Strong Safety

Big C · 08-23-2004, 12:40 PM

We all know that Sean Taylor is going to be starting at FS, but who is going to be his partner at SS? Andre Lott has looked impressive, and in the madden games he is a SS, even tho he has been playing FS. Bowen has been dissapointing, but is the incumbent. Who do you think will start? Who should? My vote is for Andre. Im the president of his fan club hahahahaha

Redskins_P · 08-23-2004, 12:46 PM

it's tough call for me, because Bowen actually played pretty good against the Dolphins and Lott has really impressed me also. If I had to make a decision today, I'd go with Bowen simply because he has more experience. But we'll have to see how both Bowen and Lott continue to play in the last two preseason games.

Big C · 08-23-2004, 12:53 PM

if we were to develop both taylor and lott, theyd have a chance to play next to each other for a while, being so young, how much would that kick ass

ChounsMan · 08-23-2004, 12:54 PM

Bowens is way to aggressive & therefore blows his assignments & with a lack of great speed gets burned when the play goes outside.

I watched Bowens get beat, & beat badly. That's the reason the Packers let him sign elsewhere....

I'd give Lott the chance & use Bowens primarity on passing plays.

Hey, but what do I know...? :frusty:

SmootSmack · 08-23-2004, 12:55 PM

Isn't Lott, at 5'10", a bit too small to be playing strong safety?

Defensewins · 08-23-2004, 01:02 PM

Size helps but is not a must. Being a sure tackler, hard hitter and have smart coverage skills is just as important. There are plenty of smallish faster safety's in the NFL now. All-pro Safety Ed Reed is only 5', 11" and 200 pounds. Not much bigger than Andre.
Plus Andre Lott played college ball at Tennessee, so he has played against some good players.

Big C · 08-23-2004, 01:06 PM

rodney harrison is only 5'11

SmootSmack · 08-23-2004, 01:08 PM

Well then, I stand corrected

Big C · 08-23-2004, 01:11 PM

well he could just be one of those freaks who is an animal, just sayin that its not impossible.

Gmanc711 · 08-23-2004, 01:16 PM

I still think Bowen will line up at saftey for us. Hes got that smashmouth style to him, that Gibbs likes. Hopefully with the better coaching this year, he wont over persue so many assignments. I'd like to see Lott in on more of the passing downs, cause he's proboly got much better speed than Bowen.

Dana87 · 08-23-2004, 01:33 PM

I haven't been disapointed in Bowen at all. I actually think he looked pretty good last week.

cpayne5 · 08-23-2004, 01:43 PM

I agree. I think Taylor will be the FS with Bowen the SS. Lott will most likely back up Taylor with Franz backing up Bowen.

jbcjr14 · 08-23-2004, 01:47 PM

I think Bowen will be the SS. Lott is still young and will be a good backup. Don't forget the "great white hope" Todd Franz either!

jermus22 · 08-23-2004, 02:25 PM

Interesting thoughts on all sides. One thing to note: Strong safeties are typically bigger and more physical than free safeties. Strong safeties generally line up over the tight end and occasionally play up in the box like an extra linebacker. Free safeties often play center field or help cornerbacks in double coverage. As we all know, Sean Taylor is something of an anomaly, a player with linebacker's size and cornerback's speed, so he can play either position fairly easily; free safety suits him best because it allows him to use his ballhawking skills, coverage ability, and ferocious open-field hits to make more plays. At the SS, Bowen is better suited to start than Lott simply because of the size/tackling factor. I'm not saying Lott isn't a good tackler, but coaches have been encouraging him to be more physical.
One possibility (going back to Gibbs earlier days) is to rotate safeties depending on down/distance situation. Alvin Walton, though never a big player, started at strong safety from 1987-1990, and I'm pretty sure he led the team in tackles every year. He was known mainly for his ability to flatten people (a.k.a. The Crushin' Kansan), but the team sometimes replaced him in passing situations or used him to blitz (he sacked John Elway twice in Super Bowl XXII). Of course, we no longer have Richie Pettibon as defensive coordinator so maybe I have no clue what I'm talking about. Regardless, I think Bowen will start at SS, but I expect to see a lots of Lott in the dime.

FRPLG · 08-23-2004, 02:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ChounsMan

I watched Bowens get beat, & beat badly. That's the reason the Packers let him sign elsewhere....

I'd give Lott the chance & use Bowens primarity on passing plays.

Hey, but what do I know...? :frusty:

Bowen is a much better run defender than pass defender. At strong he can be an extra LB and cover the less athletic tightends. We are in trouble when he gets matched against Shockey or a wideout. That's why Taylor plays Free we can bounce him around and let him play center field. Lott brings no value at the Strong position since he doesn't offer the physicallity that Williams is going to want in an aggressive defense. Taylor and Bowen start the year and I bet Franz evens gets a nod at STrong before Lott does.

