DJLengai |
01-29-2007 07:12 PM |
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Originally Posted by TheDeuce
Quote:
Originally Posted by DJLengai
Quote:
We need a guy for the middle of that defense, a true MLB, and Thomas ain't it. We've got Fujita and Shanle on the outside, both who are good players. Also, in case you haven't noticed, Thomas plays in a 46 defense which allows him to be primarily an edge rusher.
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Are you actually serious or did you fall and hit your head on something? Adalius plays all over becuase he is the best Ravens' LB and doesn't play the middle (excpet when Lewis is injured) becuase Ray can't play like Thomas.
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Wow, that's one of the most ludicrous things I've heard in a while on this board. The best LB on the Ravens is Adalius Thomas? Really? How do you figure? Because he had 20 less tackles than Ray Lewis AND Bart Scott? Because he had fewer interceptions than Ray Lewis AND Bart Scott? Because he had less pass deflections than Ray Lewis AND Bart Scott? Because he didn't have any forced fumbles, but Lewis did? Oh I guess I see why... because he had 11.5 sacks. Is that why he's "the best" linebacker on the team? Sure, 11.5 sacks is extremely impressive (fyi, it was 2nd best on the team), but I think that has more to do with the position that he plays than truly how "great" he is. Like I explained in my previous post, the 46 defense that Baltimore runs allows these OLBs to rush off the edge because they've got big uglies in the middle collapsing the middle of the line and 2 DEs who are also bringing pressure. They can't block everybody, so guys like Thomas are going to have oppportunities to get to the QB. That's the reason why Bart Scott (another LB, who happened to have 20 more tackles, more interceptions, more TFL, and more pass deflections) only had 1.5 sacks less than Thomas (9.5). Hell I could make a point that Bart Scott is better than Thomas, but I don't necessarily believe that it would be completely correct (even though statistically he had a much better year). But you seem to have been missing the points of my posts in their entirety. Don't just look at the part where I talk about him being a product of his teammates and the system he plays in... look at the other stuff I'm saying. I'm saying he's a very good player. He's probably the most versatile player in the NFL. I'm saying I'd like to see him in black and gold. But what you apparently don't get is that we have bigger needs (CB for one), and it's also my humble opinion that if we're going to go out and get a linebacker, why not get one who addresses a need? Do we need a guy who can play OLB, DE, MLB, Safety, CB, waterboy, popcorn guy, and mascot? No!!!!! Here' my point!!!!! We have Fujita and Shanle who are two very solid OLBs. We don't have a very good MLB. Thomas is not a MLB. Plain and simple. If you want to argue, you're wasting your time and perhaps more importantly, my time, because you're just plain wrong. The guy is an outside LB, a rushing linebacker, and a very good one, but he doesn't belong at the LB, and the Ravens know this. That's why they have Ray Lewis there, in case you haven't noticed.
Oh and by the way... you're right, I guess Ray Lewis STARTS AT MIDDLE LINEBACKER because he's WORSE than Adlius Thomas. That makes a lot of sense. If Adalius Thomas is the best MLB on the team, I'm sure Rex Ryan sits there and thinks "Hmmmm.... I've got an idea, let's move our best MLB (Adalius Thomas) all over the field to unnatural positions because Ray Lewis is worse than him. I think I'd rather have a worse MLB play there." I think the reason Ray plays MLB is because he's the best MLB on that squad. You can try and argue that, but I'll trust Rex Ryan because that's where he says Ray Lewis should play and he's the one with a top 5 defense year in and year out.
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Lewis starts at the middle because he doesn't have the ability to play DE, DT or go wide in coverage like Thomas can. They are both excellent players. Thomas plays all over becuase Rex Ryan understands that Lewis can't perform well at those other positions. Moving a player to different positions with different assignments will not rack stats.
A MLB needs to have awareness, discipline, athleticism, speed, be able to shed blocks, tackle well, rush, cover, pursue, and understand the offensive formations. Thomas has all of these abilities. He's 270 pounds and has the speed to cover TE's, RB's, and receivers. He can move sideline to sideline. He can rush. He can tackle. He can clog running lanes. He can take on and shed blockers. What more is a MLB supposed to be able to do? Scream a lot and do funky dances?
You don't really believe that Thomas was unblocked on all of his sacks because of the D the Ravens run do you?
I also agree that we need a CB more than we need a MLB. We have the monies available to sign Nate and Adalius as well as bringing back Grant, Stinchomb, Hollis, Shanle, and the others. The window is only open for a few seasons so the time is ripe.
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