ESPN Mosley: What's in Mosley's Mailbag?

[PullMyFinger]

Mosley, I know you are walking a fine line with your blog. You don't want to be seen as a "Cowboys Homer".

You call Terence Newman an elite CB, and you are correct about that. I do give you a ton of credit for that analysis. There are some fans and analysts that can't see their hand in front of their face. I'll give you big props there for sure.

Then, you talk about "if one thing goes wrong", he "breaks down".

Newman played through the 2004 season with a banged up knee, and he didn't "break down". He battled through it and some adversity and put up the first of his back to back 5.8 YPA (2004 and 2005) seasons.

In 2007, he did have the foot problem, probably caused by that terrible turf in San Antonio. He sat out 2 games, and was put the Pro Bowl, finally got his due. He didn't fall apart or "break down". He put up a 6.1 YPA and "shut down" WRs like Plaxico Burress, ect...

In 2008, Newman suffered his first major injury during his six year career. The groin injury was caused when another guy fell on him awkwardly during a non-contact drill in training camp. As a result of trying to play, he developed the sports hernia. That is the only instance of Newman having another injury causing another major problem for him.

Your baseline is only one year. Newman goes 6 years with one major injury (caused by an outside force), and now some in the media and some fans say that he's injury prone and over hype one injured year or unlucky year.

That really isn't fair.

Newman's "enemies" try to use that against him, hoping they will get lucky, so they can all come back and tell us that "they were right".

When in reality, they only have one year, last year, to point at.

You can take Samuel and Webster.

I'll take Newman and let's play. Those guys are no better than Terence Newman. Webster has put up one strong season so far, and he isn't checking Steve Smith or Santana Moss all over the field. Let's see if he has staying power first. Most talking heads think Samuel is better, so you are not alone there.

Samuel has big picks in playoff games, but if you examine his YPA over the past 5 years, Newman is definately the most consistent and steady player (between the two) over that time period. Look at K.C. Joyner's metrics (YPA) since 2004. Newman ranked second, only to Shawn Springs, with a 6.2 YPA (from 2004-2007; 4 year average). Newman has been the master at preventing big plays. Samuel gambles more and has been beaten more than Newman over the years. In fact, Samuel didn't rank in the top 10 of that 4 year average. Samuel is a gambler who is vulnerable in the middle of the field when he has to chase guys like Newman has to do on a consistent basis.

Plus, Terence Newman has been the best slot defender in the NFL since 2005, and I dare you to name one better. Samuel isn't a slot player. In fact, the smart teams run incuts at him to attack him and make him cover more ground. It also pulls him away from the sidelines where he is so dangerous.

I do agree with cutting Newman's work load down in the offseason. He doesn't need to be over worked.

If Terence Newman stays healthy, he will continue to play at an elite level well into his 30s. I predict Newman will see ages 31, 32, 33, and 34 all blend together. This guy isn't your average 30 year old player. Newman has only played 6 years, and he's in incredible shape and runs in the mid 4.3s. He has a 41 inch vertical, and his combination of speed, quickness, burst, and agility is very, very, very rare.

You be sure to tell the Eagles fans that DeSean Jackson won't get away with that little stiff arm bar he put on Newman last year when the ball was in the air and Newman was right on top of him. He's seen that trick now. You can tell them Dallas might have the second best slot player in the NFL in Orlando Scandrick, and Jeremy Macklin is about to get to know him.

By the way, the Cowboys have a CB on their team who is a younger, faster, bigger, and stronger version of Asante Samuel. Plus, he can play inside due to his 4.38 speed.

His name is Mike Jenkins.

Get ready to right about him for a long time.

I can't wait until he locks down Larry Fitzgerald one day.

LOL you should email this to that nimrod!

 

[Primetime42]

Asante sure looked like he was clutch when he dropped that pass Eli threw right at him in the Super Bowl.


Jus' sayin'.

