-- If you had any complaints with regard to Eric Berry's play-what would it/they be?

[Simply Red]

Just caught this Fairburn, Georgia product - spotlighted on that Top 100 players bit on the NFLn - I was just curious if you have any complaints with Berry - what are they?

Also, do you think he will continue to improve? ... & maybe To what level?

I'm pretty darned happy with this guy, overall. I'm not sure about his future though, hoping he continues to grow as a player.

[TEX]

Originally Posted by chiefzilla1501

I'm in the minority who likes the way he's used, even if he would be a dominant free safety too. The Ryan system is incredibly difficult for a Strong Safety and it takes time to learn it. He is pretty much another QB out there.

He has the work ethic and the physical ability to be elite. He'll have to keep getting smarter and that's only going to come with more time in the film room and experience.

He also needs help. If he's the first read every single time, then the second read has to stop their man.

Damn dude, you're on the wrong side of everything. Wonder WHY that is???

Deal is he's being used wrong. He's not big enough to play like a LB. He needs to be placed in better position to feature his ball hawking abilities.

[Fire Me Boy!]

I like my eric berries with a little cream and sugar. Shoney's eric berries are terrible.

[58-4ever]

Originally Posted by milkman

It's a waste of his talent as a ball hawk, and given that's he weighs only 205, it is an injury risk position.

In short, like you, it's pretty ****ing stupid.

I think he's around 215 now.

[58-4ever]

Originally Posted by 58-4ever

I think he's around 215 now.

however, I'm in full agreement that he is often used improperly

[milkman]

Originally Posted by 58-4ever

however, I'm in full agreement that he is often used improperly

LBs in the draft that weigh 230 or less are considered undersized.

[jonzie04]

No complaints with berry last season. He's the best ss in the NFL and had more of an impact last season than the best ball hawk in earl Thomas BY FAR. looking at the stats, Thomas 5 ints, 9 yards off of said ints, 9 passes defensed, 0 sacks, 0 tds. Berry, 3 ins, 9 passes defensed, 2 TD's, 3.5 sacks, 11 tfl. I'd say 3.5 sacks and 11 tfl far outweighs a few extra picks. Berry is a ****ing force in the run game. And who cares how much he weighs. It clearly doesn't matter seeing as how he made more tackles behind the line of scrimmage than Patrick Willis, kiko Alonso, vontaze burfict, Daryl Washington. Berry had one less tfl than NFL defensive MVP Luke kuechly. When a guy is as great as berry is at something you don't complain that he should be doing something else because he could also do that really well. That's like people bitching at jj watt for not being the more important 4-3 d end, or bitching at Charles for not being a slot receiver, because he is a good wr and our wr corps sucks.

[BossChief]

I don't have a single problem with Eric Berrys play on the field. In the role he plays, he is a big time player.

My issue is/has always been the way coaches have used him since Monte Kiffen took over as the dc for Tennessee for his junior year.

[BWillie]

Well the fact that he can't play safety and can only play linebacker is one of them

[BossChief]

Originally Posted by BWillie

Well the fact that he can't play safety and can only play linebacker is one of them

Not true at all.

[WhiteWhale]

Originally Posted by BWillie

Well the fact that he can't play safety and can only play linebacker is one of them

Trollolol post.

Unless you actually believe it. Then it would just be dumb.

[chiefzilla1501]

Originally Posted by milkman

It's a waste of his talent as a ball hawk, and given that's he weighs only 205, it is an injury risk position.

In short, like you, it's pretty ****ing stupid.

Right, because he's a ballhawk. That's all the guy can do.

He's also smart, has become a strong coverage tight end, and is a million times more effective blitzing and blowing up plays from far away that most strong safeties cannot. The Ryan defense also gives the strong safety a lot of responsibility in terms of setting the defense and improvising, which takes advantage of his football IQ and work ethic in the film room. The reason QBs look at him first is because they have no idea what he's going to do until the snap. The guy moves all over the field, which ranges from being a linebacker, a blitzer, a traditional strong safety, even deep middle responsibilities.

Like I said, I have no problem putting him at Free Safety and would rather see him there. He would dominate there too. And yeah, he's more of an injury risk where he's playing now. But those who say his talents are wasted are crazy. There's a reason Cleveland, who is also running the Ryan defense, passed up on Jairus Byrd and paid top dollar for Whitner instead of TJ Ward. Because the Ryan defense asks a lot of the Strong Safety and they seem to think it's one of the most important positions on the field.

[Rausch]

Originally Posted by chiefzilla1501

Right, because he's a ballhawk. That's all the guy can do.

No, it's how he's best used.

He should have been a FS from day 1...

[BWillie]

Originally Posted by WhiteWhale

Trollolol post.

Unless you actually believe it. Then it would just be dumb.

Well the coaching staff apparently doesn't think he can play cover safety

[ThaVirus]

I think he's great. He's probably the best SS in the league and likely our most consistent defender, along with DJ.

He had some serious issues covering TEs in his early years and then had to sit out 2011 but since, particularly last season, the dude was like a blanket to TEs.

His versatility is also a huge boon. He can cover well, play the run well, rush the passer well..

I couldn't really ask for much more from him specifically. I would prefer, given our system, that he play FS at the same level but that's a coaching gaff.

[chiefzilla1501]

Originally Posted by Rausch

No, it's how he's best used.

He should have been a FS from day 1...

You can disagree with the defense if you'd like. I don't know if I"m sold on it.
But as long as we're running the Ryan scheme, his talents are not being put to waste. The Jets drafted a strong safety in the first. The Browns paid big money for a Strong Safety. The Chiefs put their best defender at Strong. These Ryan guys obviously believe Strong Safety is pretty damn important. Meanwhile, none of the Ryan guys have done much to improve their Frees. Why is that?

We have to stop comparing Berry's role in a Ryan defense to his role in a traditional defense. It was a horrible decision for him to play Strong in romeo's defense. At least in Ryan's defense, they do a lot more things to make him a unique weapon.