Someone sell me on Jack Sanborn

[thunderpimp91]

OK I’ll sell you

Guy signed for $1.5M and only $150K guaranteed. If he plays special teams and rotates in on defense a little it’s a good signing.

But, IMO, he is going to be better than expected. Remeber that he was in line to start with Chicago after Roquan was traded before they brought in free agents that pushed him back to #3 and Chicago really only played two LBers. Edwards and Edmunds both basically played about 100% of the snaps the past two seasons So he didn’t have a much of a chance. But, In the games he played a lot of snaps in, he did pretty darn well. Small sample size but in the two games Edmund’s missed in 2023 he had 8 amd 10 tackles and then in the game he played half of the snaps the next week he had another 7. Now go back to his rookie year of 2022 after Roquan was traded and he had 7, 12, 9, 15, 11 and 5 tackles (last game of season).

Personally I thought it was a great signing. When Overshown is back we have him on the field FT and then a few others fighting for that #2 FT spot. I think Sanborn will be better than Murray and we will have to see how Liufau develops. I wouldn’t be surprised if Sanborn were our week 1 Mike.

I'm with you early in your post. Given the cheap signing he was if we get a solid rotational player who can also contribute on special teams this was an A+ signing. The risk with Sanborn is nearly zero.

The issue I think more people run into is when we label him a starter, that is where I need to be sold. After 6 starts as a rookie, and 10 starts in 2023 Chicago felt like they needed to go get an upgrade for 2024 before letting him walk in 2025. The tackle stats are great, but I don't think anyone is questioning his ability as a run plugger. The issue with Sanborn as a starter is he has been very bad in coverage, which is typically the priority for teams when naming starting players.

For his career Sanborn has had a

• 15% target rate
• given up catches on 85% of those targets
• QB rating allowed at about 100

Compare that to even a fairly average coverage guy like Eric Kendricks last year

• 6% target rate
• 59% catch rate
• QB rating allowed 51

Even in 2023 when he got 10 starts Sanborn only received about 170 coverage snaps. Even while getting starts he was getting taken off the field on obvious passing downs.

Maybe he can still take a major step forward in this department, however its going to be extremely difficult to get him significant snaps if he cant cover anyone. He is going to get picked on by QBs and teams try to get him into bad matchups.

 

[gimmesix]

Much rather gamble on a player who has strong instincts then an athletic freak who has none. As I have said, Sanborn could potentially become a poor man's Anthony Hitchens. No, he will never be a high-end starter, but is a quality role player who has the ability to play all off the ball linebacker positions.

I am more worried about Murray. He is a healthy version of Jaylon Smith to me. Zero instincts, more of a guesser who will take himself out of plays reading the play wrong. Has the athletic profile, but will be playing on his 3rd team in 3 seasons.

Yeah, we did both.

I do think Eberflus's plan with Murray is to take the thinking out of the game for him and just let him fly to where he is supposed to be based on the call. Sanborn will have to be more of the read-and-recognition guy as the MLB, and that's why I think Eberflus brought him in. He's an early-down/short-yardage player who is going to win with his knowledge and understanding. Murray can win with his athleticism but not if he has to think about it.

 

[Jarntt]

Even in 2023 when he got 10 starts Sanborn only received about 170 coverage snaps. Even while getting starts he was getting taken off the field on obvious passing downs.

Maybe he can still take a major step forward in this department, however its going to be extremely difficult to get him significant snaps if he cant cover anyone. He is going to get picked on by QBs and teams try to get him into bad matchups.

Chicago plays predominately 2 LBers. He wasn’t one of the two. One of them gets $18M per year and the other $10M. Before that they had Roquan Smith. All 3 of those are 3 down players. Him not playing more snaps in all situations had very very little to do with him and his play. The Bears depth chart is absolutely nothing like ours. We need an early down run stopper and I suspect he will play in those situations. I don’t care if he plays 3rd downs or not. That’s not why we signed him but he’s probably about the same as the rest of our healthy guys there so we will see what they do.

 

[Pass2Run]

Chicago plays predominately 2 LBers. He wasn’t one of the two. One of them gets $18M per year and the other $10M. Before that they had Roquan Smith. All 3 of those are 3 down players. Him not playing more snaps in all situations had very very little to do with him and his play. The Bears depth chart is absolutely nothing like ours. We need an early down run stopper and I suspect he will play in those situations. I don’t care if he plays 3rd downs or not. That’s not why we signed him but he’s probably about the same as the rest of our healthy guys there so we will see what they do.

Excellent points.

 

[gimmesix]

Chicago plays predominately 2 LBers. He wasn’t one of the two. One of them gets $18M per year and the other $10M. Before that they had Roquan Smith. All 3 of those are 3 down players. Him not playing more snaps in all situations had very very little to do with him and his play. The Bears depth chart is absolutely nothing like ours. We need an early down run stopper and I suspect he will play in those situations. I don’t care if he plays 3rd downs or not. That’s not why we signed him but he’s probably about the same as the rest of our healthy guys there so we will see what they do.

Eberflus uses a whole lot of nickel. I don't expect Sanborn to be out there in those situations. I think he's here strictly for when we are in three-linebacker sets to help us stop the run.