 

[burmafrd]

Samual has NEVER been put on a top WR one on one for a whole game or most of one like Newman has done several times and taken him right out of the game. BY itself that tells you who the better CB is.

 

[PullMyFinger]

Rampage = the new Eduncan. What happened to our old buddy anyway?

 

[silverbear]

Rampage = the new Eduncan. What happened to our old buddy anyway?

I thought you knew, he changed his name to Rampage...

 

[Rampage]

i'm not eduncan. I think Newman is a top 10 cornerback in this league. I just think Asante Samuel is a little better.

 

[ctalker]

I used to repect Mosley's writting, but honestly, that article just made me realize what another clueless writer he is

 

[dadymat]

I fail to see how in any way that this is embarrassing. What it tells me is that RW finds his relationship with Romo to be very important. How is that in any way a bad thing?

I hate throwing out the word agenda but its pretty obvious that Mosely would love for RW to fail.

It cracks me up how this guy continually bashes Roy Williams then talks about how much potential the Giants have at WR? Are you kidding me, Hixon, Smith and Manningham havent done squat in the NFL and Hixon is the only one sho showed he might be capable of being a solid #2 WR.

what gets me is Mosley is the only reporter that is saying that Romo and RW arent developing a chemistry........i definitely think RW must have punked Matt in front of his girl or something

 

[28 Joker]

Samuel only Started one game in his rookie season and 8 in his 2nd season. he also has 7 career playoff interceptions returning 4 of them for tds. I'm done on this topic. I clearly think Asante is better than Terance like most people and you think otherwise. difference of opinion.

You certainly have the right to have that opinion, but the majority opinion may not be the most informed opinion or the best opinion.

The two players (Newman and Samuel) have been contrasts in some ways.

Newman has played in a heavy man to man scheme while Samuel has played in a heavy zone scheme in NE.

When you play in a heavy man to man scheme and defend the entire football field, especially like Newman does out of the slot, you are going to have your back to the football when you are covering guys down the field. On the other hand, Samuel was allowed by NE's scheme to gamble more and jump routes. NE's scheme did help him be a ballhawk. He played down hill, from the sidelines to the numbers, and played off the WR; therefore, the ball/WR was in front of him. Their scheme helped him be more aggressive.

Newman's elite slot play has seen him cover some of the best or fastest/quickest WRs all over the football field. When you play inside, you have to defend the entire football field. Newman has shut down and limited the production of some of the best WRs in football over his six year career. You don't put up 5.8, 5.8, 7.1, and 6.1 YPAs, from 2004-2007, unless you are consistently winning those battles against the competition you are covering. Newman has definately been one of the best CBs in the NFL when it comes to eliminating the big play and negating the passing production in his area of the football field, which is at LC and in the slot. He's been the master, imo.

While Samuel has had some impressive playoff games/picks, Newman has only played in three playoff games. It isn't Newman's fault that the Giants didn't even bother to look his way in 2007.

Samuel has been the flashy gambler, and as a result, he has given up more plays while Newman has been the more consistent or reliable player in terms of limiting big plays.

The gamblers like Champ Bailey, Antonio Cromartie, Nate Clements, Chris McAlister, and Asante Samuel tend to give up more deep and intermediate plays in exchange for the big interception. They get over aggressive, and it shows in their YPAs. Also, it can show up on the scoreboard.

Also, Anthony Henry led the NFL in targets, according to Joyner, in 2006. That happened before Henry lost a step or two and was a good player. Teams have shied away from Newman during his career. Newman's great coverage has dictated that aspect.

Newman has been the player that has quietly and consistently prevented big plays and let the interceptions come to him over his 6 year career. He does have 20 career interceptions.

Samuel has been the player who has benefited from being allowed to constantly jump routes and play off the ball in zone coverage while playing in NE.

Who you would prefer is in the eye of the beholder, I guess.

