Future Defensive Backfield?

[Cougar54]

Fred Bennett and Dunta Robinson are both lock ins. I think Bennett will be a strong number two along side an even better number one. I believe Dunta will be moved to Strong Safety due to the way he hits people. I also think we re-sign Will Demps to a multi-year deal. Demps and Dunta are two massive hitters that would make receivers scared to try and cross the middle. I doubt we sign someone like Trufant, Samuel, Asomougha or Gay. I think Rick Smith is going to find an elite potential number one corner with our first pick. I really like Leodis McKelvin along with Patrick Lee. If we get either of these guys we should be set. I think Lee would be the number two and Bennett would take number one.

[justin of doom]

Robinson to safety? One of the best cover corners, to safety? I hope they wouldn't do that.

[stx-texans]

Robinson to safety? One of the best cover corners, to safety? I hope they wouldn't do that.


with the injury he recieved i agree he will probably be moved over to safety.

[ubecool454]

I am starting to like Leodis McKelvin as well. I think he would be a better fit for us than Kenny Phillips, he's more aggresive. Bennett, McKelvin, Dunta, Demps, and Boulware under the tutelage of Rhodes could spell trouble for our opponents.

I do like the DBs that were in the senior bowl but as much as I think we can't miss with any of a few of them, If Kenny Phillips for some reason is there at 18 we should be all over him. JMO

[HydrOshocK]

Robinson is WAY too small to play SS. He will remain at CB, likely in nickel and dime packages early on.

[jvaldez1984]

Robinson is WAY too small to play SS. He will remain at CB, likely in nickel and dime packages early on.

Bob Sanders is 5'8" 206lbs. Dunta is 5'10" 180lbs. If he can add 12-16 lbs during his rehab there is no doubt he could be an elite SS...

[HydrOshocK]

Bob Sanders is 5'8" 206lbs. Dunta is 5'10" 180lbs. If he can add 12-16 lbs during his rehab there is no doubt he could be an elite SS...

That's a 26 lb difference. You're expecting a guy to rehab a major injury like his AND add significant muscle weight to his frame AND learn to play a new position? I take it this is a project you guys see playing out over what.....3-4 years?

Sorry, but if you think it's easy for a small guy to add even 16 lbs of muscle to a small frame in less than a year (without growth hormones and steroids) then you are mistaken. I know, I'm only 5'9" and I peak at 185....and I've worked out for 10+ yrs. Muscle mass has a direct relation to bone structure, and if you don't have the frame for it then it's extremely difficult to add that kind of weight and still maintain speed and agility.

It would take years for Dunta to add and maintain the weight and I doubt very seriously he would be the same player. No, I think he stays at his natural position of CB and works his way back into the rotation slowly. It doesn't make sense to try and make a project out of a potential pro-bowler IMO.

[HuttoKarl]

Bob Sanders is 5'8" 206lbs. Dunta is 5'10" 180lbs. If he can add 12-16 lbs during his rehab there is no doubt he could be an elite SS...


Agreed...Robinson knows how to use what he's got to crush people. He's fearless. I don't have any doubts he could play the FS or SS position, if need be. I just hope he comes back strong so we don't have to worry about moving him.

[HydrOshocK]

btw.....Bob Sanders gets hurt alot. Just sayin

[Cougar54]

No, I think he stays at his natural position of CB and works his way back into the rotation slowly. It doesn't make sense to try and make a project out of a potential pro-bowler IMO.

I thought his natural position was SS in college before they moved him to corner...thats why he calls himself an aggressive tackler because he learned to tackle like that by paying the position...if thats understandable

[outofhnd]

With his coverage ability he would be a FS. He wouldn't be an effective SS because I dont think he could beat a lot of blocks. as a corner he just has to beat the WR and find a lane. As A SS hed be taking on TE and pulling guards. Thats harder to fight through. as a FS he would be more responsible for deep middle and over the top help. as well as late run support.

If anyone moves to SS it will either be Earl, Boulware, Brown, Or Demps

[GT]

That's a 26 lb difference. You're expecting a guy to rehab a major injury like his AND add significant muscle weight to his frame AND learn to play a new position? I take it this is a project you guys see playing out over what.....3-4 years?

Sorry, but if you think it's easy for a small guy to add even 16 lbs of muscle to a small frame in less than a year (without growth hormones and steroids) then you are mistaken. I know, I'm only 5'9" and I peak at 185....and I've worked out for 10+ yrs. Muscle mass has a direct relation to bone structure, and if you don't have the frame for it then it's extremely difficult to add that kind of weight and still maintain speed and agility.

It would take years for Dunta to add and maintain the weight and I doubt very seriously he would be the same player. No, I think he stays at his natural position of CB and works his way back into the rotation slowly. It doesn't make sense to try and make a project out of a potential pro-bowler IMO.Agreed 110% I tend to be lean myself and have tried everything short of steroids and etc. to pack on pounds.Duanta has the same type metabolism and I can not see the man gaining 20 plus pounds.He will be back at CB just as soon as he is capable. :rolleyes:

[ib4texans]

That's a 26 lb difference. You're expecting a guy to rehab a major injury like his AND add significant muscle weight to his frame AND learn to play a new position? I take it this is a project you guys see playing out over what.....3-4 years?

