Re: Holder: Saints Cut Dave Thomas, Johnny Patrick
 

Ok, well... That is how some saw him going into the season. I, for one, never saw much improvement. He showed flashes, but that was it.

The assumption you're making (and let me say that I hope you're right), is that he struggled this year because of a new system. I don't think that was it. The real adjustment fell on the front seven. Robinson, if he WERE a good corner, should have been able to keep up with receivers. His only real strength is his speed. Yet they were blowing by him, left and right, because his instincts are horrible.

Instincts are the hallmark of any good player, regardless of talent level.

Here's the other reason I believe to be part of his struggles. His second year was his first significant action, and I think opposing coaches were able to use that film to really dissect his weaknesses. I can see where a new scheme would affect him to a degree, but he was plain awful. The difference of zone or man coverage is not so great that a good player couldn't at least perform admirably.

I'm all for talking about upside, but at some point you gotta deliver. Calling him a good corner is what raised my eyebrow. Potential does not equal quality. It merely presents the possibility.

Re: Holder: Saints Cut Dave Thomas, Johnny Patrick
 

Could be we get another vet player to play man cover, someone who can do their job?

Re: Holder: Saints Cut Dave Thomas, Johnny Patrick
 

Who called him a good corner?

Re: Holder: Saints Cut Dave Thomas, Johnny Patrick
 

Excuse me, you said he wasn't a BAD corner. My mistake. But it still raises an eyebrow. He was absolutely HORRIFIC last year. As were other members of the secondary, but with the exception of Jenkins, none of them came here with the expectations of P-Rob. He just seems like a colossal waist of talent.

Re: Holder: Saints Cut Dave Thomas, Johnny Patrick
 

Robinson, Patrick, Lofton, Greer, Harper, Hawthorn, Jenkins and Vilma all graded out near worst in the entire NFL.

I think its a waste to use 2012 to evaluate much at all. And prior to 2012 Robinson appeared to be progressing nicely.

He may indeed end up sucking in 2013, but as I said he has much more upside than Johnny Patrick, which is why Robinson wasn't cut before Patrick, which was the question that started this discussion.

Re: Holder: Saints Cut Dave Thomas, Johnny Patrick
 

That argument kind of falls right in my lap.

I mentioned how the new scheme mostly affects the front seven. Therefore, mentioning linebackers isn't a good example. Plus the discussion is not about linebackers.

Also, Hawthorne was hurt all year AND playing out of position. Greer is getting old and is always nicked up. Vilma is in the absolute twilight of his career and didn't play much coming off injury and suspension. I have already mentioned in several threads how badly Harper and Jenkins have sucked. The reason I didn't bring them up is because we weren't talking about them.

And lastly, I know Johnny Patrick was terrible and was not arguing about that. I responded to your comment about Patrick Robinson, not the original post.

A lot of those guys had excuses of being either old, out of position or injured. Some of them just aren't that talented to begin with. Robinson and Jenkins don't have any excuses. Harper is one of the not so talented guys, but I get on him because he's been starting for 7 years. I've seen enough of his play.

Re: Holder: Saints Cut Dave Thomas, Johnny Patrick
 

Just looking at the Saints 2013 schedule and seeing teams with stud WR's with the likes of Julio Jones, Roddy White, Brandon Marshall, Larry Fitzgerald, Dez B. etc 'concerns me' having Pat Robinson covering them. I surely hope we can acquire a quality corner in FA/draft. Robinson is just not very good at this level & quite frankly, I'm tired of looking at him out there getting torched.

Re: Holder: Saints Cut Dave Thomas, Johnny Patrick
 

The new scheme will utilize man-press coverage, not zone. Its just as different as the scheme change for the front 7.

The original question I responded to was why did we cut Patrick instead of Robinson. How it evolved into this discussion is puzzling.

Re: Holder: Saints Cut Dave Thomas, Johnny Patrick
 

I agree completely with Danno on this. During his 2nd year there was a noticeable improvement in how Robinson played, and that is definitely what you are looking in a 2nd year player. Robinson is clearly better suited for man coverage than zone, because he isn't physical enough to re-route receivers from the LOS, but he has great athleticism to blanket receivers down the field. I would be ready to place a monetary bet on the fact that Robinson's performances will improve quite a lot just by the Saints' backfield reverting back to a man coverage scheme, but I also think that he has taken a lot out of this past season's problems and will improve both mentally and physically for the coming season.