I'm taking the consistently reliable Terence Newman and his elite skill set, because I can deploy him in tight man to man coverage all over the football field. I can play him in the slot, and he has been the best slot defender in the NFL since Bill Parcells deployed him there. I can put him on bigger players like Terrell Owens in his prime, and I can have Newman shadow very quick, fast WRs all over the field (see Steve Smith and Santana Moss).

Newman is excellent in press man, off man, and zone. He plays the run and the short stuff extremely well. He is excellent in space. Newman lets the game come to him, and he should continue to get more opportunites for interceptions in Wade Phillips' defense. Newman prevents big plays and has severely limited or shut down the production of some of the best WRs and TEs in the NFL.

Samuel has been kind of like the high maintenance beauty queen during his career. Those girls may not look like a beauty queen without their makeup and everything just right.

Newman has been kind of like the hot girl next door, who can go to the store without any makeup on and still look hot.

I'll take the hot girl who doesn't have to wear any makeup.

They are consistently "hot".

 

[Ren]

It's great to hear about the possibilities with Austin but this Romo/RW11 crap makes me let out a huge SIGH. I thought they worked together in the off-season? How long does it take RW11 to get it? We can't afford for him to still be working on "getting it" as we go into the season. Some of this potential running game success relies on the possibility of our WR putting enough of a scare in opposing DCs to prevent them from crowding 8 in the box frequently. Gotta get it Roy....

Maybe it's just because this writer doesn't like RW11. I get that. Hopefully that's the case and said WR is meshing very well with his new QB.

Dude it's Mosley, he can't go a day without Bashing Williams, he saw them miss on 2 plays in OTAs a few weeks back and has been going on about it ever since :laugh2:

 

[dogunwo]

You certainly have the right to have that opinion, but the majority opinion may not be the most informed opinion or the best opinion.

The two players (Newman and Samuel) have been contrasts in some ways.

Newman has played in a heavy man to man scheme while Samuel has played in a heavy zone scheme in NE.

When you play in a heavy man to man scheme and defend the entire football field, especially like Newman does out of the slot, you are going to have your back to the football when you are covering guys down the field. On the other hand, Samuel was allowed by NE's scheme to gamble more and jump routes. NE's scheme did help him be a ballhawk. He played down hill, from the sidelines to the numbers, and played off the WR; therefore, the ball/WR was in front of him. Their scheme helped him be more aggressive.

Newman's elite slot play has seen him cover some of the best or fastest/quickest WRs all over the football field. When you play inside, you have to defend the entire football field. Newman has shut down and limited the production of some of the best WRs in football over his six year career. You don't put up 5.8, 5.8, 7.1, and 6.1 YPAs, from 2004-2007, unless you are consistently winning those battles against the competition you are covering. Newman has definately been one of the best CBs in the NFL when it comes to eliminating the big play and negating the passing production in his area of the football field, which is at LC and in the slot. He's been the master, imo.

While Samuel has had some impressive playoff games/picks, Newman has only played in three playoff games. It isn't Newman's fault that the Giants didn't even bother to look his way in 2007.

Samuel has been the flashy gambler, and as a result, he has given up more plays while Newman has been the more consistent or reliable player in terms of limiting big plays.

The gamblers like Champ Bailey, Antonio Cromartie, Nate Clements, Chris McAlister, and Asante Samuel tend to give up more deep and intermediate plays in exchange for the big interception. They get over aggressive, and it shows in their YPAs. Also, it can show up on the scoreboard.

Also, Anthony Henry led the NFL in targets, according to Joyner, in 2006. That happened before Henry lost a step or two and was a good player. Teams have shied away from Newman during his career. Newman's great coverage has dictated that aspect.

Newman has been the player that has quietly and consistently prevented big plays and let the interceptions come to him over his 6 year career. He does have 20 career interceptions.

Samuel has been the player who has benefited from being allowed to constantly jump routes and play off the ball in zone coverage while playing in NE.

Who you would prefer is in the eye of the beholder, I guess.

