I apologize for starting another Wale thread, but I will not just give my views, there are college stats and opinions as well to show my case...
I have in the past, stated my opinion on Wale, and like some of us, its that he is a product of playing opposite of JT. That statement is based on the history of other DE's and DTs who have played with this team and moved on, and ultimately not being as productive as when they played here.
Lately, I have been changing my mind on Wale's situation, specially after conducting a little research on his college playing years, on his stats before being picked up by this team...
So the different views that are pointed around on this board is...
1- Wale is not deserving of $$$ that J Kearse, KBG and JT deserve...
2- Wale has not had the time to prove himself worthy...
3- Wale is just a product of JT as others have been...
I checked on Wale's record at Indiana University, a member of the Big Ten. He finished his footbal career in college in the middle of his senior football season with an ACL tear, a possible career ending injury.
-> He ended up with 34 sacks in 3 1/2 seasons in College.
-> At the end of his 3rd year in Indiana he was already IU's all time sack leader with 26. He has already 24.5 sacks after his 2nd year in the NFL as a starter.
-> Up until August of 2001 (from articles researched) he was 5th in the BIG TEN all time sack leaders. He would haved moved up if it was not for his injury. I have not researched, to see if anyone has surpassed him since.
-> From what articles researched, he was a likely late 1st round draft pick to early 2nd rounder, before his injury.
So that's what I found out about his track record in College, and the Dolphins (DW) signed him in 2000, based on what he accomplished before his injury.
Wale spent the 2000 and part of the 2001 off-season re-habing, waiting to get on the NFL playing field. His first, chance came in the 2001 Hall of Fame Game, where he played a little over a quarter. Guess what, he got his 1st NFL sack against the STL Offense that propelled that team to the SB that year.
Now lets look and compare his record against those other top DE's that he is targeting for $$$
KBG- 3 years (avg/season)
-> 47 games= 39 total tkls, 11.8 sks, 3 frcd fmbls, 2.3 pass defnd...
J Kearse- 4 years (avg/season)
-> 62 games= 47 total tkls, 11.3 sks, 5 frcd fmbls, 4 pass defnd...
J Taylor- 7 years (avg/season)
-> 108 games= 56 total tkls, 10.2 sks, 3 frcd fmbls, 6 pass defnd...
A Ogunleye- 2 years (avg/season)
-> 32 games= 55 total tkls, 12 sks, 2 frcd fmbls, 4 pass defnd...
So there you have it, now comes time for me to give my opinion and answer those views stated at the begining of this post...
3- Wale is just a product of JT as others have been...
Well let's see, K Mixon, since he left MIA, has shown to be a good run stopper as DE, with an average of 60 total tkls/season but and average pass rusher with 4 sks/season. L Bromell has shown to still be what he was when he played here, a less than avg run stopper (24 total tkls/season) and an avg pass rusher (6 sks/season). They were both shuffled in and out of the line due to the Defensive play calling, they had one strenght individually, pass or run stopping.
As a run stopper Wale has been above avg and as a pass rusher he has showed he is very good. His record with the team is definitely better than Mixon and Bromel, when they participated, and his College record is there as proof that he has the talent and skills.
Did anyone else other than Muck and myself watched those clips of Wale just throwing around one of Buffalo's 300+ lbs linesman? I have never seen JT do that. I also have seen Wale speed rush to get to the QB. I hope Muck or someone else can prove me wrong and show me. JT uses just speed to get to the QB and I have seen many Tackles hold on to JT.
Wale is shown to have the skills and talent of a great pass rushing DE, he is not a product of JT. They both seem to compliment each other and cause headaches for opposing Offenses.
2- Wale has not had the time to prove himself worthy...
Now this one is very debatable, he had a good year in 2002, so what does he do? He then leads the AFC in sacks (2003) the next year. If anything, this point of view, I would have to add, how good can he be? Realistically we can all wait and see if he will have a bad year, like JT had in 99 with 2.5 sacks in that season. But, we believed in JT and he responded with 14 sacks the following season.
JK had avgd 13 sacks, JT had avgd 7 sacks, and Wale has had avgd 12 sacks starting in their 1st 2 seasons. Bromell and Mixon were really never considered starters, they were shuffled in to spell each other because they each have different strengths. Wale has proven to be an every down player, and IMO has proven himself worthy.
But, the bottom line on this issue IMO, is that he should have played his last year under contract and then negotiate a new contract, and this is the opinion I place in front of you.
1- Wale is not deserving of $$$ that J Kearse, KBG and JT deserve...
Well, what else to say, other than I totally disagree with this statement. I have stated evrything I wanted to say about Wale, and there is no way I will cut and paste the above info.