08-23-2004, 12:40 PM	#1
Big C Mr. Brightside Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Leesburg, VA Age: 38 Posts: 4,453	Strong Safety We all know that Sean Taylor is going to be starting at FS, but who is going to be his partner at SS? Andre Lott has looked impressive, and in the madden games he is a SS, even tho he has been playing FS. Bowen has been dissapointing, but is the incumbent. Who do you think will start? Who should? My vote is for Andre. Im the president of his fan club hahahahaha

08-23-2004, 12:54 PM	#4
ChounsMan Special Teams Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Connecticut Age: 53 Posts: 312	Bowens is way to aggressive & therefore blows his assignments & with a lack of great speed gets burned when the play goes outside. I watched Bowens get beat, & beat badly. That's the reason the Packers let him sign elsewhere.... I'd give Lott the chance & use Bowens primarity on passing plays. Hey, but what do I know...? :frusty: __________________ Throwing on 4th and inches..!

08-23-2004, 12:55 PM	#5
SmootSmack Uncle Phil Join Date: Feb 2004 Posts: 45,256	Isn't Lott, at 5'10", a bit too small to be playing strong safety? __________________ You're So Vain...You Probably Think This Sig Is About You

08-23-2004, 01:08 PM	#8
SmootSmack Uncle Phil Join Date: Feb 2004 Posts: 45,256	Well then, I stand corrected __________________ You're So Vain...You Probably Think This Sig Is About You

08-23-2004, 01:43 PM	#12
cpayne5 Playmaker Join Date: Feb 2004 Posts: 3,807	I agree. I think Taylor will be the FS with Bowen the SS. Lott will most likely back up Taylor with Franz backing up Bowen. __________________ "It's not about what you've done, but what's been done for you."

08-23-2004, 12:46 PM	#2
Redskins_P Fight for old DC! Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Aldie, VA Age: 46 Posts: 4,101	it's tough call for me, because Bowen actually played pretty good against the Dolphins and Lott has really impressed me also. If I had to make a decision today, I'd go with Bowen simply because he has more experience. But we'll have to see how both Bowen and Lott continue to play in the last two preseason games.

08-23-2004, 12:53 PM	#3
Big C Mr. Brightside Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Leesburg, VA Age: 38 Posts: 4,453	if we were to develop both taylor and lott, theyd have a chance to play next to each other for a while, being so young, how much would that kick ass

08-23-2004, 01:02 PM	#6
Defensewins Playmaker Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Houston, Texas Posts: 3,749	Size helps but is not a must. Being a sure tackler, hard hitter and have smart coverage skills is just as important. There are plenty of smallish faster safety's in the NFL now. All-pro Safety Ed Reed is only 5', 11" and 200 pounds. Not much bigger than Andre. Plus Andre Lott played college ball at Tennessee, so he has played against some good players.

08-23-2004, 01:06 PM	#7
Big C Mr. Brightside Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Leesburg, VA Age: 38 Posts: 4,453	rodney harrison is only 5'11

08-23-2004, 01:11 PM	#9
Big C Mr. Brightside Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Leesburg, VA Age: 38 Posts: 4,453	well he could just be one of those freaks who is an animal, just sayin that its not impossible.

08-23-2004, 01:16 PM	#10
Gmanc711 Thank You, Sean. Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Gaithersburg, MD Age: 39 Posts: 7,506	I still think Bowen will line up at saftey for us. Hes got that smashmouth style to him, that Gibbs likes. Hopefully with the better coaching this year, he wont over persue so many assignments. I'd like to see Lott in on more of the passing downs, cause he's proboly got much better speed than Bowen.

08-23-2004, 01:33 PM	#11
Dana87 Special Teams Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Saint Augustine, Florida Age: 63 Posts: 130	I haven't been disapointed in Bowen at all. I actually think he looked pretty good last week.

08-23-2004, 01:47 PM	#13
jbcjr14 The Starter Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Austin, Texas Age: 54 Posts: 2,015	I think Bowen will be the SS. Lott is still young and will be a good backup. Don't forget the "great white hope" Todd Franz either! __________________ "Work Harder: millions on welfare are counting on you" - Obama 2009 address to Congress.

08-23-2004, 02:25 PM	#14
jermus22 Special Teams Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Martinsburg, WV Age: 42 Posts: 334	Bowen will start; Lott will see lots of action Interesting thoughts on all sides. One thing to note: Strong safeties are typically bigger and more physical than free safeties. Strong safeties generally line up over the tight end and occasionally play up in the box like an extra linebacker. Free safeties often play center field or help cornerbacks in double coverage. As we all know, Sean Taylor is something of an anomaly, a player with linebacker's size and cornerback's speed, so he can play either position fairly easily; free safety suits him best because it allows him to use his ballhawking skills, coverage ability, and ferocious open-field hits to make more plays. At the SS, Bowen is better suited to start than Lott simply because of the size/tackling factor. I'm not saying Lott isn't a good tackler, but coaches have been encouraging him to be more physical. One possibility (going back to Gibbs earlier days) is to rotate safeties depending on down/distance situation. Alvin Walton, though never a big player, started at strong safety from 1987-1990, and I'm pretty sure he led the team in tackles every year. He was known mainly for his ability to flatten people (a.k.a. The Crushin' Kansan), but the team sometimes replaced him in passing situations or used him to blitz (he sacked John Elway twice in Super Bowl XXII). Of course, we no longer have Richie Pettibon as defensive coordinator so maybe I have no clue what I'm talking about. Regardless, I think Bowen will start at SS, but I expect to see a lots of Lott in the dime.

Strong Safety

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