I'm taking the consistently reliable Terence Newman and his elite skill set, because I can deploy him in tight man to man coverage all over the football field. I can play him in the slot, and he has been the best slot defender in the NFL since Bill Parcells deployed him there. I can put him on bigger players like Terrell Owens in his prime, and I can have Newman shadow very quick, fast WRs all over the field (see Steve Smith and Santana Moss).

Newman is excellent in press man, off man, and zone. He plays the run and the short stuff extremely well. He is excellent in space. Newman lets the game come to him, and he should continue to get more opportunites for interceptions in Wade Phillips' defense. Newman prevents big plays and has severely limited or shut down the production of some of the best WRs and TEs in the NFL.

Samuel has been kind of like the high maintenance beauty queen during his career. Those girls may not look like a beauty queen without their makeup and everything just right.

Newman has been kind of like the hot girl next door, who can go to the store without any makeup on and still look hot.

I'll take the hot girl who doesn't have to wear any makeup.

They are consistently "hot".

:bravo:

 

[28 Joker]

Great post.

Thank you.

Newman has been ridiculously underrated over his 6 year career.

DeAngelo Hall has two of his Pro Bowls. In 2006, Hall was targeted 87 times according to Joyner. He is another gambler, and he made the Pro Bowl by making the highlight reel. However, he has been really roasted. He got so roasted in Oakland that they cut him.

Here is Rafael Vela's analysis that used K.C. Joyner's stats to rank the four year YPA averages for CBs.

http://www.blueandsilverreport.com/2008/07/07/who-is-the-best-cover-corner/

People are probably sick of it by now, but I'll link it again. Vela needs his due for that break down and analysis.


I'm glad to see some fans rally for Newman, because someone has to set the record straight and understand the nature of his position, how he plays the position, and what he does to impact the results of games. I commend them all and appreciate the help. Newman deserves to be given his due. He's earned it on the field.

I really appreciate the caliber of player Newman has been and will continue to be in the long run if he stays healthy. Nothing is guaranteed in football. It'a a dangerous sport.

When I first started reading a few prominent Cowboys blogs, I couldn't believe how underrated Newman was in the Cowboys fan base, never mind the NFL. The media (writers and talking heads) has dictated that to a large degree, national and local. It has gotten better, but then you have guys like Mosley saying Corey Webster is better. JJT said Lito Sheppard was better. Sheppard is another gambler who gives up more plays.

I just wish Terence Newman would get the opportunity to play in a NFC Championship game and a Super Bowl.

 

[28 Joker]

:bravo:

Thank you. I bet Newman would appreciate your support, too.

 

[Hoofbite]

I fail to see how in any way that this is embarrassing. What it tells me is that RW finds his relationship with Romo to be very important. How is that in any way a bad thing?

I hate throwing out the word agenda but its pretty obvious that Mosely would love for RW to fail.

Kind of the impression that I get as well.

 

[28 Joker]

Good post!! :starspin

Thank you. I bet Terence Newman appreciates your support and his fan support. I appreciate the help.

Your signature still rules. That revenge was sweet.

That little troll (Santana Moss) was shut down, again. He couldn't pick on Aaron Glenn or Jacques Reeves in the 2006 game at Dallas and last year at Washington. Newman shadowed him and shut him down, twice.

That little troll (DeSean Jackson) is going to get his.

By the way, if you watch last year's Washington game again, look for Newman's huge hit on Clinton Portis. He jacked him up, and Portis was done after that huge hit. It came in the second half.

 

[silverbear]

i'm not eduncan.

The smiley should have suggested I was being facetious...

 

[Apollo Creed]

i'm not eduncan. I think Newman is a top 10 cornerback in this league. I just think Asante Samuel is a little better.

I feel you. Its not even close really. Newman really hasn't had a chance to perform in the playoffs, but Samuel seems to get it done when it matters most. They have a relatively similar price tag as well.

Newman has one pick 6 his entire career, and that was a gift against the Jets. So you aren't crazy.