stats, thatll tell you everything. Just wait until training camp man, use your eyeballs.

[chef17]

Martin is another one of those 3rd year players. Maybe this will be his year. He has the talent. Maybe a full off season of solid teaching will help mold that talent into a skilled player. I would hate to think he has not worked his butt off this year to prove he deserves that starters spot. IMO, it is his to lose.

Anyway it goes, we at least have some depth.

On a side note. Some have speculated on what kind of schemes Rivera is looking to run. IMO, If you can think it, he may run it. My personal favorite. 4 linemen, 4 backers, 2 CBs, and a safety. Or a 2-4-5 in nickle situations. I see so many posibilities it is damm near mind boggling. But then again, that could just be me. Afterall, I did live throught the sixties.

New secondary coach. A full offseason to grow. Actually competition. Sounds like improvement to me.

I am glad I live within walking distance to training camp. Cuz this shiz is going to be crazy fun.

Martin is actually one of those 4th year players.

[cultclassiccat]

It'l be a great rotation either way. Same w the d line.

[LinvilleGorge]

Our safety play was abysmal last year and we went out and signed two veteran free agent safeties. Folks, this isn't the John Fox regime anymore. Every position has to be earned. If you don't produce, you WILL be replaced. The Nakamura and Smith signings were most certainly a shot across the bow for not only Martin, but Godfrey as well IMO.

[Thorrez]

Comparing safeties what matters are:

1. Blown assignments (I am looking at you Godfrey)

2. Missed tackles

3. Closer speed

As this is never in the stats we have no way of knowing without watching old games, and even that is hard as we rarely get overview camera angles.

[xerxes]

Q: Sherrod Martin?

RICHARDSON: What about him?

Q: What do you think about him?

RICHARDSON: I think he plays safety.

Once you're in JR's dog house, I think the writing is on the wall. I mean when JR nicknamed Clausen 'Doughboy', you knew that wasn't destined to last.

At this point, I'm hoping the new secondary coach can make him not suck enough till we find his replacement. If that's Reggie Smith or Nakamora great, but we need a long term solution back there.

[jarhead]

Martin did suck last year and showed promise the year before.That points to one of 2 things he has lost his desire or he was confused with what the coaches wanted him to do.My guess is the latter but that does not guarantee he will get it this year either.With the exception of Gamble the whole secondary was bad.

[Stroupe-a-loop]

I think more people are excited about Reggie Smith, name blandness and all. I trust the coaching staff to come up with some combination of guys that perform decently. We've had dudes like Colin Branch and Shaun Williams back there before and they weren't losing games for us. They weren't really helping, but they weren't killing us every week.

[CRA]

Martin should worry no one anymore than Godfrey does....

Yet that isn't the case.

Both are starting safties have the ability to be good S. Neither are short on talent. I am beginning to question both of their football IQs though.

[CatMan72]

I want to see a comparison of their blown coverage and missed tackle stats...

I haven't anointed Nakamura, but he has been Ed Reed's understudy for several years so I'm hoping some of that rubbed off on him. At worst, he's a ST stud and will be able to make major contributions in that phase of the game.

[Untouchable]

Steve Wilks should do wonders for the secondary in general. I don't expect Martin to lose his job but if he does it will be to a better player.