Sparano is messin up with his mancrush on Pat Cobbs

http://blogs.palmbeachpost.com/thed...hins-mini-camp-and-ota-bonanza/#comment-45187

My first real calling out of HC Sparano, this is just a serious error in judgment.

Cobbs as:

WC: Dude was so slow he was caught from behind on a sweep, that is how his ACL was torn

Primary Kickoff returner: He averaged 22 ypa, but in reality his slow *** required fake reverses to Ted Ginn to have any return over 25yds, Ginn won't be here to be a decoy, he offers not a damn thing as a returner save for..he can catch the ball cleanly...oh joy.

Gunner on Coverage units: Dude has 17 tackles in 2 years, in 08 when the coverage teams were atrocious, he had 14...Lex Hilliard had 13 in 09..

Backup Rb: he has a whopping 33 carries in his carrier.

Sparano seems to fail to realize that a mediocre player who does several things will do them in a mediocre manner, meanwhile for all the talk of "progress stoppers" on the Defense in 09, he once again doesn't quite apply that same standard to small, slow, Cobbs.

You messin' up Tony.

 

He is quite slow, one was a WC play, and screens work off of timing more than speed.

Good enough of a blocker to take an additional 300 yds in returns or any realistic chance of a TD on a return?

Hillard, Sheets, guys with actual physical talent..

To compete we need players who can pressure the opponent at every opportunity, from returning kicks to taking a simple swing pass to the house, Cobbs doesn't offer that, if Sparano wants a mediocre player who does several jobs at a low level, fine, but he is messing up in doing so.

Cobbs is a bit like putting Dubs on a Prious, then running errands in it, it's still a Prious, there is only so much one can do with it.

 

And against the Jets he was caught from behind on a reverse and his knee was shredded, he doesn't have the speed to turn that corner against a good defense.

IIRC he scored in 08 on the Seahawks and KC wasn't it?

Change of pace rusher meaning "he really doesn't offer much of a threat, but Sparano likes him" if one means that then I'm on board.

Decent ST player? He had 13 tackles all season in 08 and the ST was terrible, Hilliard had 13 tackles on ST after he went down in week 4, in less time he had the same ST production.

And that is what I'm speaking on, Cobbs is "nice', much better can be done than him in every phase of the game, nothing in his game stands out save for "coaches pet".

 

This annoys me greatly Deej, Sparano having 'big plans' for a player who doesn't do anything well, meanwhile the returner role just lost a pro bowl caliber returner and Sparano is speaking about "big plans for Cobbs"?

WTH?

Cat is 5'9, ran a 4.7 on his pro day, and weighs 205 and is coming off a ACL and now he is Kevin Faulk?

Please.

 

The one way I could see Sparano doing that is "if' keeping Cobbs on Returns means Pat White stays a Dolphin, Cobbs would fill the role that a KR only would fill, freeing a space for White.

But I'd dislike the thought of withdrawing from big play ability at the Returner position, but if Roster Politics means Pat White then I'd hold my nose.

Or at least hope Hartline shows some explosiveness and wins that role.

 

I doubt there is any common ground to be found FN, and "yes' I do think Sheets is far more of a playmaker than Cobbs will ever be.

I sort of thinks Hilliard can outplay Cobbs if given the chance, but I'm not as certain of it as a I am of Sheets, who is raw as a all around Rb as Sparano mentioned, there is more to the job than hitting the edge of the defense with speed, they have to block and cover kicks etc.

Sheets couldn't do any of those things in 09, which is why he only had one carry.


But unless Sheets has a chance to do those jobs, Sparano is being premature.

 

Ive' seen some Purdue games , and the youtube stuff, and Sparano praising his speed "he can really really run".

His production was in 2008, prior to the ACL, and I'd seen enough of his return effort to know I'm not enthralled with it.

And I know with Ginn gone, if Sparano had his druthers he would be more than happy to hand Cobbs the returner job as he did in early 09.

 

Yes, it does, they gave away Ginn who was a good Kr, now planning for Cobbs to fill in just seems unwise, and flaccid.

Say what one will about White, he did led the NCAA in rushing, there is reason to believe he can perform at a high level in the NFL, Cobbs inspires no such confidence in his performance.

 

In 52 plays you know this?

A Rook qb has 52 plays, 5 passes, and now he is a mistake?

Qb's are far far more valuable to develop than 3rd string mediocre Running Backs, if one does not, or cannot acknowledge that fact o' life in the NFL then there is really nothing to discuss on this one JS.

 

Give White the 3yrs Cobbs has had in the NFL then there is some basis to make the comparison.

 

Here is the thing, they will use Cobbs as the KR simply because they can save a roster spot or two via having Cobbs on the roster and NOT keeping the RGM's or Sheet's and training other players to do the jobs that Cobbs does.

So rather than have Sheets or RGM as the returner and WC player, and having Greg C play gunner, they simply will keep Cobbs, lose the production, but then keep the roster spots open.

As a #3 Rb a 5'9 205 Rb fits what they do? Ronnie's injury history is well known, Ricky wore down, that leaves P Cobbs as the feature back?

Does that make sense? Cobbs as the #3rb/Kr with two players ahead of him who are likely to get dinged as the season rolls along..

 

But White will not be allowed even 1/3 of that amount of time to develop.

That drives me nutz.