Most Improved Player - Defense

CouchCoach

CouchCoach

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Which player on the defense do you think will make the most improvement this season?

What I like about this is, for a change, we have multiple choices with a standout DE, another one that could be emerging, two stout LBs and a PB CB. Not to mention Awuzie, Collins and Woods as possible's.

My candidate is Byron Jones. Second year under Richard, second year as the CB and I do not think we've seen how aggressive Richard wants to be and I think Lord Byron will enable him to do that more.

One thing I do not get about how he's regarded here. He had an outstanding year and got a lot more respect form opposing coaches than he seemed to get here. These cover corners are not easy to find and I think he's the best CB we've had since Sanders and believe he's going to get even better.

I am predicting that this is one time the "Freak of the Combine" comes through as a great player and I think we've just scratched the surface of his understanding of that position.

OK, who's your guy? And please just one guy, not everyone but poor Jeff Heath.
 
DasSchnitzel

DasSchnitzel

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CouchCoach said:
Which player on the defense do you think will make the most improvement this season?

What I like about this is, for a change, we have multiple choices with a standout DE, another one that could be emerging, two stout LBs and a PB CB. Not to mention Awuzie, Collins and Woods as possible's.

My candidate is Byron Jones. Second year under Richard, second year as the CB and I do not think we've seen how aggressive Richard wants to be and I think Lord Byron will enable him to do that more.

One thing I do not get about how he's regarded here. He had an outstanding year and got a lot more respect form opposing coaches than he seemed to get here. These cover corners are not easy to find and I think he's the best CB we've had since Sanders and believe he's going to get even better.

I am predicting that this is one time the "Freak of the Combine" comes through as a great player and I think we've just scratched the surface of his understanding of that position.

OK, who's your guy? And please just one guy, not everyone but poor Jeff Heath.
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I see why you picked BJ but I think he already had his "most improved" year last year. I expect we'll see him start rounding out his game at the level he reached midseason last year. If BJ takes another step this offseason equal to the step he took last offseason, he'd be the best CB in the league.

But then again, it was his first year at CB, so maybe I'm looking at it all wrong and last year was his baseline skill level at CB. If so, and if indeed improves a lot, then "hot damn" is all I have to say. Yeah, I know he doesn't get INTs, but I'll take it if he shuts down half the field and QBs aren't even trying to throw his way.

It's hard to pick LVE because he too took a massive step last year. If a rookie is near the top of his position league wide and then gets the "most improved" award his 2nd year, holy crap.

I think I'll go with Gregory. I think the only thing stopping him this year is a potential relapse. Otherwise, across the board he looks like he's in prime position to take a nice step forward. I would also love to see a "most improved" Gregory and a returning DLaw, would be a huge boon for the team to finally have both DE spots secured again. Last time that happened, DeMarcus had a different last name. Add in a DT with pick 58, please.
 
Outlaw Heroes

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LVE. The comparisons to Urlacher are going to become annoying next season. They’ll stop in a few years when LVE establishes himself as the better player.
 
beware_d-ware

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Jaylon played at a Pro Bowl type level last year, and the unfounded internet rumors were that he still wasn't 100% recovered from his knee. If he has another gear that we haven't seen, then ho lee crap.

Realistically though, my bet is for Awuzie with another year under Richard.
 
CowboyRoy

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Killerinstinct said:
Woods. I think he made dramatic improvement last year but he could still have more upside. Team him with Earl Thomas and watch him grow.

Taco could make a couple of plays and be considered a huge improvement so there is that.
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Lets please stop with the Taco thing.

1. Jeff Heath
2. Taco

The all, get rid of team.
 
beware_d-ware

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Another one I thought just thought of: Maliek Collins.

Dude's issues early on were A. Lacking power and B. Chronic foot injures keeping him off the field. From what I saw over last year, he was doing much better in the strength department and holding his own at the point of attack, to go along with the quickness and fluidity that he's always had.

I think this guy might be another late bloomer on defense. 3 different foot injuries in 3 years is really, really bad, but if he can stay healthy, I think he might emerge as a real player at the 3 tech.
 
DasSchnitzel

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beware_d-ware said:
Another one I thought just thought of: Maliek Collins.

Dude's issues early on were A. Lacking power and B. Chronic foot injures keeping him off the field. From what I saw over last year, he was doing much better in the strength department and holding his own at the point of attack, to go along with the quickness and fluidity that he's always had.

I think this guy might be another late bloomer on defense. 3 different foot injuries in 3 years is really, really bad, but if he can stay healthy, I think he might emerge as a real player at the 3 tech.
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I would be very happy if this occurred but I'm not a believer.

I actually called the Collins pick at that spot well before the draft, and I very rarely do that. Here we are a few years later and he looks like a 3rd round pick. I'm not dissatisfied with the player for the price but I dont think he's ever outpaced his projections.

My guess is that Collins puts together another acceptable year and then moves on in free agency in 2020. Unfortunately.
 
DasSchnitzel

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CowboyRoy said:
Lets please stop with the Taco thing.

1. Jeff Heath
2. Taco

The all, get rid of team.
Click to expand...

Jeff Heath is an acceptable starter at safety and an asset in ST.

Obviously it's a position that could use an upgrade but I don't blame Heath for being on a roster that needs him to be a starter instead of a depth piece.

With any luck, a safety is acquired in the offseason, Woods continues to develop, and Heath moves from being an acceptable starter to a pretty good 3rd string safety.
 
CowboyRoy

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DasSchnitzel said:
Jeff Heath is an acceptable starter at safety and an asset in ST.

Obviously it's a position that could use an upgrade but I don't blame Heath for being on a roster that needs him to be a starter instead of a depth piece.

With any luck, a safety is acquired in the offseason, Woods continues to develop, and Heath moves from being an acceptable starter to a pretty good 3rd string safety.
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I wont even debate Jeff Heath. Maybe in YOUR world he is acceptable. In mine, he is a horror show.
 

buybuydandavis

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Tangle_Foot said:
Randy Gregory, all of his numbers will be up across-the-board. Sacks, pressures, forced fumbles, quarterback hits, and tackles for loss :flagwave:
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Gregory was out of football for a year and a half, lost lots of weight, then came in for training camp and had a pretty good season. That's pretty freaky. He should be able to do a lot more with a full year of NFL prep.
 
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