Adalius Thomas: So much to say about this

[Future]

Ryan showed more plays from 2005, when Thomas became the NFL's most versatile player. At right end against Pittsburgh, he dropped into coverage on a zone blitz and picked off a Ben Roethlisberger pass. At defensive tackle against Cleveland, he muscled through the line to sack Trent Dilfer. At strongside linebacker against Houston, he came in unblocked to sack David Carr. As a Carr-spying, line-roving defensive lineman in the same game, he mirrored Carr's movements and was in the right place at the right time to collect a deflected pass and return it for a touchdown. At middle linebacker against Minnesota, he fought through traffic at the line and chased Brad Johnson from behind, forcing a fumble that ensured a Ravens win. At weakside linebacker against Green Bay, he rushed in a bunch package from the left, recovered an Aaron Rodgers fumble and ran it in for a touchdown. Also in that game, he had three havoc-wreaking plays at strong safety.


http://forums.footballguys.com/forum/lofiversion/index.php/t291512.html

I found this incredible. I am officially on the Adalius Thomas bandwagon for a free agent signee. The guy is absolutely perfect for the 3-4. This could provide the guy opposite Ware that we need. He has the agility to play in space and can rush the passer.

and I love the way he is used, but its very frustrating. How many of us have been clamoring for Ware to be used in the exact same way?

[parchy]

I don't even want to THINK about the ridiculous amount of money he is going to command in the off-season. More than he's worth, for damn sure.

[Haley94]

Zimmer will coach the aggression out of him. Just bend, but don't break.

[EveryoneElse]

I don't even want to THINK about the ridiculous amount of money he is going to command in the off-season. More than he's worth, for damn sure.


He would fall into obscurity if he came here. Zimmer would ruin him.

Pay him. Get it done Jerry.

[Hoofbite]

Won't happen.....would be nice to get a player like him but won't happen.

[BlueStar22]

I'm all for signing A.D. (as he's affectionately known to us) Why? I'm a Southern Miss alumnus for one. A.D. had a GREAT career at Southern Miss and was Defensive POY in C-USA for a couple years. A.D. got hurt his senior and fell to like the 6th round in the draft. He should've come out after his junior year but if I remember correctly, he stayed for his senior. It was a treat watching him play that BANDIT END position in our defenses that ranked in the top 10 in the mid to late 90's. A.D. can rush from Ellis' position and also can put his hand in the ground. Pay him what he wants Jerry!




Also, to speak to his athletic ability, he also played on the Southern Miss basketball team for a while before quitting to play football full time.

[Yeagermeister]

With Ray Lewis on the downside of his career they won't let him get away.

[ManicDepressiveMan]

Feh.

With a year of NFL calibur weight training Bobby Carpenter will be all we ever need opposite Ware.

[ajk23az]

Feh.

With a year of NFL calibur weight training Bobby Carpenter will be all we ever need opposite Ware.

but thomas can provide depth at LB,DE,S, hell if hes that good we should line him up on punt/kickoff returns........:D

but, theres no way the Ravens will let him go, unless they cant afford him.

[JFlgn]

It'll be a lot of money for a player that old.

[bbgun]

Zim would turn this guy into a passive florist.

[MONT17]

So now Carp needs roids to play? Merriman complex alert...AD would be a great sign but I can see BP adding a talent like him... compare AD to the rest of BP free agent signings and ask yourself... if BP is here would he sign the guy?

the Boys have the Money to pay AD what he needs... with the full cap hit of multiple FREE AGENT BUST hitting this years cap... why not? Rivera and Bledsoe were making some change give AD their money!!!

[Smith22]

I was begging for AD back in 2004, but we let the Ravens resign him for cheap.:( This is exactly the type of player we should be looking to sign, especially with the money we have to throw around.

[junk]

I was begging for AD back in 2004, but we let the Ravens resign him for cheap.:( This is exactly the type of player we should be looking to sign, especially with the money we have to throw around.

If the team passed before, I'm not sure why they would change their mind now.

[CrazyCowboy]

Great article.....I imagine his team will do everything to keep him like FRANCHISE TAG

[SteveOS]

He'll be franchised.

[Fletch]

Won't happen.....would be nice to get a player like him but won't happen.

A lot of us thought that the T.O. deal wouldn't work either. Never count out Jerry Jones when it comes to a good player these days.

[sago1]

I doubt the Cowboys will be able to sign him cause I agree he'll be franchised & he'd be too expensive for us anyway. We re $20.5M under the cap; we can add in another $6.5M since there no way Bledsoe comes backs.

But we also need money to resign some of our players that we want to keep: like Gurode who played his first full year at center so expect we pay him starter money. Colombo who also played his first full year at RT probably also will be resigned but what kind of money. Are our weak links still Adams & Riveria? Seems to change game to game. I'd like to see us bring in a vet young FA like Kris Diehlman or Steinbech who apparently of starter caliber. Either of these 2 players could start at LG & move Kosier to RG. While Parcells might like Proctor, frankly while isn't he starting if he better then Riveria. Decisions, decisions must be made and some good upgrades added. I'm just concerned we will take the cheap route.

And then there's the defense which urgently needs a good FS & pass rusher. A good FA pass rusher will cost big bucks & Cowboys might feel they okay if Ellis comes back and Burnett/Hatcher/Carpenter develops, so we see. We'll see how Parrish plays at FS in the next 3 games. I'm hoping he looks pretty good cause he could be our answer next year while allowing Watkins time to become our long-range answer. If Parrish isn't the answer, then think we'll go for reliable FA FS who temporary answer if the team thinks Watkins will get it done next year.