Bottom line on this view, is that I believe barring injuries, Wale will get better, and might probably be a better DE in the long run, than JK, JT and KBG. Defensive coaches normally plan for 1 good DE per team not 2, and I hope he and the FO can negotiate so we wont hurt our negotiations with CC next year...
eace:
I have in the past, stated my opinion on Wale, and like some of us, its that he is a product of playing opposite of JT. That statement is based on the history of other DE's and DTs who have played with this team and moved on, and ultimately not being as productive as when they played here.
Lately, I have been changing my mind on Wale's situation, specially after conducting a little research on his college playing years, on his stats before being picked up by this team...
So the different views that are pointed around on this board is...
1- Wale is not deserving of $$$ that J Kearse, KBG and JT deserve...
2- Wale has not had the time to prove himself worthy...
3- Wale is just a product of JT as others have been...
I checked on Wale's record at Indiana University, a member of the Big Ten. He finished his footbal career in college in the middle of his senior football season with an ACL tear, a possible career ending injury.
-> He ended up with 34 sacks in 3 1/2 seasons in College.
-> At the end of his 3rd year in Indiana he was already IU's all time sack leader with 26. He has already 24.5 sacks after his 2nd year in the NFL as a starter.
-> Up until August of 2001 (from articles researched) he was 5th in the BIG TEN all time sack leaders. He would haved moved up if it was not for his injury. I have not researched, to see if anyone has surpassed him since.
-> From what articles researched, he was a likely late 1st round draft pick to early 2nd rounder, before his injury.
So that's what I found out about his track record in College, and the Dolphins (DW) signed him in 2000, based on what he accomplished before his injury.
Wale spent the 2000 and part of the 2001 off-season re-habing, waiting to get on the NFL playing field. His first, chance came in the 2001 Hall of Fame Game, where he played a little over a quarter. Guess what, he got his 1st NFL sack against the STL Offense that propelled that team to the SB that year.
Now lets look and compare his record against those other top DE's that he is targeting for $$$
KBG- 3 years (avg/season)
-> 47 games= 39 total tkls, 11.8 sks, 3 frcd fmbls, 2.3 pass defnd...
J Kearse- 4 years (avg/season)
-> 62 games= 47 total tkls, 11.3 sks, 5 frcd fmbls, 4 pass defnd...
J Taylor- 7 years (avg/season)
-> 108 games= 56 total tkls, 10.2 sks, 3 frcd fmbls, 6 pass defnd...
A Ogunleye- 2 years (avg/season)
-> 32 games= 55 total tkls, 12 sks, 2 frcd fmbls, 4 pass defnd...
So there you have it, now comes time for me to give my opinion and answer those views stated at the begining of this post...
3- Wale is just a product of JT as others have been...
Well let's see, K Mixon, since he left MIA, has shown to be a good run stopper as DE, with an average of 60 total tkls/season but and average pass rusher with 4 sks/season. L Bromell has shown to still be what he was when he played here, a less than avg run stopper (24 total tkls/season) and an avg pass rusher (6 sks/season). They were both shuffled in and out of the line due to the Defensive play calling, they had one strenght individually, pass or run stopping.
As a run stopper Wale has been above avg and as a pass rusher he has showed he is very good. His record with the team is definitely better than Mixon and Bromel, when they participated, and his College record is there as proof that he has the talent and skills.
Did anyone else other than Muck and myself watched those clips of Wale just throwing around one of Buffalo's 300+ lbs linesman? I have never seen JT do that. I also have seen Wale speed rush to get to the QB. I hope Muck or someone else can prove me wrong and show me. JT uses just speed to get to the QB and I have seen many Tackles hold on to JT.
Wale is shown to have the skills and talent of a great pass rushing DE, he is not a product of JT. They both seem to compliment each other and cause headaches for opposing Offenses.
2- Wale has not had the time to prove himself worthy...
Now this one is very debatable, he had a good year in 2002, so what does he do? He then leads the AFC in sacks (2003) the next year. If anything, this point of view, I would have to add, how good can he be? Realistically we can all wait and see if he will have a bad year, like JT had in 99 with 2.5 sacks in that season. But, we believed in JT and he responded with 14 sacks the following season.
JK had avgd 13 sacks, JT had avgd 7 sacks, and Wale has had avgd 12 sacks starting in their 1st 2 seasons. Bromell and Mixon were really never considered starters, they were shuffled in to spell each other because they each have different strengths. Wale has proven to be an every down player, and IMO has proven himself worthy.
But, the bottom line on this issue IMO, is that he should have played his last year under contract and then negotiate a new contract, and this is the opinion I place in front of you.
1- Wale is not deserving of $$$ that J Kearse, KBG and JT deserve...
Well, what else to say, other than I totally disagree with this statement. I have stated evrything I wanted to say about Wale, and there is no way I will cut and paste the above info.
Bottom line on this view, is that I believe barring injuries, Wale will get better, and might probably be a better DE in the long run, than JK, JT and KBG. Defensive coaches normally plan for 1 good DE per team not 2, and I hope he and the FO can negotiate so we wont hurt our negotiations with CC next year...
eace: