Kevin Payne has been highly touted as a great DB option this year. However, it looks like his SS job may be in some jeopardy. Anyone know the latest? If he ends up playing FS or platooning among Manning and Afalava I see his value going way down. I didn't catch much of the Chi/Den game tonight but from what I did see it appeared he was with the 1st team at SS.
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Kevin Payne - SS/FS? (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter emilysam
- Start date
ninerfanatic492000
Footballguy
as much as Afalava has been talked up his play hasn't been that impressive, and nearly the same goes for Payne. 2nite Michaels and Collinsworth made numerous comments on how the bears young secondary filled with fillins(singling out both safeties) needs to steup up with all the bears injuries in the secondary(Vasher/Tillman/Manning). Payne seems to mix good plays with some that makes him look borderline ######ed. unless Manning blows out his hammy again i gotta think FS is his to lose with Payne/Afalava/Steltz vying for playing time at SS.
This is reminiscent of last year when McGowan was supposed to go into the season as the starter at SS but the team mixed things up and gave Payne the job despite not showing much during the preseason. Payne went on to have a pretty strong season.
Now, with D.Manning out injured, none of the other guys they were trying at FS were able to hold onto the job so the team moved Payne to FS and inserted the rookie Afalava at SS. He has gotten some positive buzz after a strong game in the opener, but hasn't really shown much in the games since then. Meanwhile, Payne has been very active the past two weeks.
I expect the Bears to move Payne back to SS and insert Danieal Manning at FS once he's healthy. If he's injured, looks like Payne will stay at FS but I'm not sure he'll see a big dropoff in his production as he put up 3 solos last week and 5 solos this week and the Bears weren't really using him much in deep coverage. He might take a hit, but I still like him as a DB2. Afalava had 1 solo last week and 0 this week despite starting both games. Not much to get excited about there yet.
Now, with D.Manning out injured, none of the other guys they were trying at FS were able to hold onto the job so the team moved Payne to FS and inserted the rookie Afalava at SS. He has gotten some positive buzz after a strong game in the opener, but hasn't really shown much in the games since then. Meanwhile, Payne has been very active the past two weeks.
I expect the Bears to move Payne back to SS and insert Danieal Manning at FS once he's healthy. If he's injured, looks like Payne will stay at FS but I'm not sure he'll see a big dropoff in his production as he put up 3 solos last week and 5 solos this week and the Bears weren't really using him much in deep coverage. He might take a hit, but I still like him as a DB2. Afalava had 1 solo last week and 0 this week despite starting both games. Not much to get excited about there yet.
Barry Jive and The Uptown Five
Footballguy
Yep - the interesting part of the DEN-CHI game was that even if they are calling Payne the FS, on multiple occasions, Payne was the guy up in the box with Afalava back deep.
I've only just started rewatching the game, but that's precisely what struck me, too.
Okay, I have watched the whole first half over again, taking note of where Payne and Afalava were on each play. By my count, there were 14 plays where it was clear that one was playing the pass while the other was playing run D. On those, Payne was near the line of scrimmage 8 times and Afalava 6--damn near 50-50!
Sorry I couldn't get somethign more definitive! Believe me, I'm sorry, too, after sitting there!
Oh, one other thing: I was also watching Urlacher. On some plays, he seemed to knife through and get right at the runner. Most of the time, though, it appeared that he was content to sort of shadow the play, letting others take the player down. If you took 54 off his shirt, I wouldn't have known it was him. Hopefully, he's saving himself for the regular season!
Sorry I couldn't get somethign more definitive! Believe me, I'm sorry, too, after sitting there!
Oh, one other thing: I was also watching Urlacher. On some plays, he seemed to knife through and get right at the runner. Most of the time, though, it appeared that he was content to sort of shadow the play, letting others take the player down. If you took 54 off his shirt, I wouldn't have known it was him. Hopefully, he's saving himself for the regular season!
UnderRated
Footballguy
So is there any dynasty value in a rookie draft for Afalava? Any news about Mannaing position yet or injury???
I also read Sean Smith will be the rookie pick on CB this year across from Will Allen... Is he worth a pick? My draft is tonight!
What u guys think???
Thanks
I also read Sean Smith will be the rookie pick on CB this year across from Will Allen... Is he worth a pick? My draft is tonight!
What u guys think???
Thanks
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If he can win a starting SS job in Chicago, he'll certainly have value. I just haven't seen much to get excited about him yet.Smith is a nice pickup. Big, physical corner should be a great source of tackles.UnderRated said:
