future plate of crow

a lot of experts are starting to say that we'll draft a safety to replace troy, or that with troy's retirement, safety has become a big need.
quite a few of you on this board are saying the same thing.......
I for one believe that the next big thing is already on the squad, and that man is shamarko Thomas
No, i'm not looking through black and gold lenses.... I truly believe that shamarko is going to have a break out yr., and make a lot of people eat their words....
mark my words. shamarko Thomas is going to be the defenses guided missile and receivers are going to have alligator arms going over the middle

for all the naysayers, i'm planning on crow hunting and there will be a healthy portion on the menu...... this post will be resurrected at the end of next season for everyone's viewing and eating pleasure

hope you guys bring your appetites

 

He definitely gets his chance in 2015!

 

I am starting to think that Shark was held back because he didn't kiss Dick's ring enough. Dick wanted everyone to worship him and if you came in a little cocky and not bowing down to Dick's "genius" label, then you sat. To me, it is becoming more and more obvious. With King LeBeau gone, we might very well see Shark play and flourish. If this D comes in and outperforms last year's D, I think it will be safe to make some other conclusions.

 

That that guy is a heat seeker on the field and I can't wait to see what he brings as a full time starter on our defense. He has some good coverage ability from the limited snaps I've seen of him actually playing safety.

 

Sorry Lloyd, but this has to be one of the most ridiculous posts in the history of TSF.com. What on earth could make you think that this was the case? You do remember that LeBeau played him as a rookie, right? He thought highly enough of the kid to not only start him, but start him at slot corner (despite being a safety). You don't think he didn't see the field because he played SS behind one of the best to ever play the position in Polamalu? Maybe they trusted Allen more last year since Shark was off and on injured pretty much the whole year? Nope. He didn't kiss LeBeau's rings... That has to be it lol come on man.

if shark does in fact flourish (which I believe he Weill, and hope he does) it won't be because the absence of LeBeau. It will have everything to do with Shark and the hard work he puts into his game. It also helps that he is now in his third year and a Hall of Famer isn't starting in front of him anymore...

 

Yea, well, ummmm, you want to go ahead and explain why Shark sat over one of the most average safeties in the entire NFL? Go ahead and 'plain that one. Allen is not even desired by any other teams to be on their rosters at all. But he started in front of Shark. Why?

 

[video=youtube;yA8HT324wro]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yA8HT324wro[/video]

How can you be so Obtuse Chief? It totally had to be because Shark balked at the ring kissing ceremony and had to be made an object lesson.

 

I didn't want to be the one to get into this but I am just going to say it. This is about the eighth or ninth time you have made this type of statement about Lebeau and from my perspective it seems wildly inconsistent with his character as well as story published about him. I know you tend to lean towards hyperbole when making your thoughts public but this one continues to stretch the fabric of believability. Is there some kind of proof that he has acted this way or behaved in this manner or is it all just your conclusions based on evidence that you have observed that may or may not be accurate.

 

While I don't think his reason is correct I do think Lebeau has hindered some players with his old guard mentality.

 

I love ST29 and hope he really makes an impact on defense this year. He accepted my friend request on FB after he was drafted and I've seen his workout posts, etc. Extremely hard worker and very humble. A clash with LeBeau would be polar opposite of both persons characters imo. He wouldn't have gone to work out with Troy over last offseason if he had clashes with any of the coaches, teammates, etc.

 

I gave you one possible reason why in my original response. He was off and on hurt pretty much all season with his hamstring, so maybe they didn't feel comfortable with his health? There are other reasons too. Maybe because he was a second year guy who played his first year at slot CB and not SS... They could've thought that he wasn't up to the task with the play book or didn't have enough SS reps in pre season or practice to justify putting him out there? Maybe his performances in pre season and practice weren't worthy of the starting role? Or maybe (gasp) he just isn't that good. That's a possibility too. Those are all pretty reasonable explanations I think, are they not?

Idk why some are all up in arms over a second year guy (who spent his first year at a different position, and spent a considerable portion of both seasons injured) not starting over a vet who by all accounts played fairly decent out there.

idk how you came to your conclusion, but shark doesn't come across as a cocky guy or someone who would not respect his HOF DC (or his rings lol). He seems to be a good hard working kid from what little I can see. It also seems out of DL's character to hold someone back on purpose for any reason. This is the same guy that guys like Harrison, Ike, and Troy love so dearly. Really just about everyone that plays for him. It's also pretty hard to believe that he would achieve a HOF career by holding back clearly more talented players for scrubs that no one else wants. He wouldn't be very successful if that was his coaching philosophy...

Can you give me any plausible proof or explanation that any of what I said is untrue? Or any tidbit at all helping your case besides your personal opinion that Shamarko is better than Allen, and therefore should be playing?

 

That's a nice article Blast, thanks for posting it. I hadn't seen that before... Hard not to root for the guy.

 

99% of his posts are ridiculous...

 

maybe a lot of it had to do with Mitchell being so new last year. allen at the time was the only other guy with enough time to help run the d- backfield without troy. the shark will be fine and is a good coverage player whether at safety or not. staying on the field and being able to practice was his limitation. Mitchell has a year under his belt now and these two could team up from camp on and become a decent duo, but last year the two didn't have enough time together or in our system.

 

My hope for Shark is that he becomes the next Bob Sanders.

My fear for Shark is that he becomes the next Bob Sanders.

 

I think you could be right. Kid has a ton of potential.. If he can stay on the field.. So far injuries have hindered his progress.

 

Lets see if he can stay on the field?

 

Yep. The issue I have is Thomas's hamstring injuries. Remember Marshmallow Woodley's downfall besides blowing up like a wood tick was hamstrings. Thomas got healthy and was a standout on special teams last season. But was not used anywhere on Defense? So now he is going to be penciled in as the starter? I want the kid to excel and hope he does but it's all about staying on the field.

 

I don't know about the whole Lebeau thinking he is king or whatever but I do know he is old school and if you don't practice you don't play. Shark has fought injuries since being here I just think that was the reason he didn't see the field much, at least one of them. I think having TP there in front of him has a little to do with it as well, not sure but TP has earned that right.

Now moving away from that I am hoping Shark stays healthy and steps up, he has tons of talent. I got to watch him a bit for cuse when he was there and he has a nice back story as well. The other thing to consider is the talk of moving Mitchell to SS, this could have an impact on Shark stepping in as well.

 

I must really have missed something, and I don't see a lot od crow to be eaten no matter how well he does. From what I have read, people believe the guy just hasn't been on the field enough to show what he can do. Therefore there hasn't been much to get excited about.

 

Easy one to explain. Tomlin explained it very well during the season. Shark missed so much time due to injury that as the season progressed he was way behind in the learning. You don't put a safety out there who doesn't know the defense if you want to win. A mistake at safety is 6 points, enough to loose a game. Average is better than poor. Experience beats not knowing what you are doing. JMHO.