Originally posted by NYniner85:
Originally posted by Willisfn4life:
Yeah I know Harold is supposed to compete there and he was playing a little bit better at the end of last season but he still hasn't shown me enough to believe in him just yet. Brooks has continued to be a reliable if not steady? player in his 30's. No doubt your right though, IF Harold comes to life this camp then youth and a cheaper cap hit will always win out.
Granted it's PFF and should be taken with grain of salt...they graded Harold and Brooks around the same overall (Harold a little higher). Brooks isn't gonna go anywhere this ur just based on talent level or lack there of at pass rusher...but dude has been stealing money from SF imo.
His contract went down dude to poor performance which is good.
I gotta be honest. I have almost completely written PFF out of the picture for myself. I appreciate that we have a tool to look to for performance comparison but there are just so many things that aren't taken into account with PFF. Brooks hasn't exactly been surrounded with the best of talent the last couple of years and as a result has had to try and do a little bit more than he may be able to do from a talent level. He's the kind of guy that compliments other great players well in a defense but with Bowman hurt most of the last couple of years, Aldon's dumb@$$ and Lynch being fat, hurt, or suspended, Brooks has had a lot on his plate and imo guys like Harold's talent level (thus far) are what brings down PFF ratings for guys like Brooks because their trying to do too much.
I'm not talking contracts here because if we were, I'd be inclined to agree with you. Brooks isn't playing at the level of the money being paid to him BUT I'm just talking him, Harold, and Smith in context here and our SAM spot.
No doubt Smith was signed to play WILL and we end up getting Foster which now complicates Smith's role on the team because he's not a pass rusher nor is he strong in run defense, but he can cover. Harold and Brooks are more your prototype players for the position and neither are impact type players but Brooks continues to atleast be a steady player in run defense and will get pressure on the QB. I didn't really see that steadiness at all from Harold last year. He was better the last couple of games but I still have to disagree with PFF. To me Brooks was a better player last year than Harold.
Again, I agree that Brooks isn't the player that his contract says he is, but unfortunately right now he may be our best edge rusher and is probably the best at sealing the edge in run defense between himself, Harold, and Smith.
[ Edited by Willisfn4life on May 2, 2017 at 8:15 AM ]