I'm rooting for Shead to get the callup

[kearly]

Rumors are swirling about veterans Marcus Trufant, Antoine Winfield, and Perrish Cox. Trufant would be coming out of unofficial retirement, Winfield would be coming out of actual retirement, and Cox, while in his athletic prime, has already been released by two other teams, including the 49ers less than two weeks ago. The 49ers, who's corner group constitutes their defense's weakest area, released Cox to make room for Nick Moody. Who? Exactly.

Meanwhile, we somehow lucked out into keeping DeShawn Shead on our practice squad this year. Back during the preseason when it felt like we had 8 or 9 good corners, Shead seemed roughly as good as guys like Maxwell or Blackmon, and I figured there was no way he'd clear waivers. He did, and right now I think Seattle would be a little crazy to not use him. And with Shead, you don't have worry about him being too old or two slow. He's a good prospect with a clean slate.

And though I really liked Tharold Simon as a prospect, he was mistake prone in college and he missed the entire preseason. As much as I like his talent, counting on him before he's ready would not be the best idea.

So for me, I think the obvious choice here should be Shead. I'm guessing they go with one of the other three guys though.

 

[bestfightstory]

Me, too.

Carroll will get the best guy, but a rags to riches story would do wonders right about now.

 

[raisethe3]

I really had high hope on Tharold Simon. Dude has the built of our "required" corner. He's 6' 2" or 6' 3"? And can play the press.

But yes, he's young and have yet to play an NFL game. So throwing him in there isn't the best idea. But maybe perhaps again the NYG, AZ or STL games? I mean like like "garbage" minutes, especially when we're winning by a significant amount of points?

What do you think?

 

[HawkFan72]

I hope the signing of Winfield is official, and I hope we sign Shead as well. Those two would be the perfect solution.

 

[ImTheScientist]

I really had high hope on Tharold Simon. Dude has the built of our "required" corner. He's 6' 2" or 6' 3"? And can play the press.

But yes, he's young and have yet to play an NFL game. So throwing him in there isn't the best idea. But maybe perhaps again the NYG, AZ or STL games? I mean like like "garbage" minutes, especially when we're winning by a significant amount of points?

What do you think?

Shead is 6'2" 220 lbs

 

[Coug_Hawk08]

Wasn't Shead working more as the backup safety, just to make the team? I thought thats when he got the pick in preseason, at safety.

Even if he did get called up as a CB, has he ever played the slot? We don't really have a shortage of outside guys. Need a quality inside guy, Sheads not it.

 

[SeaTown81]

I hope the signing of Winfield is official, and I hope we sign Shead as well. Those two would be the perfect solution.

That would be my approach as well. Some youth, and some experience.

There's no way Simon gets the call. I don't think he's ever even practiced with the Hawks yet.

 

[DavidSeven]

I have a feeling that Shead is a lock to get called up. The question is who is taking the second spot (potentially) opened up by Browner's suspension. My second feeling is that Winfield is Plan A for that spot. Trufant and Cox are getting worked out in case Winfield turns them down. Shead is on the roster either way.

 

[cacksman]

Like my compadre above me asked, can Shead play the slot?

 

[The Outfield]

I hope the signing of Winfield is official, and I hope we sign Shead as well. Those two would be the perfect solution.

I hope the same. Winfield and Shead sounds like the best combination to me.

 

[RezHawk]

Wasn't Shead working more as the backup safety, just to make the team? I thought thats when he got the pick in preseason, at safety.

Even if he did get called up as a CB, has he ever played the slot? We don't really have a shortage of outside guys. Need a quality inside guy, Sheads not it.

Sheads measurable do seem more suited to safety. Kind of a scary thought but maybe they could let ET play some slot corner and put Shead at safety.

 

[NFSeahawks]

Wasn't Shead working more as the backup safety, just to make the team? I thought thats when he got the pick in preseason, at safety.

Even if he did get called up as a CB, has he ever played the slot? We don't really have a shortage of outside guys. Need a quality inside guy, Sheads not it.

Sheads measurable do seem more suited to safety. Kind of a scary thought but maybe they could let ET play some slot corner and put Shead at safety.

Eh... We might find out real quick why ET is the best in the business at safety.

I don't know anything about Shead, i just know ET is amazing and it would be hard to get the same production there from someone else.

