Healthy Thurmond - nice article

[Jazzhawk]

http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20130730/SPORTS/707309957/1018/sports09#A-sign-of-whats-to-come

with all Thurmond has been through so far make him a training camp story just about everyone can get behind. The talent is there, it always has been, but the question now is what kind of role he can carve out for himself in a loaded secondary. Thurmond is versatile enough to play every position, so at the very least he is an incredibly valuable backup, but the Seahawks see him as more than that. After all, Thurmond was ahead of eventual All-Pro Richard Sherman back in 2011, and Sherman only got his shot following Thurmond's broken leg. That's not to say Sherman is in danger of losing his job, it's just a reminder of what kind of talent the Seahawks have on their hands.

"He's healthy," Carroll said. "He looks really good, that he's really confident about his health. He's got extraordinary quickness, an explosive play-making mentality -- he takes chances at the right time. He's a playmaker. He's started for us, he's played great for us. To have him really feeling good is the best part. He feels great. Physically he's really on his game right now, so it gives him a chance to really battle for front-line playing time."

 

[SoulfishHawk]

If he somehow could finally get on the field and stay on the field, what a huge addition that is. Fingers crossed

 

[Tech Worlds]

Who's this guy?

 

[JesterHawk]

Time to start cross training Browner at LB and SS.

 

[hawker84]

If he can stay healthy, is this BB's last year as a seahawk? what an awsome position we're in with this defense... love it.

 

[seahawk 17]

Watched him ball at Oregon, great player...just can't stay healthy. Hope this season finally works out for him.

 

[SmokinHawk]

Jeez man. With Thurmond healthy, we are five deep in top quality cornerbacks. When Jeremy Lane, after performing admirably in Browner's absence, is the fifth best corner on your team, that is a great problem to have. Even Byron Maxwell could start on a team such as the Patriots.

 

[mikeak]

That is right - pump him up in the media, play him in the preseason and he looks fantastic - trade for a 2nd round pick!

 

[SoulfishHawk]

You can bet that Gus Bradley will be the first to swoop up one of our corners when the time comes.

 

[dbsn2420]

You just know there's several teams with an eye on the guys we'll have to let go. This years cut downs are really going to suck!

 

[SoulfishHawk]

Yep, what a great problem to have. This team has come so damn far since Mora

 

[HawKnPeppa]

I hope Walt has a great year and stays in excellent health. What I mean by great year is Winfield rides pine and serves as a veteran mentor. I acknowledge his lights-out tackling ability against the run, but I also feel the Hawks will get torn up by slot receivers because Winfield is older and slower now. I have that scouting report straight from a seahawks player, who's name I won't divulge. Thurmond might not tackle as well, but even if that's so, I doubt the drop-off will be much.

 

[formido]

I hope Walt has a great year and stays in excellent health. What I mean by great year is Winfield rides pine and serves as a veteran mentor. I acknowledge his lights-out tackling ability against the run, but I also feel the Hawks will get torn up by slot receivers because Winfield is older and slower now. I have that scouting report straight from a seahawks player, who's name I won't divulge. Thurmond might not tackle as well, but even if that's so, I doubt the drop-off will be much.

I hope your source is wrong and Winfield wins it because he's a future Hall of Famer who played at an elite level last year according to PFF and Advanced NFL Stats, and as talented as Thurmond is, it's pretty doubtful he's a future Hall of Famer.

Winfield was the best corner in the NFL last year in run support and the best graded overall corner by PFF, who chart and grade every player on every play. Absolute speed is probably less important than instincts and experience in run support.

And here's some information from Advanced NFL Stats:

2012 Success Count: leaders at all defensive positions (including playoffs):
Watt: 121
NaVorro Bowman: 108
Muhammad Wilkerson: 71
Justin Smith: 66
Antoine Winfield: 64
Eric Berry: 55
[ http://wp.advancednflstats.com/defenderstats.php ]

Perhaps these sites and all Minnesota fans are wrong. Perhaps Winfield has fallen off a cliff in 6 months or whatever. But that would really suck because I was hoping we were getting close to last year's Winfield and last year's Winfield is almost certainly a bigger difference maker than Thurmond.

Of course, if Winfield is a liability against the fastest slot receivers and Thurmond is a comparative liability against teams without elite slot receivers, they can split time.

Another reason to prefer Winfield playing is that this is his 4th year, so if he plays well, we will lose him to another team as we can't afford him.

 

[Tical21]

I just took a video of this thread for my vault. Walter Thurmond III is healthy!!! This is like the Halley's comet of the NFL world.

And oh yeah, Winfield is sick!! Been a big fan of his for years.

I'm just tired of the "what if" game with Thurmond. I trust our FO and all, and of course I like his flashes, but if Lane and/or Simon play well and Thurmond makes the team over them, I will be a little irked.

 

[MizzouHawkGal]

I am not even sure Simon will get a shot at this point given he is still on the PUP list and all the other CB's seem to be playing lights out.