NYCoug":2w3zmj3x said:
I don't understand how and why the rest of the secondary gets a pass for playing injured during Super Bowl 49 and Simon doesn't. I just don't understand. He tried playing through a dislocated shoulder and it just didn't work out with him being exploited by Belicheck, Brady, and Edelman.
Before his injury, he was actually playing pretty damn well when he was in there. I don't recall the exact numbers, but I know that his QB rating against was pretty impressive.
Having said all this, it'll be interesting to see if Tharold can shake off the rust and turn his contract year into a huge contract somewhere else. Something tells me the Seahawks will take it slow with him, given his injury history, and that he might only start to blossom towards seasons end/potentially playoff time. This could lead to a nifty new deal for him, or he might be forced to have to sign a prove-it deal with Seattle or perhaps one of our rivals. Who knows. This is all dependant on Simon staying healthy, which is far from a given.
Still, I was impressed with what he showed in 2014 prior to getting hurt late in the year and was comfortable, confident in fact, with the thought of him replacing Maxwell. It just didn't work out that way. The dude was a gamer and gave it all he had though. It just didn't work out and unfortunately for him and us, the Patriots exploited his injury and neophyte playoff experience when it mattered @ XLIXX. He still has my respect though, and the hope that he bounces back strong and has a stellar year.
I get the crux of your argument, and it's fair.. but if Tharold was the healthiest he's ever been in his life on February 1st, 2015 -- Julian Edelman is still beating him like a drum.. over and over and over. Edelman is the absolute worst type of WR for Tharold Simon to be matched up with. Honestly one point that isn't talked about nearly as much as it should be is what the injuries in the secondary did to who we had to leave active/inactive. Thanks to the injuries to Earl and Kam we had to activate 2 backup safeties too.. when Marcus Burley would have probably got that opportunity otherwise and Burley IMO would have fared a LOT better against the small and shifty Edelman than Simon did.
So basically, I don't think him getting worked was related to his shoulder, but rather he got worked because Edelman is smaller, a lot quicker, and a hell of a lot more savvy at route running.
Entering 2016 though Simon is a dark horse to be the teams breakout player of the year. He has a boat load of talent, just hasn't been able to stay on the field. And I don't think he's anywhere close to being a finished product either, as at LSU he was a very raw talent.
