I'm glad he's got an attitude. Let him channel it on the opposing offense.
Actually, as much as I like the way the defense is progressing, I think they need to still establish a clearer identity as the year progresses. And what I'd like to see is a bit more of a mean streak in them..
..guys like Roy W. supply part of it with their hitting, but for this defense to really step up, they need a couple of dudes to play a bit more vicious and cocky. Not nasty, but to be real enforcers and vocal on the field to keep guys involved and fighting.
As well as be hitters and playmakers.
Burnett has the tools.
I suspect that because he had those surguries, the hip think, etc., he's had to let that settle before he could really get it going. That's natural.
And I don't think there was any urgency at the LBer position until Singleton went down, either..as Fujita was acquired and Ware was playing well.
I don't think they (the coaches) imparted to Burnett the same urgency they probably did with Ware and Spears and Canti going into TC and others whom everybody knew would immediately get playing time from the start on the DL..where everybody knew those guy were going to have the biggest challenge in converting from 4-3 to 3-4.
Same thing with MBIII. He started out slower, had an injury to his foot with the infection and got sent down the depth list as obviously, they were trying to groom Thompson to make the roster and MBIII just wasn't pressed to be ready.
Of course, that's all changed for Burnett and MBIII, becoming players moving up to direct backup status now with A-Train gone and JJ being hurt.
Now they have to turn it up a notch and stop just studying film and doing bit parts on scout teams and start using their skills and perform more with bullets flying.
MBIII has done it, Pettiti has, too. So can Burnett.
That's a big change for any rookie. Especially with playing for BP and his attitude about injuries and playing injured, etc.
Both MBIII and Pettiti and Burnett have had to navigate that road early in their time here. Also add in Spears to that list, as he had to deal with his injuries also, late in TC and like JJ did last year and is doing again now.
I think Burnett will be fine.
Again, like with guys like Torrin Tucker having to step up after having been sat down or had playing time decreased or having read comments from the coaches about sub-par showings..
..it takes time and different approaches to get young players involved and it also makes you have to make adjustments when you do play them. And for some, like with Tucker, possibly a position change does it and a second chance to step up and play.
Whatever.
But if Burnett is cocky AND good..we'll be fine. I'd like to have a fiery player at LBer that will be playing alot and provide hitting and emotional sparks for the front 7.
:strongarm
Sort of like Williams does for the secondary. Our secondary has an enforcer and lead hitter in him. The LBers need one also at that level of the defense.
So far, the LBers for us, other than Ware, haven't really dominated the LOS as I thought they need to, yet. Dat's steady but too small, Singleton was steady but not an impact player (and gone), Shanly and James are steady but they aren't playmakers nor momentum changers.
And Ware, he's really a pass rusher and disrupter on the DL as much or more than a LBer. They move him around alot to get confusion from the OL as to account for him and he's really primarily good at pressure on the QB.
Which is great, but he's not an enforcer of the variety that Roy Williams is at safety. Sitting behind the LOS waiting to lay a lick on a RB or TE coming across the field. To me, you have to have an impact player you can sort of turn loose at all three levels of the defense..
..the DL, at the LBers and also the secondary..
..that can be allowed to play a bit looser and freer than the rest of the positions who must fill gaps and control areas to maintain containment.
These other guys, these guys with playmaker and headhunter playmaker ability, you move them around, lessen their immediate responsibilities and let them play to their instincts to make big plays.
You let them react instead of just sitting back and reading their keys and the rest of the guys at the various positions play less risky assignments, but nonetheless, essential assignments at their positions.
To me, Ware does this on the DL, Williams does this at the secondary level with his hitting and LOS patroling, but in the middle layer of defense,the true LBers, we lack an impact,headhunter type player.
Burnett, if he's can do it, has an opportunity to bring that..IMO. Already, we've heard consistant rumors that next year's draft will be looking for more LBer help.
Burnett's lack of playing and progress to date must be having a baring on those rumors. He needs to put a cork in that and fill the need right now as he has the chance to make his presence known.
Can he..? Will he..?
As a rookie, he'll be on a short-lease to begin with to just plug in and get the basic responsibilities down.
But towards the end of the year, hopefull he'll show some of this. Or maybe Fujita will now that's he's starting. Fujita obviously was brought in because Burnett wasn't showing he was ready.
To me, Fujita has done great and maybe a terrific pickup at such a cheap cost from KC..but with Burnett being drafted with expectations to contribute more than he has his first year..it will be interesting to see how Burnett responds to this new situation of him getting more action.
Whatever.
But it's one of those things where we need a guy at LBer that is going to be enforcing b/w 3-7 yards behind the LOS with big hits and fumble-causing hits and be a guy the RBs want to avoid their areas and the OL aren't able to contain well.
Find me that guy in addition to Ware and Williams that will step up and create concern in the front 7 and we're well on our way to getting more identity as a defense and physically a rep as being a bit more dominating coming into games.
We'll see.
parcellswaterboy
The kid's a player. For the life of me I don't know why fans are so in a hurry to get rid of or knock a player especially those in the 1 to 3 year range.
