*** Official I love Marcus Cooper Thread ***

[patteeu]

Originally Posted by DJ's left nut

I have to wonder how bad one would have to be for 'needs to be upgraded' if Lewis doesn't qualify.

He's not getting torched deep very often because our system uses so much man and our CBs have done the job. For a guy playing the kind of rover safety he usually plays to only have 1 pass defensed means that the CBs are really dominating their matchups and he's simply not being asked to do much.

And he's just an abomination in run support. With as aggressive as the defense is, zones are going to open up over the middle and he's going to need to be able to either stop a scrambling QB or actually make a play on a check-valve WR when he breaks into the open field. He's done none of that this year.

He's a clear liability as soon as someone has the ball past the first level. That happens on runs, passes and scrambles. With the number of hot routes, etc... that our blitzing forces, there are going to be more instances where his abysmal open-field tackling is more critical than his adequate coverage skills.

The only strength I see in the guy is that he remains a very smart player that seems to know this defense extremely well. That said, he's the weak link in this defense and I don't see any reason we shouldn't be actively seeking an upgrade, especially given his unreliable injury history.

Maybe the difference is that he's a weak link on a strong defense instead of the weak link on a weak defense. If the rest of the defense is strong enough that opposing teams can't exploit him very often, he's a "could be upgraded". If they aren't and he is constantly being exploited, he's a "must be upgraded" even at the same ability level.

[Saul Good]

Originally Posted by patteeu

Maybe the difference is that he's a weak link on a strong defense instead of the weak link on a weak defense. If the rest of the defense is strong enough that opposing teams can't exploit him very often, he's a "could be upgraded". If they aren't and he is constantly being exploited, he's a "must be upgraded" even at the same ability level.

Exactly. Five of our defensive starters are first round picks (by us), and Flowers was a high second. That's a lot of picks and a lot of money already devoted to one side of the ball.

We currently have 3 first round picks (by us) on offense, and one is hurt.

Given that we are already without a second round pick next year and nearly maxed out from a cap standpoint, I don't know that we can afford, to go get somebody that is a proven commodity at this point.

If there is a guy cut, or if someone is flashing in practice, go ahead and give it a try, but I don't see any way you deal for someone this year or target one in the first unless one falls right in your lap who is the perfect mix of need and value.

[saphojunkie]

Originally Posted by Saul Good

Exactly. Five of our defensive starters are first round picks (by us), and Flowers was a high second. That's a lot of picks and a lot of money already devoted to one side of the ball.

We currently have 3 first round picks (by us) on offense, and one is hurt.

Given that we are already without a second round pick next year and nearly maxed out from a cap standpoint, I don't know that we can afford, to go get somebody that is a proven commodity at this point.

If there is a guy cut, or if someone is flashing in practice, go ahead and give it a try, but I don't see any way you deal for someone this year or target one in the first unless one falls right in your lap who is the perfect mix of need and value.

It is clear to me that the offensive line is by far what is holding this team back.

Two firsts, two seconds, and two thirds spent on a position group that is massively underperforming. In fact, OL is the new DL.

Additionally, having Glenn Dorsey (5th overall), Jon Baldwin (1st), javier Arenas (2nd) and Tony Moeaki (3rd) not even on the team anymore is just sickening.

Pioli hit homeruns with a couple of guys, but he struck the **** out with the rest of his picks. I'll take a team hitting consistent doubles over that any day.

[Saul Good]

Originally Posted by saphojunkie

It is clear to me that the offensive line is by far what is holding this team back.

Two firsts, two seconds, and two thirds spent on a position group that is massively underperforming. In fact, OL is the new DL.

Additionally, having Glenn Dorsey (5th overall), Jon Baldwin (1st), javier Arenas (2nd) and Tony Moeaki (3rd) not even on the team anymore is just sickening.

Pioli hit homeruns with a couple of guys, but he struck the **** out with the rest of his picks. I'll take a team hitting consistent doubles over that any day.

People who say this are people who want tackles in the first round.

Pioli liked to draft by the pound, and he wanted character guys who were part of the right 53.

Berry was not his type of player from a size/position standpoint...but he took him.

Houston was not his type of player from a character standpoint...but he took him.

Poe was a swing for the fences boom/bust guy...but he took him.

THOSE GUYS are the core of our defense.

The "solid double" picks are what get you Eric Fisher, Tyson Jackson, Jonathan Baldwin, etc. None of those guys had "potential superstar or massive bust" written all over them. They all looked like 10 year solid starters.

I'd take Marcus Cooper over any of them.

A few homeruns can make up for a lot of busts, especially when you can supplement your roster with savvy waiver moves, free agent pick ups, etc.

[mdchiefsfan]

Originally Posted by patteeu

Maybe the difference is that he's a weak link on a strong defense instead of the weak link on a weak defense. If the rest of the defense is strong enough that opposing teams can't exploit him very often, he's a "could be upgraded". If they aren't and he is constantly being exploited, he's a "must be upgraded" even at the same ability level.

Nailed it

[Saul Good]

Originally Posted by patteeu

Maybe the difference is that he's a weak link on a strong defense instead of the weak link on a weak defense. If the rest of the defense is strong enough that opposing teams can't exploit him very often, he's a "could be upgraded". If they aren't and he is constantly being exploited, he's a "must be upgraded" even at the same ability level.

I'll add that it's not easy to pick on a FS the way you can pick on a corner. You can gameplan to go after a shitty CB. You can't consistently target the FS. You can continually go over the top, but that still requires time to throw and beating the CB.