The Hawks should look next year for a top CB IF available. The fact that Devon has a quick switch understanding the game from the CB position means he can further evaluate and scope the field better as a safety. He is a perfect example of a secondary conversion. Thoughts.
Witherspoon to become Lott.
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toffee
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Are you saying his chance of HOF is more likely as safety than CB?
onanygivensunday
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Interesting.
Has he ever played safety before? Anybody know?
Has he ever played safety before? Anybody know?
Lagartixa
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I mentioned that I thought he looked like a safety in a comment in another thread (click through; the only text in the preview is from the comment I quoted at the beginning of my comment):
1st Round #5 Pick CB Illinois, Devon Witherspoon
That stat is useless, as is Hugh Millen. Did Hugh give the stat about 6’5 225lbs QBs who fail in the nfl?
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Yes. I believe he can become a fabulous safety if granted.
I’m not sure. But being part of a secondary crew you understand the requirements of that defensive sector. He gets it. It’s not like he’s a WR converting. The tools before him as in the coaching staff can manage his transition if that’s on the table. Remember. It’s only my opinion. If he stays a CB it’s all good.
He did I believe in HS. The story I heard on one of the many reviews of our draft, said his first practice of HS as a JR, he got like 3 INT. The coach looked at him and said you are my new starting safety.
onanygivensunday
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Nice... but does a 181 lb. Safety have enough sand in his pants?
Diggs is 200, Earl was 202, Adams is 215, Lott was 203, and Polamalu was 207.
sc85sis
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Pete compared him to Troy in his mental makeup, not his play.
onanygivensunday
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Interesting. I thought that his comparison was how Polamalu saw/read the play before it happened and made many major plays because of his inherent elite football instincts.
Bobblehead
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Good corner backs don't want to be safetys.. The money is being a CB.. why would he want to drop his earning power?
Mick063
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You nailed it. He isn't nearly big enough to play run support in the box. He would get subjected to a needless physical beating. I don't know how his speed compares to Earl Thomas, but I could see Witherspoon raising similar hell in the "Robber" mode as a free safety. I mean if you wanted to waste his talents at safety, he would probably be much better suited for that role. Seattle doesn't play that style of defense as much anymore though.
As a slot corner, he would be in much better position to anticipate. Seattle has a notoriously bad historical track record of covering backs out of the backfield. It goes all the way back to the LOB days. Their loss to the Patriots in the Super Bowl can be directly attributed to wheel routes killing an otherwise stout defense. The Rams, typically mediocre under Fischer, were still a major pain in the ass because Fischer knew to game plan around wheel routes. His backs ALWAYS had a receiving field day against Seattle, and I think that is where Belichick got clued in for his Super Bowl strategy.
Witherspoon, from the slot, may be the best answer for that yet. Not because he would primarily cover backs from the slot (he wouldn't), but because he reads and anticipates so well, that he could reliably leave his primary coverage of the slot receiver early and blow up the wheel routes to the running back as they happen. Not only that, but blow-up bubble screens aimed at the "X", take on jet sweeps, force the read option QB runs, switch on "rub" routes, etc. There is a ton of help that a slot corner with a Polamalu type anticipation could really help with.
Really, the guy is so good, he could do well at the boundary as well, but I think the team is better off using Michael Jackson there and utilizing Witherspoon at the slot.
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Kam played at 225 pounds and hit like he was 260...
Spoon has similar intensity but doesn't have the physical makeup to disrupt the game in the same way Kam did. (and yes I've seen his famous highlight).
Over thinking it, I think. He's a top notch CB, and basically might give us 2 top tier CBs and let QBs pick a side.
Maybe later in his career, but not now. His run support, which I hear is pretty good, will be a good asset on the outside as well.
Maybe later in his career, but not now. His run support, which I hear is pretty good, will be a good asset on the outside as well.
