What makes Eric Berry a better prospect than Earl Thomas

[DJ's left nut]

Originally Posted by Rain Man

Stupid Eric Berry question here, but will we be lining him up at strong safety? I've been assuming free safety the whole time, but saw something somewhere that mentioned strong safety. Honestly, I haven't paid attention because I assumed he was a free safety.

Almost has to. That's part of why I was upset that we didn't take Mays if we weren't sold on Clausen.

Page can't play SS and there's not really another SS on the roster. So the only place Berry can really play is SS with Page at FS.

That greatly diminishes one of his greatest strengths (playmaking ability).

Just another example of a poor pick that hurts the overall roster beyond the opportunity cost.

[Rain Man]

Originally Posted by DJ's left nut

Almost has to. That's part of why I was upset that we didn't take Mays if we weren't sold on Clausen.

Page can't play SS and there's not really another SS on the roster. So the only place Berry can really play is SS with Page at FS.

That greatly diminishes one of his greatest strengths (playmaking ability).

Just another example of a poor pick that hurts the overall roster beyond the opportunity cost.

I guess that's why I'm scratching my head, too. People keep comparing him to Ed Reed, but Reed's a free safety. In fact, pretty much every first-round safety ever has been a free safety, and virtually every top-15 pick as far as I know.

It's much easier to swallow a free-safety as a top-15 pick over a strong safety.

[kcpasco]

Originally Posted by Rain Man

I guess that's why I'm scratching my head, too. People keep comparing him to Ed Reed, but Reed's a free safety. In fact, pretty much every first-round safety ever has been a free safety, and virtually every top-15 pick as far as I know.

It's much easier to swallow a free-safety as a top-15 pick over a strong safety.

Ya I hope someone else can step up at safety so we can use him as a free safety.

[DJ's left nut]

Originally Posted by Rain Man

I guess that's why I'm scratching my head, too. People keep comparing him to Ed Reed, but Reed's a free safety. In fact, pretty much every first-round safety ever has been a free safety, and virtually every top-15 pick as far as I know.

It's much easier to swallow a free-safety as a top-15 pick over a strong safety.

Agreed.

Even when Pioli did something I liked, he promptly damaged it's value.

[WildTurkey]

Originally Posted by Rain Man

I guess that's why I'm scratching my head, too. People keep comparing him to Ed Reed, but Reed's a free safety. In fact, pretty much every first-round safety ever has been a free safety, and virtually every top-15 pick as far as I know.

It's much easier to swallow a free-safety as a top-15 pick over a strong safety.

Berry has the skills to play either spot.... and do well at either spot

[Jamie]

Originally Posted by Rain Man

I guess that's why I'm scratching my head, too. People keep comparing him to Ed Reed, but Reed's a free safety. In fact, pretty much every first-round safety ever has been a free safety, and virtually every top-15 pick as far as I know.

It's much easier to swallow a free-safety as a top-15 pick over a strong safety.

Roy Williams and LaRon Landry were top 15 strong safeties, off the top of my head. Polamalu went in the teens also.