[kartr]

I was begging for AD back in 2004, but we let the Ravens resign him for cheap.:( This is exactly the type of player we should be looking to sign, especially with the money we have to throw around.

Exactly. I wanted him then too. He was a 6th round draft pick and a restricted free agent, so we wouldn't have had to give up much for him. I remember Billick saying that he couldn't believe nobody tried to steal him away from them,but he was terribly relieved. Missing on guys like this and Merriman and Shaun Phillips and Kevin Williams of Minnesota and Rashean Mathis and Jerious Norwood and Greg Jennings. These are the kind of decisions that caused me to have doubts about Parcells ability to pick the groceries.

[AsthmaField]

I'm all for signing A.D. (as he's affectionately known to us) Why? I'm a Southern Miss alumnus for one. A.D. had a GREAT career at Southern Miss and was Defensive POY in C-USA for a couple years.

You're a USM alum? I didn't know that. I live in Hattiesburg and I too graduated from USM. I liked Thomas when he played here and I think he'd be a very good pickup for us at the right price.

I wouldn't pay an arm and a leg for him... not at his age. However, I don't think he'll be too terribly expensive. I can't see Baltimore paying him top 5 money at his position... so I don't think they'll franchise him, although I could be wrong.

They didn't want to pay him a whole lot a couple of years ago, so I don't know why they'd want to go top 5 now.

Anyway, at a reasonable price, I think thomas would give us some flexibility on D and provide a great bookend to Ware... all the while allowing Carpenter to learn and grow and find his spot on the defense (either inside or outside).

[BlueStar22]

You're a USM alum? I didn't know that. I live in Hattiesburg and I too graduated from USM. I liked Thomas when he played here and I think he'd be a very good pickup for us at the right price.

I wouldn't pay an arm and a leg for him... not at his age. However, I don't think he'll be too terribly expensive. I can't see Baltimore paying him top 5 money at his position... so I don't think they'll franchise him, although I could be wrong.

They didn't want to pay him a whole lot a couple of years ago, so I don't know why they'd want to go top 5 now.

Anyway, at a reasonable price, I think thomas would give us some flexibility on D and provide a great bookend to Ware... all the while allowing Carpenter to learn and grow and find his spot on the defense (either inside or outside).yeah, graduated in 2000. I hope we see something from Carp next year. I just think if available, AD would step in and do the job probably better than Ellis.

[silver]

Zim would turn this guy into a passive florist.

:laugh2: you crack me up sometimes.

[AsthmaField]

I just think if available, AD would step in and do the job probably better than Ellis.

Oh, I definately think he'd do better than Ellis. I think his pass rush would be only a little better, but his coverage and the rest of his "LB" game would be way ahead of where Ellis' was. He'd be a big upgrade over Ellis and would help the dynamics of the defense a lot, IMO.

[kingwhicker]

He'll be with the Ravens forever.

[ThreeSportStar80]

Feh.

With a year of NFL calibur weight training Bobby Carpenter will be all we ever need opposite Ware.

Bobby Carpenter isn't good enough, he's average at best!

[khiladi]

I don't get it... Why do people think Zimmer would coach the aggressiveness out of any guy? Zimmer, before Parcells, was very aggressive. He used to blitz alot to try and account for the weaknesses in coverage before Bill came... Remember that I am not arguing that he was successful before Parcells.. Zimmer couldn't generate a pass rush than.. but he could not be accused of being non-aggressive...

The lack of aggressiveness if anything is because of Bill Parcells.. He plays a lot of zone... I remember a quote that was referenced in a Dallas game where the announcer stated that Bill Parcells was saying that everybody wants to make Ware a sack specialist, while he wants to make him a linebacker.

Bill Parcells has a scheme that focuses on particular things... If anybody is going to make somebody not aggressive, it is going to be Bill Parcells... Unless of course you snort cocaine, like LT... than anybody, including Parcells, would have problems taming you...

Parcells prefers to keep games close, because he believes it gives the team a better chance to win... he is very fearful of the big play... that is why he plays a very conservative style....

[Bob Sacamano]

I would like to see what we have in Carp

but then again, I would like for us to sign Adalius

[Bob Sacamano]

I think his pass rush would be only a little better

a little better? Adalius is just as big, but faster

[Manster54]

Being a MD native, the Ravens are my AFC team and second favorite team after the BOYZ. I have seen every Cowboys Ravens game in Baltimore. A.D. is a DIFFERENCE MAKER. If I had to pick one player from the Ravens, I would start with him. NO, not Ed Reed, even withour free safety woes. A.D. is the next generation football player NOW. The guy hits people and they get hurt. Not that he tries to hurt them, but he is a beast. Vick has nightmares about A.D. He is 270+ pounds and the most athletic man on the team. In short, if the Ravens DO NOT sign him or franchise him, he would be worth whatever Dallas would pay him. I would love to see him as the strong side linebacker, stopping the run and beating down the q-back. He could actually cover in the flat and PUNISH the running back for daring to catch the ball. He would instantly make Demarcus a better pass rusher. His presence would make the secondary better. I can't say enough about the guy. He also is very active in the community and has a great team player reputation JERRUH, GET OUT THE CHECK BOOK. ;)

[Rockytop6]

Zimmer will coach the aggression out of him. Just bend, but don't break.

The problem however is that they break also too may times.