Big Red Huddle: Dansby

[Russ Smith]

For what it's worth, Hardy, I think that you bring great information and knowledge to this board. I hope that nothing that I've said here turns you off to ASFN. I want what's best for this team.

But sometimes insiders and coaches are wrong, or so want to be right about players that they miss what's right in front of their faces. The same thing happens to fans. I'd love to be wrong about Calvin Pace--and so would cheese--and we'll happily eat crow on him if and when he proves us wrong.

The team and most of the fans were wrong about Thomas Jones. If Kendrick Clancy is looking bad in practices, then I'd like to hear that rather than how well Langston Moore is doing.

Thanks for the information that you bring to the board. Sorry if I turned you off of ASFN.

If Green had drafted Pace I might buy into the argument that the coaches just wanted to be right about him. But Green not only didn't draft Pace, he's been "calling him out" since he arrived, signing Berry, complaining that he had to do that when they had a first rounder from last year at that position(Pace), etc.

If Green is excited about Pace I suspect it's because Pace is looking really good in camp, I'm one of the biggest Green skeptics on this board but Hardy made a very good point last night, do people REALLY believe that Green wants to lose, especially this year when losing would probably result in his being fired? Green made the personal choices when he first got here, getting rid of players he didn't like even if it hurt the talent on the roster, I don't think he's doing that stuff anymore he got his point across loud and clear then. Right now Green knows the pressure is on, win, or go work at ESPN again.

 

[kerouac9]

If Green had drafted Pace I might buy into the argument that the coaches just wanted to be right about him. But Green not only didn't draft Pace, he's been "calling him out" since he arrived, signing Berry, complaining that he had to do that when they had a first rounder from last year at that position(Pace), etc.

If Green is excited about Pace I suspect it's because Pace is looking really good in camp, I'm one of the biggest Green skeptics on this board but Hardy made a very good point last night, do people REALLY believe that Green wants to lose, especially this year when losing would probably result in his being fired? Green made the personal choices when he first got here, getting rid of players he didn't like even if it hurt the talent on the roster, I don't think he's doing that stuff anymore he got his point across loud and clear then. Right now Green knows the pressure is on, win, or go work at ESPN again.

No, I agree that I don't think that the coaches want to lose, but I also understand that they make mistakes, and I think depending on a player that looks like Tarzan and plays like Jane every season is a mistake. Pace has gone from a guy who was going to be mixed in at linebacker in certain packages in minicamps to our starting strongside linebacker. That doesn't seem precipitous to you?

And maybe Calvin is having a great camp, but Denny's patted the back of a lot of players in training camp only to have those same players find themselves on IR or released once training camp ends. Is Denny sending a message to Dansby, or is he really pumping up Pace? There's no real way to know. I don't think that Mac and his coaching staff was trying to lose, either, but that happened.

Thankfully, I'm happy enough with the other starting personnel in the linebacking corps that if/when Calvin Pace plays like Calvin Pace, Karlos Dansby, James Darling, or Orlando Huff will be able to step in and staunch the bleeding. This isn't something that's keeping me up at night.

Sometimes desperation or being backed into a corner brings out the best in people, but sometimes desperation leads to bad decision-making. We'll find out over the next six months which camp Denny and his staff falls into.

 

[Pariah]

Pace has gone from a guy who was going to be mixed in at linebacker in certain packages in minicamps to our starting strongside linebacker. That doesn't seem precipitous to you?

Why is it so hard to believe that he learned the position better from shorts-and-a-helmet mini-camps to full-pads training camp?

Does that mean that a guy like Mike Bell in Denver isn't legit? During mini-camps they weren't even sure if he'd make the team and now he sits atop their depth chart.

 

[kerouac9]

Why is it so hard to believe that he learned the position better from shorts-and-a-helmet mini-camps to full-pads training camp?

Does that mean that a guy like Mike Bell in Denver isn't legit? During mini-camps they weren't even sure if he'd make the team and now he sits atop their depth chart.

I'm sure that he learned the position better over those three months. Better than a player that's been playing the position for six years? I don't know. Calvin Pace is going from a weakside DE in a 3-2-5 alignment at Wake Forest to a starting SLB in four years, on the toughest stage in the world? You don't have a hard time buying that he'll be an easy replacement for a guy that many here thought could make a Pro Bowl push in 2006? Really?

Mike Bell's been playing RB probably for more than half his life. He played RB in college as arguably the best player on a bad football team. The Denver Broncos manufacture 1000 yard rushers. These situations aren't nearly comperable.