Sorry, but if you think it's easy for a small guy to add even 16 lbs of muscle to a small frame in less than a year (without growth hormones and steroids) then you are mistaken. I know, I'm only 5'9" and I peak at 185....and I've worked out for 10+ yrs. Muscle mass has a direct relation to bone structure, and if you don't have the frame for it then it's extremely difficult to add that kind of weight and still maintain speed and agility.

It would take years for Dunta to add and maintain the weight and I doubt very seriously he would be the same player. No, I think he stays at his natural position of CB and works his way back into the rotation slowly. It doesn't make sense to try and make a project out of a potential pro-bowler IMO.



Great view Hydro, look if it isn't broke don't fix it. D-Rob is an outstanding CC moving him to SS or FS would be like telling Demeco"come back 45 lbs heavier next year so that we can try you at DE." You just don't take a star at one position and expect him to shine the same way at another.

[GT]

Not only that he is our best CB. Why would we take the time to not only get him healthy, but take the time to switch his position then find another
CB? We need to focus on just finding a CB that can hold the fort down til he gets back instead of adding more work to the list of things to be done in the secondary. JMO.I don't see Rhodes and Hoke moving Duanta to nothing other than a nickel till he is ready to take back his spot.Like you I look for a fill in corner till he is ready to come back, by the way a good opinion. ;)

[GT]

Ya no need to make the secondary list like your honey-do list.:Dsssssssshhhhhhhh don't type to loud, told her I was looking up materials for the house. :D

[ib4texans]

D-Rob and Demps, a D-lightfull combination of D-struction.

[HydrOshocK]

I thought his natural position was SS in college before they moved him to corner...thats why he calls himself an aggressive tackler because he learned to tackle like that by paying the position...if thats understandable

You're correct. He played SS up until his Junior year when he became a full time starter at CB. Had he not made the transition he would not have been as valuable in the draft. Switching to CB is what landed him in the top 10.

[jppaul]

I think he is too good of a corner to move to safety.

[HydrOshocK]

Great view Hydro, look if it isn't broke don't fix it. D-Rob is an outstanding CC moving him to SS or FS would be like telling Demeco"come back 45 lbs heavier next year so that we can try you at DE." You just don't take a star at one position and expect him to shine the same way at another.

Thanks, that's exactly my point. Playing the position of SS would not be the problem for Dunta, the physical toll would be at his current size. Obviously he would have to add at least 15-20 lbs of muscle mass to his frame just to withstand the pounding, and even that might not be enough. Bob Sanders is much thicker and he has already missed significant time due to injury.

Also as mentioned before, once that weight is added it almost certainly decreases the player's speed and agility, especially when a small guy beefs up. You see it a lot in boxing when a fighter moves from say middle weight to heavy weight. The fighter usually loses some of his speed and quickness because of the extra mass.

[Wolf123]

Lets just see how dunta recovers from the injury before we start moveing him away from CB. I think he could move to FS but no way SS.

[infantrycak]

You're correct. He played SS up until his Junior year when he became a full time starter at CB. Had he not made the transition he would not have been as valuable in the draft. Switching to CB is what landed him in the top 10.

Well true and yet overstated. He played one year at SS and amassed a whopping 10 tackles. He then went on to two years at CB and became a top 10 draft pick. Not saying you are advocating SS, but I can't see why anyone would pick SS first over FS. If anything you move Demps to SS and Dunta to FS. Demps has much more experience both in college and the NFL at SS and while he is an under ranged hard hitting FS could be a well ranged hard hitting SS.

[foozball]

you guys do know there is more to playing FS and SS than knowing how to hit people. he has to take on blocks and make plays at and behind the line of scrimmage. a guy his size can easily be taken out of the play by a TE, FB, RB, G, T, C...thats pretty much everyone except for a WR and QB.

also, how do you expect him to gain that much weight? have you noticed how small his frame is? he wont be able to carry the weight very well if he bulks up 15-20lbs.

having dunta come back as a nickel would be more valuable than having him be ineffective at one of the safety positions.

[edo783]

Well true and yet overstated. He played one year at SS and amassed a whopping 10 tackles. He then went on to two years at CB and became a top 10 draft pick. Not saying you are advocating SS, but I can't see why anyone would pick SS first over FS. If anything you move Demps to SS and Dunta to FS. Demps has much more experience both in college and the NFL at SS and while he is an under ranged hard hitting FS could be a well ranged hard hitting SS.

If we were to move Dunta from CB, the only position that would make any sense would be FS IMO. You are spot on with Demps to SS and Dunta to FS as the best combo if we move him. Dunta's height may be an issue at FS, but I think he is athletic enough to mitagate that and would get a great jump on the pass.

