E. Wilson (incumbent but losing steps rapidly, 5-10) T. Nolan (made plays but had several bad blown coverages, 6-2) G. Quin (arguably the best cover guy among a very poor group, 6-0) K. Jackson (demonstrated a lack of CB qualities and could look better at S, 5-10)
Quinton Carter (FS, Oklahoma) or Champ Bailey, preferably. Troy Nolan and Carter could split time next year, but Nolan is not a starter. Wilson should be gone.
Ideally, Champ Bailey I also don't want Jackson starting anywhere on the field and he cannot play corner, so he should be moved to safety, but not as a starter
I'd hope for Champ. Otherwise, I say try and sign someone (won't happen). Otherwise, I say you have a competition between Nolan and Kareem. In that case, it won't matter, because I'm assuming our secondary will suck anyways.
Is Jackson actually a free safety fit or is this just a desperate fan move to get him off the corner? If you go back and read draft-day analysis of Quin, the possibility of him eventually moving to free safety was being discussed from the start. In fact, one forum compared him to a young Eugene Wilson.
Do you really think it is a good idea to move the only competent corner on the team to safety? People want Jackson at safety because given what he showed us this season, he will never be an NFL corner. People are hoping a move to safety will salvage his career.
Putting Jackson at free safety would be like trading a young, aggressive stock that has fallen for some precious metals. It's way too early to abandon the KJ at CB experiment. Let him play some nickel for a while and earn his way into the starting role later on.
I like what I heard, this morning, on 610. Move Quin to safety, draft another CB with the 1st pick to compete with KJ and sign a veteran CB like Bailey or the "other guy" lol. Quin has all the tools to play the safety position and once Bailey slows down then move him to safety with Quin, like Rod Woodson did later in his career.
My thoughts: I agree it's critical we bring in at least one stud DB via FA. I think it's more important to case a CB than a S, since we simply aren't going to get by with the corners we have. I think if you got a FA CB and put Quin opposite him, we could make do at safety with the current crew. Cut Wilson or bench him. Start Nolan at FS. Play Pollard on 1st and short yard age downs, and work Jackson in at FS for obvious passing situations. Draft a S (for once) in the second or third rounds of the draft...but don't throw him into the fire like we did with Jackson. Especially not with the lockout obliterating camps and preseason. I don't like the Quin to S idea...because that removes your only competent CB out of the position. Nolan and Pollard are halfway competent in the back...Jackson was a complete failure as a #2 CB. Unless we draft Peterson or Prince to compete opposite Champ/Asomugha/Taylor/etc.....why would you want to rely on a second tier CB out of the draft when there's no offseason/preseason training to be had?
There are issues that he can improve (technique, anticipation, judgment), especially under a qualified DB coach. There are red flags that aren't issues with much possibility of improvement (utter lack of quick twitch reaction, utter lack of recovery speed). It's too early to abandon the KJ experiment....but he was a disaster covering #2 and slot receivers. It's not too early to stop depending on him as a starter (for now). I agree - play him as your nickel back. Work him in for Pollard at SS in passing situations.
I want a true playmaking safety, drafted high because he was a prospect at that position. Not Kareem Jackson who would probably fall down at the thought of playing safety, or Quin, the other corner who probably hasnt had the talent beaten out of him and could still improve next year. Maybe KJ can still be grown into a respectable corner, but he'd have to do it as the nickelback, where his mistakes won't result in points as often.
Champ ftw! But sometimes CBs think moving to FS is like a bslap to the face. Others,like old school rod woodson and now charles woodson, realize it's a way to extend their careers playing the game they love. Is champ willing to play safety? I just don't see how jackson is going to gain closing speed to actually cover from the CB position. If Champ is not a Texan then jackson has to move up to FS. NExt time they draft corners, who cares if they can tackle, just make sure they can stay with the receivers and make plays on the ball.
