Aqib Talib (1 Viewer)

[Polyethylene Bag]

Is it just me or this guy extremely undervalued this year?

I honestly haven't watched the him play that much but he was touted as a prototypical Cover 2 corner when he was drafted last year. He had 4 picks in limited playing time last year and he's penciled in as the starter opposite Barber. I know he's a headcase but why isn't anyone talking about him? Norton is the only staffer that lists him in his top 60 DBs. Thoughts?

 

[Jene Bramel]

Talib is just outside my list. He's the 62nd name on my rank list, with only the first 60 getting published in our software.

The rub with Talib for me is twofold. First, the Bucs won't play nearly as much Cover-2 this season as they did last year. Some of that favors Talib -- he can be a bump-and-run guy with the potential to continue his big play run -- but it also means he'll have to allow a lot of completions and/or be very effective in run support. Those players tend to be very inconsistent weekly and aren't great targets in an FBG-like scoring system. Second, when looking for safe DB4 options, Talib's character concerns work into the mix.

I think Talib is a very interesting DB5 or CB2 with upside. That list is deep enough this season, however, that a guy like Talib won't necessarily make it into the top 60. He's the kind of guy who could finish in the top 25 or well outside the top 50. Very good risk-reward play, not-so-good as a definite every week starter before he proves consistency.

 

[Polyethylene Bag]

Talib is just outside my list. He's the 62nd name on my rank list, with only the first 60 getting published in our software.The rub with Talib for me is twofold. First, the Bucs won't play nearly as much Cover-2 this season as they did last year. Some of that favors Talib -- he can be a bump-and-run guy with the potential to continue his big play run -- but it also means he'll have to allow a lot of completions and/or be very effective in run support. Those players tend to be very inconsistent weekly and aren't great targets in an FBG-like scoring system. Second, when looking for safe DB4 options, Talib's character concerns work into the mix. I think Talib is a very interesting DB5 or CB2 with upside. That list is deep enough this season, however, that a guy like Talib won't necessarily make it into the top 60. He's the kind of guy who could finish in the top 25 or well outside the top 50. Very good risk-reward play, not-so-good as a definite every week starter before he proves consistency.

Thanks for the relpy Jene. I agree with most of your points. However, I thought I recall Talib being advertised as a physical corner that would play well against the run. Is this more of a question mark than I thought? Again, I haven't seen him play much and he obviously wasn't in the game on running downs last year. How much of a reduction in the Cover 2 do you think there will be in Tampa?

 

[Jene Bramel]

Talib is just outside my list. He's the 62nd name on my rank list, with only the first 60 getting published in our software.

The rub with Talib for me is twofold. First, the Bucs won't play nearly as much Cover-2 this season as they did last year. Some of that favors Talib -- he can be a bump-and-run guy with the potential to continue his big play run -- but it also means he'll have to allow a lot of completions and/or be very effective in run support. Those players tend to be very inconsistent weekly and aren't great targets in an FBG-like scoring system. Second, when looking for safe DB4 options, Talib's character concerns work into the mix.

I think Talib is a very interesting DB5 or CB2 with upside. That list is deep enough this season, however, that a guy like Talib won't necessarily make it into the top 60. He's the kind of guy who could finish in the top 25 or well outside the top 50. Very good risk-reward play, not-so-good as a definite every week starter before he proves consistency.

Thanks for the relpy Jene. I agree with most of your points. However, I thought I recall Talib being advertised as a physical corner that would play well against the run. Is this more of a question mark than I thought? Again, I haven't seen him play much and he obviously wasn't in the game on running downs last year. How much of a reduction in the Cover 2 do you think there will be in Tampa?

Talib is physical and that should translate well to run support. That's why he's got that top 25 potential. I don't think 70 solos are out of the question if he plays to his full potential in run support. But he remains unproven in the NFL and he won't have the Tampa-2 to fall back on any longer.The Tampa-2 is gone this year. Raheem Morris elected to bring in Jim Bates rather than find a Tampa-2 coach that would ensure continuity in last season's scheme. Bates is more of a bump and run coverage coach, though there may be some zone coverage mixed in.