 

[JC_AZ]

Pace has always been said to be a great athlete, and with his size maybe he was playing the wrong position...I don't really care where he was drafted or what they drafted him to do...if he has worked at creating a position for himself that will help this team...I believe that he should be commended and that he should be given the benefit of the doubt until he proves different...NO I AM NOT DRINKING THE DG KOOL-AID...I just believe that people with natural ability have a chance to develop into whatever they choose when given the opportunity...we will see

 

[Pariah]

You don't have a hard time buying that he'll be an easy replacement for a guy that many here thought could make a Pro Bowl push in 2006? Really?

If you'd been listening to anyone but yourself you'd recognize that we're not actually talking about Pace replacing Dansby, because many here believe he'll be moved to the weak side.

 

[kerouac9]

If you'd been listening to anyone but yourself you'd recognize that we're not actually talking about Pace replacing Dansby, because many here believe he'll be moved to the weak side.

People thought that Dansby was ready to make a Pro Bowl run from the strong side, where he was an absolute playmaker last season (I have been paying attention--and I've been against moving Dansby to the weak side permanently for weeks). Pace would very much be repacing Dansby at the position.

I don't really understand what your point is here, anyway.

 

[Pariah]

People thought that Dansby was ready to make a Pro Bowl run from the strong side, where he was an absolute playmaker last season (I have been paying attention--and I've been against moving Dansby to the weak side permanently for weeks). Pace would very much be repacing Dansby at the position.

I don't really understand what your point is here, anyway.

Point is that if Dansby is moving to the WLB position he's a starter not because he's better than Dansby (as you inimated in your previous thread) but rather because Dansby is moving. Nobody thinks Pace is better than Dansby.

 

[BACH]

People thought that Dansby was ready to make a Pro Bowl run from the strong side, where he was an absolute playmaker last season (I have been paying attention--and I've been against moving Dansby to the weak side permanently for weeks). Pace would very much be repacing Dansby at the position.

Huh...

The SLB are put in pass-rush situation more often and needs to shed blockers more often than the WLB, while the WLB needs more range to pursuit plays.

If Pace and Dansby are on the field at the same time it would be natural to play Pace at SLB and Dansby at WLB.

 

[kerouac9]

Huh...

The SLB are put in pass-rush situation more often and needs to shed blockers more often than the WLB, while the WLB needs more range to pursuit plays.

If Pace and Dansby are on the field at the same time it would be natural to play Pace at SLB and Dansby at WLB.

Of the top 40+ players in sacks last season...

Adalius Thomas, BAL (SLB)
Marcus Washington, WAS (SLB)
Leroy Hill, SEA (SLB)

...all of them played on the strong side. Well, I guess I was wrong. Let's hope Pace works out on the strong side.

 

[BACH]

Of the top 40+ players in sacks last season...

Adalius Thomas, BAL (SLB)
Marcus Washington, WAS (SLB)
Leroy Hill, SEA (SLB)

...all of them played on the strong side. Well, I guess I was wrong. Let's hope Pace works out on the strong side.

What's your point?

Using a stat like this doesn't prove anything.

I'm saying is that if Dansby and Pace are our starting OLBs in the 4-3, it would be most natural to play Pace as SOLB and Dansby as WOLB, because Pace is probably too big to play WOLB in the 4-3.

 

[kerouac9]

What's your point?

Using a stat like this doesn't prove anything.

I'm saying is that if Dansby and Pace are our starting OLBs in the 4-3, it would be most natural to play Pace as SOLB and Dansby as WOLB, because Pace is probably too big to play WOLB in the 4-3.

I agree with you. If Pace can hold up and be a player at the Sam position, he should be there. He would be stronger at the point of attack than Dansby, who would indeed be freed up to make plays and the Wendy position.

I'm afraid that Pace can't be a player, because he hasn't shown himself to be one so far in his career, but if he can be, it would be great for the team.

 

[BACH]

I agree with you. If Pace can hold up and be a player at the Sam position, he should be there. He would be stronger at the point of attack than Dansby, who would indeed be freed up to make plays and the Wendy position.

I'm afraid that Pace can't be a player, because he hasn't shown himself to be one so far in his career, but if he can be, it would be great for the team.

Ah.. Gotcha'

 

[BigRedRage]

bump

 

[Shaggy]

Talk about a time warp of a bump.

And a Ron Wolfley thread no less.

 

[BigRedRage]

Talk about a time warp of a bump.

Hardy brown is Ron Wolfley.

 

[Shaggy]

I know, that's why you should see the edit I made before you posted again.

He hasn't been on since 2008. I figured after getting his radio show, he didn't need a forum to let out his frustrations for the cards, he had a much bigger place for that now.

One of these days I want him to come back on and just say hello. It will happen, just not sure when.