Originally posted by NYFCat
When I first read this post, I ignored it because it's fairly obvious that you're not as intellegent as you think you are. But if you're going to start with this "No one's responding, I wonder why?" garbage, I'll chime in.
So... why did we promote Arturo Freeman in light of Brian Walker's departure? Lets see....
1) Brian Walker turned 30 on May 31st. Arturo Freeman turned 26 on Sunday. That's a difference of almost 4 1/2 years.
Translation - Arturo Freeman is YOUNGER.
2) Before getting hurt in his senior season at SC, Freeman was able to run a 4.52/40, which is great for a FS/SS hybrid. Can Brian Walker run that?
Translation - Arturo Freeman HAS BETTER RANGE.
3) Walker signed a 5 year, 10 million dollar contract with the Detroit Lions. Freeman, as of right now, is playing for peanuts. If he gives the coaching staff reason to sign him long term, then we do it... for about the same price we would have signed Walker for. If he falls on his face (which is BS if you think that is happening so far) then the search continues.
Translation: Arturo Freeman is CHEAPER
4) Freeman, this season, is on pace for 73 solo tackles. Brian Walker has NEVER amassed that number in his career.
5) For two seasons, Walker played deep in the secondary. He did NOT have the responsibilities of playing close to the line of scrimmage and diagnosing playactions. If we were able to stop the run and rush the passer using ONLY our front 7, Walker could be effective: he has good size, great hands, and is a solid tackler. Unfortunetly, our porous Run D down the stretch last year made it obvious that we had to commit more players to the LOS. Walker is a TERRIBLE read-and-react SS. That's why Jimmy Johnson released him before the '99 season instead of allowing him to challenge Calvin Jackson for the job. By that same token, the alteration of defense from '99 to '00 (dropping safeties further back into coverage) is why Walker was signed and Calvin Jackson was released. Now that we have changed our defense AGAIN to playing safeties closer to the LOS, why would we put Walker back in the situation that got him released before the '99 season?
Translation: Arturo Freeman is a better fit in this defense.