Quote:
Originally Posted by RaidersOftheCellar
What are we talking about here? Isn't the whole point that Money Badger is in decline? Yet you're over here reminding everybody that his career has been better than Justin Reid's. For some reason.
Last season, Reid averaged more tackles per game. He had a forced fumble. Mathieu did not. Reid had 2 INT in 13 games. Mathieu 3 in 16 games. 4 PD in 13 games vs 6 in 16 games.
So far this year, Reid has 23 tackles to Mathieu's 26. Each has one PD. Mathieu has an INT and Reid doesn't have one yet. Reid has a stuff and HB has zero.
Since you're basing everything off stats, how are they not in the same ballpark currently?
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Actually, I'm not basing everything off stats. I almost never do. I've said often enough that stats only show a part of the whole story. That the eyeball test is necessary to get closer to the whole picture. Many here seem to disagree.
To that end, I try not to cherry pick stats either. For instance, in your post above, you forgot to mention that HB had a sack (Justin did not) as well as 3 fumble recoveries vs. Justin's 0. Now maybe that wasn't purposeful, but those are significant stats that were left out.
And last year was widely believed to be a down year for HB. And it probably was. I'd guess he was about 75% of his former self last season. But he did get COVID early in the year, and he was sucking oxygen for several games when he came back. Thos are indisputable facts. And it's hard to be 100% when you can't breathe properly.
But let's stop talking stats.
Tyrann's greatest weapon has always been his disruptive style of play.
He was always capable of playing almost anywhere on the field, whether it was CB, the slot, safety, even LB in some situations. Even switching around presnap. Add in his athletic ability, his ability to play any position in the secondary at a very high level, great hands, and then his elite ability to read the minds of the OC and the QB on a fairly regular basis.
Justin isn't that kind of safety. he isn't going to run around showing the QB multiple looks presnap, or make one of those splash plays where HB would switch off or onto a receiver mid-play and either force the ball elsewhere or cause anything from an INT to a forced fumble or a pass defensed.
That was HB's trademark. Making QBs and even OCs second guess themselves before and during a play.
Justin is more traditional in his style of play. Which is fine. As I said, the secondary needs a stabilizing influence this season. And right or wrong, HB wasn't that for the team anymore. And he was going to be too expensive, iirc.
Now maybe HB really is in decline. This season will speak volumes to that idea. But I don't doubt that he can have another great season in him, maybe even a couple. And his numbers from last year (see, this is where I like to use stats, to fill in a picture) say that he wasn't as bad as some think he was. he wasn't at his best, but he was far from his worst.