What to do at SS?

[foozool13]

We all know YB is entering his final year of his contract and has a cap number of $6.2 Million (Compare to Polomalu who makes $9 Million). I have noticed that the love/hate for Bell seems to be fairly split here. So I just wanted to poll everyones opinion on what we should do at SS.

YB is an unquestioned leader of the locker room, so losing him would suck in that aspect. We could ask him to take a pay cute which our FO has done to others in the past, but I dont think Bell woudl do it. HE may even get insulted considering he has been a top tackler on the team since 2008. We do have Reshad Jones (who is signed through 2014), so we could cut him and plug Jones in there. We could also go after a FA like Laron Landry or Reggie Nelson which would be upgrades. Landry has missed a lot of games over the last two years and I'm just tired of signing injury prone FA. Also, a Nelson will probably want a nice paycheck so that defeats the purpose here of cutting YB to help the cap room.

I am a YB fan and would love to keep him, but that cap number is pretty high. Reshad Jones would cost a fraction of that ($530,000). Idealy I would want to give him a 1 year extension and let Reshad Jones learn for another year, but that doesnt seem realistic.

I say we cut YB and roll with Reshad Jones who will be a much better player at SS than at FS (where he was playing last year) in the NFL.

 

[Tunaphish429]

Like you said Reshad Jones is the guy that could step in for Bell..Let him learn on the field..He is a good tackler in open field but I wonder how him and Clemons would fair when the field is split in half.. Maybe we can rework Bell's deal and he will stay?

 

[kloud_9]

Reshad Jones at his original position and decide what to do at the other free safety spot.Jones was originally a strong in college so it shouldn't be to tough

 

[JFoxx]

A very tough call with Bell. He's completely solid in run support and a great tackler. Pass coverage is good, but he's not one to cause a lot of turnovers (fumbles or INT's). Depending on how the new DC is going to change our defensive strategy, he'll either fit well or not at all. My guess is that we are going to want guys that get/cause turnovers and while Bell is a good safety, he might not fit into the new model.

 

[phinatic1399]

Reshad Jones is more suited for SS and that is his position, he actually came on late in the season at FS, personally what I would do if I were Ireland is try to restructure his contract so we can save $, Bell is a leader in the lockeroom and I would like to see him stay for one more year, but if he wont restructure than move Jones over to SS and sign Reggie Nelson for FS, if Coyle becomes DC than this would make a lot of sense.

 

[JRoX85]

Move jimmy Wilson there where he will shine above the rest

 

[Tunaphish429]

Move jimmy Wilson there where he will shine above the rest

I like that if that was the plan for Jimmy he would have been playing more on the Nickel down playing off a Wr or Te. When Jimmy was in he was playing more boundry corner so I wonder if Miami likes him better in press situations? The kid can hit and tackle..and he is not awful tracking the ball either.. I remeber in the browns game he had int that was really just thrown right to him and then a td caught on him was just out of his reach...

 

[phinatic1399]

I like Jimmy Wilson a lot, he is still shaky in coverage but the kid can make some plays, I'm not sure if I'm ready to let em take over SS tho

 

[Travis34]

As far as what we currently have to work with, we should cut Bell and promote Jones

 

[foozool13]

I like Jimmy Wilson a lot, he is still shaky in coverage but the kid can make some plays, I'm not sure if I'm ready to let em take over SS tho

Wilson plays CB for us, I dont think they would give him a shot over Jones at this point. I doubt they even have him compete for the spot.

 

[JRoX85]

The kid plays the whole field very well we can't say the same for Culver or Jones Wilson if given the chance would shine as he is not to worried on focusing on a WR but primarily on reading the QB as well as being the only sure tackling guy we have back there

 

[Miamifinz]

Tough call. He gets a tremendous amount of respect from his teammates, and cutting him would not make them happy. On the other hand, he's very overrated.

 

[kloud_9]

Well one thing for sure.this is a brand new staff and head coach...I say let everyone in the secondary battle.Sean smith,clemons,jones,jimmy Wilson etc.he is a db coach (coyle) put the best combo on the field.unless we choose to upgrade some pieces.there are going to be some amazing corners in the second and 3rd round if they choose to go that route also.

 

[footsteps_falco]

top 5 hardest hitting safety in the league in my opinion. That didnt change at all this year. dude hurts people. he's our version of polamalu with lesser ball skills. i don't think he's a problem at all on this team. but they never brought in the right compliment for him, which is a shame.

At this point though, you don't want to build around Bell because hes too old. he's still playing at an elite level but that will change sooner than later. laron landry and reshad jones are both suitable replacements. it's not insulting to say you don't want to pay Bell 6.5 million. I would pay Landry that kind of money because he's like 4 or 5 years younger as as hard a hitter and covers more ground. reshad jones is someone that staff will have to evaluate but i would put him there before jimmy wilson at this point.

 

[Tunaphish429]

The kid plays the whole field very well we can't say the same for Culver or Jones Wilson if given the chance would shine as he is not to worried on focusing on a WR but primarily on reading the QB as well as being the only sure tackling guy we have back there

The SS would not do that every play. In Blitz plays the saftey usually is in man coverage against the TE.. Also you like to have one saftey that can play the nickel it gives your base D versitlity and balance.. That would be the biggest problem...