2024 Twitter Thread (News of the Cards)

[BritCard]

I feel like people are echoing Harry and just back-filling a guy who might be on the way out by saying he sucks in coverage. People are happy to excuse Budda for being bad in coverage because of pass rush, etc. White was a safety before he was a linebacker; his coverage skills are fine.

I wrote about White sucking in coverage during the season.

He's a starting linebacker in the NFL that was paid $5m per. That's less than Cole Holcomb, Jahlani Tavai, Ja'Whaun Bentley and a whole bunch of poor to average LB's. Both he, his agent and the team knew what he was when he took that deal.

I'd be fine with him coming back for all the reasons mentioned here about leadership and effort, but that's the football equivalent of "You have a nice personality". He's clearly upgradeable as a football player and I wouldn't pay him any more money.

We can't complain the team needs to get better then cry that the very average linebacker is leaving because he tries hard. He allowed 75% comp rate this year, nearly 11 yard per catch and a total of 410 yards, nearly all career worsts. Including 304 yards after that catch which is by far his worst. He got smoked on shallow crossers all year.

Also I don't excuse Budda. I've specifically said he sucks in coverage and was massively overpaid because of it.

 

[kerouac9]

Several teams NFL subscribe to their metrics. I have been critical of some of their conclusions through the years, but I believe they are getting better. I offer this number as an indication that I am not the only who believes there is a coverage issue. Perhaps you could provide an independent source who agrees with you about coverage.

Many NFL teams subscribe to PFF's game charting data as a way to not pay quality control coaches. PFF's grades are garbage; every player and coach will tell you that.

Pro-Football-Reference's Advanced defense stats say White allowed one TD last year on 51 targets (I don't love coverage stats either, but you're asking for a source). 8.0 yards per target and with an ADoT of 2.8. He played 1018 snaps last season. Three passes defensed.

Blake Cashman with the Vikes was targeted 57 times, 7.7 YPT, 5.5 ADoT, less than 900 snaps.

I'm not saying that White is, like, Karlos Dansby. But he's not a top five problem with this defense.

Maybe everything will change...in year 7. Yeah, would LOVE to see a shred of evidence of that ever happening anywhere.

Geno Smith, Baker Mayfield, Sam Darnold, Drew Brees was pretty pedestrian until his sixth season.

Kyler's sui generis in a lot of ways, so none of these are perfect comparisons, but it wouldn't be out of nowhere, either.

 

[ASUCHRIS]

Geno Smith, Baker Mayfield, Sam Darnold, Drew Brees was pretty pedestrian until his sixth season.

Kyler's sui generis in a lot of ways, so none of these are perfect comparisons, but it wouldn't be out of nowhere, either.

True - but none of these guys did it with their original team. (and I wouldn't be totally shocked if Kyler found some modicum of success elsewhere)

 

[oaken1]

At our age either one would probably kill us, but what a way to go

"In my bed, of old age, with a........."