Steve Spurrier III wrote:welch wrote:A small voice with a humble opinion:
- Darrell Green was the best CB the Redskins have ever had or seen
- Green used to joke about his inability to hold onto the ball
- All Green did was break up passes. That was enough.
- Rogers can drop INTs as long as he keeps stopping the passes.
- He looks better to me than he did when he was a rookie. For the young folks, Green had sloppy technique in his first few years. He was so fast that he could usually recover, but he became a great CB only when he learned to be in the right place first. Rogers is not as fast, but he seems to be learning the position.
This is kind of like saying Patrick Ramsey = Dan Marino because neither can scramble. By the time Green was 27, he was already an elite corner. Rogers may still improve, but at a position that relies so much on pure athleticism, a big jump in ability is unlikely.
Also, while they weren't the best, I think you're underrating Green's hands. He had 14 interceptions through his first four years, compared to six for Rogers. Granted, Green probably got his hands on a lot more footballs than Rogers does, so their drop percentage might still be similar.
But I know I read somewhere recently (I think Charlie Casserly either wrote it or said it, but I can't find it now) that in 1986 the Redskins were planning on using Green on offense a little bit. But then the USFL folded and the Redskins landed Ricky Sanders, so those plans got lost in the shuffle. The point is, while Green's hands weren't exactly made of glue, they were good enough for the team to toy with the idea of him playing offense.
Finally, while everyone has to acknowledge that Springs is much more likely to miss time due to injury, let's not pretend that Rogers, a guy who has already had a major knee injury, is a guarantee to stay healthy. Games played the last two years: Springs 25, Rogers 23.
It's, indeed, unfortunate that you completely missed the fine point that Welch was making... which is that the great DG did not have the greatest of hands, either. Welch is also NOT underestimating Green's hands, as the statement comes from Green himself.
He is NOT making the argument that 'los is therefore, the same as DG.
Hyperbole does nothing to increase the validity of your attempt at a counterpoint, and it does not refute Rogers' considerable coverage skills.
I also agree with Darrel Green's assessment of his own hands... yet, I also saw him make the most incredible catch, EVER... an interception that was nullified by a defensive holding penalty (away from the play), and, therefore, will never (unfortunately) be seen on a highlight reel.
Green had deep cover on a corner route. The pass was high, but Green jumped the route, was able to jump up, and, with his left hand, just grab the tip of the ball, which he immediately lost control of. As he had leaped in an awkward position, his momentum turned him away from the ball, but he maintained his focus. The ball trickled down his left arm, and down his back. He reached behind with his left arm as he was coming down, pinned the ball, and was able to grasp and control it, bringing it around to his front. The receiver had overshot at this time, and as DG hit the ground, he was running, with nothing but daylight between him and the goal... Had he scored, it definitely would have been one for the annals...
I suspect that whoever had gotten the penalty probably got an earful...
Green DID NOT have great hands... but that one was a thing of beauty.
ey is the highest paid guy on the Skins this year, followed by Portis.