Would be nice if Simon panned out.

 

[kearly]

I have a feeling that Shead is a lock to get called up. The question is who is taking the second spot (potentially) opened up by Browner's suspension. My second feeling is that Winfield is Plan A for that spot. Trufant and Cox are getting worked out in case Winfield turns them down. Shead is on the roster either way.

Good point. It seems likely Seattle will sign at least two corners. I just can't see them signing only 1 of them and then going into the Saints game with just four total corners.

 

[Pie Romania]

Shead is a 2" shorter, faster & younger Brandon Browner project. He's had time to take in knowledge and I too would like to see what we have in him. 6'2" 220lbs and a 4.49 40 is outstanding. He has the size to manhandle receivers on the line and the speed to keep up with most in coverage. Before all this corner drama, I had anticipated him being Earl's backup next season as his speed gives him range and his size allows him to "bring the boom" as well. If he can be similar to Browner in his physicality, or even be in the same arena, I am confident that he can't be much worse than Browner in terms of coverage. Browner got beat by quicker receivers too often and wouldn't turn his head to locate the ball. Most of his interceptions came on extremely poor or tipped passes and seemingly fluke plays (I do give props on his awareness in those situations). I think, with the Saints coming up, I'd match Shead up on either Jimmy Graham or Marques Colston. Might seem like a bit too much to ask, but I think he'd do well and instantly get some recognition by the media for coming in basically as a nobody and doing well against well known players. His size would allow him not to be pushed around like others would and he wouldn't get burned (especially by Colston) unless he bit hard on a route and they blew by him.

Put Sherman on whoever he's not covering of the 2 I listed. Maxwell/Lane on Stills and Meachum. Hell, we could possibly put Earl on Stills in the slot with Shead playing FS, but that obviously depends on how each have looked in their limited time at the positions. 220lbs of 4.49 having 10-15 yards to build up steam is going to hurt. The option next to him would be 232lbs of 4.62 though, lol.

 

[Hendo66]

I really had high hope on Tharold Simon. Dude has the built of our "required" corner. He's 6' 2" or 6' 3"? And can play the press.

But yes, he's young and have yet to play an NFL game. So throwing him in there isn't the best idea. But maybe perhaps again the NYG, AZ or STL games? I mean like like "garbage" minutes, especially when we're winning by a significant amount of points?

What do you think?

Aren't you that guy from crocodile tears?

 

[rjdriver]

I really had high hope on Tharold Simon. Dude has the built of our "required" corner. He's 6' 2" or 6' 3"? And can play the press.

But yes, he's young and have yet to play an NFL game. So throwing him in there isn't the best idea. But maybe perhaps again the NYG, AZ or STL games? I mean like like "garbage" minutes, especially when we're winning by a significant amount of points?

What do you think?

I think there are not going to be any garbage minutes, where we're winning by a significant amount of points against NYG, AZ, OR STL. All pretty decent teams. It's going to be a battle to finish strong.

 

[thebanjodude]

Here's another vote for Winfield and Shead.

 

[Throwdown]

Didn't Sidney Rice and Sherman praise Shead as one of the hardest working dudes on the team? I know Rice said last season that him and Shead used to do drills together AFTER practices, where Shead would cover him

 

[JKent82]

Yeah Shead and Winfield is the best combo for me. We need a slot corner for four weeks and we don't have one on the roster or PS so somebody out of house has got to come in. Winfield knows what he is doing, he might be a little slow, but he still has years and years of experience in the slot, which Trufant doesn't and is even slower and Parrish Cox is not the least bit interesting.

 

[Hawks46]

I really had high hope on Tharold Simon. Dude has the built of our "required" corner. He's 6' 2" or 6' 3"? And can play the press.

But yes, he's young and have yet to play an NFL game. So throwing him in there isn't the best idea. But maybe perhaps again the NYG, AZ or STL games? I mean like like "garbage" minutes, especially when we're winning by a significant amount of points?

What do you think?

Good technique makes a better CB than sheer athleticism. Just ask Joe Haden, who is too "slow" to play CB in the NFL.

Or ask our own Richard Sherman. He's not as gifted as guys like Patrick Peterson athletically, so in his own words he has to be more technically correct.

That's what worries me most about Shead and Simon. They don't have enough game experience at the NFL level. Winfield is my top choice here.