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DP39
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 Posted: Mon Apr 30, 2012 12:06 pm |
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Joined: Thu Mar 12, 2009 4:02 pm
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I've read a lot of comments here about our third round pick. Some of you seem to like the pick OK, but many don't. Almost all are somewhat puzzled by it though. I for one liked the pick when it happened as it reminded me of this Rob Rang article I read a while back. He's someone who is very good at his job, IMO. http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/story/17591213/three-linebackers-might-prove-to-be-equalizers-to-emerging-tight-endsSpence is one of only three OLB's in this draft that can fill a specific need...cover Athletic TE's. The other two LB's were drafted in the 52 and 58 spots respectively. Spence, IMO, would have never lastest past the 3rd round and anyone that thinks he would have needs to get with times and understand what's happening in todays NFL. It's simple supply and demand! I believe Scunge got it right when he posted this in one of the Spence Topics on the board as he may have read the same Rang article.... scunge wrote: New England has Hernandez and Gronk at TE, Baltimore has Dickson and Pitta, now Cincy has Gresham and Orson Charles at TE.
Then you look at all of the TEs last season and seasons past that just feast on the matchups, especially with the 1 on 1 with our LBers dropping into coverage.
In the Houston loss TE Owen Daniels had 5 catches for 69 yds, a 13.8 yd avg and 1 TD.
In the SF loss TE Davis had 6 catches for 72 yds, a 12.0 yd avg and 1 TD.
I am all for LeBeau and Tomlin taking a player like Spence to try and rectify our weakness against TEs. I don't put too much stock into the combine if a player was nursing an injury. He may come into training camp and just blow people away with his speed and quickness. The game is now full of specialists.
I expect Cortez Allen to be the starter opposite of Ike at corner and Curtis Brown to be the nickel back and he will probably play 65% of the snaps regardless. Spence could be the same way as Brown. A sub package player who plays a lot and allows LeBeau to experiment with Timmons and Troy even more.
To me this is out of the box thinking, and shows that defenses are beginning to take action to the new breed of TE in the NFL right now. The new NFL is all about matchups and I for one am glad our FO and Coaches are trying to stay ahead of the curve on this.
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The Immaculate Reception --- Michael Ord and Sharon Levosky
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ChicagoSteel
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Posted: Mon Apr 30, 2012 12:26 pm |
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Joined: Sat Apr 25, 2009 6:59 pm
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I just wrote in another thread that if DeCastro doesn't slip and we draft Hightower, the Spence experiment never happens.
It makes me wonder if they were planning on drafting HIghtower at all...drafting Spence is a bold, forward thinking move by the organization...if it works, LeBeau gets another feather in his cap and everyone will follow the 'Steelers' model.
Btw, one of the reasons people don't like him besides size is the fact that he only tossed 12 reps on the bench...but he is quoted as saying his shoulder was injured but he manned up and did the best he could anyway. Spence was a blue-chipper out of high school...top ranked at his position I believe. I have a hard time thinking that he couldn't do 12 reps in 12th grade, let alone now (if healthy).
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Crescat scientia; vita excolatur
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The Riddle of Steel
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Posted: Mon Apr 30, 2012 12:30 pm |
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Joined: Sun Sep 06, 2009 9:53 pm
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I agree we need a LB who can cover the big, strong, fast TEs but I don't see how Spence is big enough (5'11, 230 probably closer to 5'10 210) or strong enough (12 reps, supposed shoulder injury) or fast enough (4.71 40, supposed 'bad coaching')
I also don't buy his combine results are because he had a injured shoulder and injured hammy or whatever. If he was truly in such bad shape he would have been advised not to take part in the combine and sink his stock. It would have been smarter to let his gametape tell his story.
I will give him this - he looked real good in the 2 minute highlight clip of him but that was ENTIRELY him playing the run. I didn't see a single play of him dropping into coverage and certainly not against a big TE.
To me he looked like a poor man's Bob Sanders. Good in run support but I saw zero evidence he would be good in coverage against any receiver, elite TE or otherwise.
I challenge someone to show me a single clip of Spence in coverage - I haven't seen one.
_________________ "Dissent is the highest form of patriotism."
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DP39
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Posted: Mon Apr 30, 2012 12:44 pm |
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Joined: Thu Mar 12, 2009 4:02 pm
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He covered Gresham and L. Miller everyday in practice. I'd say they where a pretty good test.
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The Immaculate Reception --- Michael Ord and Sharon Levosky
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The Riddle of Steel
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Posted: Mon Apr 30, 2012 12:46 pm |
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DP39 wrote: He covered Gresham and L. Miller everyday in practice. I'd say they where a pretty good test. Limas Sweed was supposedly unstoppable in practice too. Still, the challenge stands...let's see a single clip of Spence covering someone during a real game. _________________ "Dissent is the highest form of patriotism."
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6pack4earnest
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Posted: Mon Apr 30, 2012 12:48 pm |
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Joined: Thu Mar 12, 2009 2:16 pm
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1. Spence looks like a guy who has that blitz timing down. Lebeau needs guys like this.
2. If the NFL is drifting toward a big nickel as a base to counter all the three and four WR sets, it's a good pick so our TE cover guy can play the run a little.
3. LB coach has already said the kid is not a buck LB. So assuming that is true the kid will back up Timmons and be featured in blitz packages until we figure out what he can do.
We drafted a football player. A guy that knows where to go on the field will be faster and better than a guy that has measurables and needs time to react.
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DP39
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Posted: Mon Apr 30, 2012 1:10 pm |
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Joined: Thu Mar 12, 2009 4:02 pm
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#2. BINGO.
For a while now, Pat Kirwin of NFL Radio, has been saying the one phrase he has been hearing more than any from NFL defensive personnel is.....BIG NICKEL!
Welcome the PS's 3rd round pick......Mr. Sean "Big Nickel" Spence.
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The Immaculate Reception --- Michael Ord and Sharon Levosky
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hardnosed
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Posted: Mon Apr 30, 2012 1:29 pm |
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Joined: Sat Feb 21, 2009 3:47 pm
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The Riddle of Steel wrote: Still, the challenge stands...let's see a single clip of Spence covering someone during a real game. I've seen around 40 full games of his during his career - he's excellent in coverage.
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SteelPerch
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Posted: Mon Apr 30, 2012 1:36 pm |
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Joined: Sun Mar 08, 2009 2:12 pm
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I like Spence the player, I question Spence as a traditional fit in this defense. If he is just a package player, I have a hard time justifying a 3rd round pick on him. I will withhold any judgements on the matter until I see how they use him and how he plays. Hopefully it all works out. I know it is a passing league now, but you need to be able to stop the run with 7 to get to passing situations. They lost in Denver because they had to sell out to stop the run.
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MikeyT4Prez
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Posted: Mon Apr 30, 2012 1:38 pm |
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Joined: Sat Sep 05, 2009 10:21 am
Posts: 250
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Browsing SteelerFury at work is getting a lot riskier now with all the Kate Upton pictures...
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