[NJTexan]

it is not preposterous to think dunta cant play safety. i study physical therapy at school, and dunta is going to lose a step no doubt. but he has the intensity and the strength to play safety. do you not remember the hit he put on the denver fullback a couple seasons ago? bob sanders is heavier because he plays a different position. dunta could easily put on 15 pounds. i wouldnt be surprised if he became a hybrid between ed reed and roy williams

[HydrOshocK]

it is not preposterous to think dunta cant play safety. i study physical therapy at school, and dunta is going to lose a step no doubt. but he has the intensity and the strength to play safety. do you not remember the hit he put on the denver fullback a couple seasons ago? bob sanders is heavier because he plays a different position. dunta could easily put on 15 pounds. i wouldnt be surprised if he became a hybrid between ed reed and roy williams

You're right, it's not a prepostorous idea but how do you figure it would be "easy" for him to add the weight? I've stated in my previous post how difficult it is for a small framed guy to add extra weight and maintain it from a personal perspective, and I wasn't rehabbing a serious leg injury on top of it.

You have to remember that Dunta will also have to rebuild and rehab the muscle in his leg first before he can even consider playing football again. Only then would he be able to concentrate on adding additional muscle mass to his entire frame. In order to maintain that extra weight he would have to alter his entire diet and exercise regimen........no offense but that's not even close to being easy for most people. We're not talking cheeseburgers and french fries here.

[foozball]

so you guys want Dunta to put on 15 more pounds on an already bum knee...gee...sounds like a smart idea. he's already going to lose a step as it is, how will the extra weight affect his speed and agility on his bum knee? sounds like people just expect it to be easy. its not.

small frame
bum knee
extra weight

recipe for a short career.

he's got a tiny lower body. yes he's cut, but do you really think he can support that weight? try running with a 15 pound weight on your back and making cuts, let alone run in a straight line.

let him get his knee back to 100%. then let him play nickel. after that you can assess where he might play in 2009 or 2010.

[ROUGHNECKS]

The secondary worries me, the front office has made it clear they will not break the bank to bring a player in and we need help at that spot in a bad,bad way. Bennett gives me hope but DROB won't be back till after the season starts and I know he will bust his rear to get back ASAP, but the rest of them are just guys that should only come in to give Bennett, and DROB a breather. I like them to resign Demps and see what Brandon Mitchell can do coming out of training camp and the preseason. As for the nickel back I do not care who the put their as long as it is not Faggins say what you want about getting rid of players like Green, and Fanigan but IMO Faggins should be first on that list teams know when he is on the field to throw the ball his way I had hope he would turn it around but he hasn't and as far as I am concern wont, get rid of that eye sore.

[foozball]

safety prospects

kenny phillips
dajuan morgan
reggie smith
terrell thomas
charles godfrey
tyrell johnson
quintin demps

if we dont take phillips at 18 (if he's there), i say we take tyrell johnson in the 5th. he has good ballskills, is physical and supports the run, and he can play either safety position. sign randall gay, who can hold down a starting job at CB and can move to nickel when/if dunta comes back 100%

CB Randall Gay
CB Fred Bennett
FS Tyrell Johnson
SS Will Demps
Nickel Jamar Fletcher
Dime Von Hutchins
PUP Dunta Robinson

[Hwood82]

Robinson is WAY too small to play SS. He will remain at CB, likely in nickel and dime packages early on.


Now this is why you're my MB Idol....Are these guys kidding?

Dunta is a hellava hitter yes, but playing strong safety is definitely not a place for a converted corner, he'd get killed. I don't think there has ever been a pro corner that has moved to SS. What people have to understand is that a SS is a hitter, a Lineback Lite and a FS is more of a ball hawk that is there to pick off balls and help with coverage.


Don't get me wrong Dunta is the MAN but not at SS, I see him playing NB and Dime for a minute then coming back in '09 getting right back into the groove of things at corner.

[Wolf123]

Even if they were going to move Dunta to safety it wouldn't definatly not be SS. FS I could see him making that transitition but no way SS.

[edo783]

DRob would play FS if moved to safety. He is a hitter but just doesn't have the size (nor could he get there) to hold up at SS. At FS he should have the range to be good at it. However, his height might be problematic, but with him and Demps back, they would certainly be a couple of physical inforcers and WRs would get get some alligator arms later in the ball game after getting smacked by those two a couple of times.

[musicman8251]

how bout Dunta Robinson and Marcus Trufant at CB. fred bennett will do fine until dunta comes back. Will Demps at FS! Kubes will figure out what to do at ss.

[GT]

how bout Dunta Robinson and Marcus Trufant at CB. fred bennett will do fine until dunta comes back. Will Demps at FS! Kubes will figure out what to do at ss.Bennett has already locked down a starting CB spot.The replacement will be for Duanta till he is capable of retaining his spot which I strongly believe he will.Duanta may or may not be ready for starting corner until possibly November and they may not even try him at starter till the following season.I do look for him to start playing nickel mid-season with limited time.