 

[lexus]

Slight shift of player commentary, if you please.

Is Rhonde Barber coming back for the Bucs, I've heard rumors that they don't want to pay the $$$ necessary for a 35-yr old CB - even though he can be very productive "fantasy-wise"?

Thanks for any inputs.

P. S. Talib is a definite up-and-coming CB, both NFL-wise & fantasy-wise. With him and Barber in as CBs at the same time, who would be covering for whom?

 

[Jene Bramel]

Slight shift of player commentary, if you please. Is Rhonde Barber coming back for the Bucs, I've heard rumors that they don't want to pay the $$$ necessary for a 35-yr old CB - even though he can be very productive "fantasy-wise"?Thanks for any inputs.P. S. Talib is a definite up-and-coming CB, both NFL-wise & fantasy-wise. With him and Barber in as CBs at the same time, who would be covering for whom?

I can't imagine Barber going anywhere at this point of the offseason. The Bucs already need someone to step up at corner this year and there's little chance of finding two productive players to play corner as camp approaches. I'm unable to find the link, but I believe I remember reading that the coaches still feel Barber can play and play well.

 

[Polyethylene Bag]

Talib is just outside my list. He's the 62nd name on my rank list, with only the first 60 getting published in our software.

The rub with Talib for me is twofold. First, the Bucs won't play nearly as much Cover-2 this season as they did last year. Some of that favors Talib -- he can be a bump-and-run guy with the potential to continue his big play run -- but it also means he'll have to allow a lot of completions and/or be very effective in run support. Those players tend to be very inconsistent weekly and aren't great targets in an FBG-like scoring system. Second, when looking for safe DB4 options, Talib's character concerns work into the mix.

I think Talib is a very interesting DB5 or CB2 with upside. That list is deep enough this season, however, that a guy like Talib won't necessarily make it into the top 60. He's the kind of guy who could finish in the top 25 or well outside the top 50. Very good risk-reward play, not-so-good as a definite every week starter before he proves consistency.

Thanks for the relpy Jene. I agree with most of your points. However, I thought I recall Talib being advertised as a physical corner that would play well against the run. Is this more of a question mark than I thought? Again, I haven't seen him play much and he obviously wasn't in the game on running downs last year. How much of a reduction in the Cover 2 do you think there will be in Tampa?

Talib is physical and that should translate well to run support. That's why he's got that top 25 potential. I don't think 70 solos are out of the question if he plays to his full potential in run support. But he remains unproven in the NFL and he won't have the Tampa-2 to fall back on any longer.The Tampa-2 is gone this year. Raheem Morris elected to bring in Jim Bates rather than find a Tampa-2 coach that would ensure continuity in last season's scheme. Bates is more of a bump and run coverage coach, though there may be some zone coverage mixed in.

Thanks Jene! Always helpful to hear additional insight.

 

[Polyethylene Bag]

Slight shift of player commentary, if you please. Is Rhonde Barber coming back for the Bucs, I've heard rumors that they don't want to pay the $$$ necessary for a 35-yr old CB - even though he can be very productive "fantasy-wise"?Thanks for any inputs.P. S. Talib is a definite up-and-coming CB, both NFL-wise & fantasy-wise. With him and Barber in as CBs at the same time, who would be covering for whom?

Look at Tampa's depth chart. There's no way they let Barber go this year. They're dangerously thin as it is. I do think this is Barber's last season in Tampa, but they need him this year. As far as who's the true #1, Barber would have to show a precipitous decline to be demoted. However, at his age that's certainly possible.

 

[-baller]

isn't he a candidte to retur kicks, or no?

 

[Anthony Borbely]

First, ranking DBs is by far the toughest ranking of any position. It's not even close. They fluctuate wildly not just from year to year, but sometimes week to week. It's hard enough ranking the top 20-25, but after that it is really a crapshoot. I could literally take an unranked player one day and move him into the top 30 or so the next...and it would be legit. There is very little difference from 30 to 60 in many cases.

As for Talib, I have to see more of him in the new Bucs defense to rank him. I know I would have him ranked higher if Kiffin was still running the defense, but for now, it's wait and see...and hold.