Mark Barron vs. Eric Weddle

I need some input from the tape watching junkies on here. Can you compare these 2 guys? Age could be a factor here, but I am leaning toward a 4 year offer to Barron right now. I was in the Weddle camp because of Tomlin's comments, but to me the age is a factor here. If you offer Barron 4 years he is basically Weddle's age the next time his contract is up. Thoughts?

 

To me the issue is two things:

1) Money
2) How much are we in "Win Now" mode?

Ben will probably be done around the same time as Weddle, right? We need to go for it all. Barron will obviously last longer, but if you think Weddle is the better fit and has 3 strong years to give us, then he could be the top choice, even though he'll be done sooner. Then, of course, there's the money.

But I haven't watched much tape on either guy.

 

I would go with Barron because of the age. You can possibly use him as linebacker on the nickel package. Weddle is on the wrong side of 30 and you just don't know when his drop off will happen. Just like Troy, taylor, Clark and others.

 

I love Weddle. Love him, and wanted him here from Day 1, but I really don't know if he has anything left.

 

I am looking more for a skills comparison than a "bring in XYZ player" type statement. Their strengths and weaknesses, potentially how they would fit in our current system etc

 

I can't help you with a skills comparison Tarheel, but I would really love to have Barron on the team. Love it. I think he would be a great fit.

Weddle was a great player but I don't know how much longer his play will equal his pay. I'd prefer Barron, but wouldn't hate Weddle. I'd just be more wary of a big contract to a guy his age.

 

I loved barron out of college. watched him at bama and thought he would be great. obviously I was wrong but I think he is a solid player. must admit I havent kept up with him

 

If Weddle comes with a good price, him. If not , neither. Barron is far from impressive. IMO

 

Not interested in Weddle at all, he's coming off a injury and is on the wrong side of 30.

 

You don't like those guys over 30, do ya? Haha

 

Weddle's play never equaled his pay. The Chargers WAY overpaid for him.

 

Idk, he's had 3 seasons of the last 8 with over 110 tackles (including the two years previous to this past season). He had a year with 7 picks too, although most years he only had 2. Returned 3 for TD's in his career. I always thought he was a pretty darn good player. He was no Ed Reed or Troy Polamalu, but he was a really good SS for a pretty long time. At 8 million a year idk that he was drastically overpaid. Maybe a touch, but you can live with that if he's producing pretty close to what you'd expect.

The only question with him will be how much left he has at age 31. He didn't have a great season last year, but that entire team was a disaster. Once their offensive weapons went down they couldn't score at all. Not to mention they couldn't stop the run one bit. Maybe that had something to do with his poor play since the two previous years he had really solid years (statistically at least). Idk. I don't claim to know what to do, but I think we should definitely at least look into him. If the price tag is right I'd be okay with him in the burgh

 

Hmmmmm. We had a starting SS that is 33 this last season. I would not object to Weddle.

 

I agree. IF the price is right. He's certainly better than who we've got now.

 

The reason I posted the question is due to Barron's numbers, but haven't really watched him play. 115 tackles this year. He is 6'2". He is only 26 and a free agent. He has the size to move up and play LB in pure passing situations. He has good speed at 4.4. There is just no part of me that says based on stats alone, yeah let's go with the older guy. It creates a hole in 2 years again. I am fine with Golden and Grant as potential backups at the position, but we need a starter and in all honesty someone to play next to Mitchell to me is the most important add to the secondary.

 

Weddle is not a good fit IMO . He is a good FS , but he is more of a down hill guy , I don't even like Mitchelle back there because of that. The Weddle of old was more of a Ball Hawk and liked to break on balls and now he plays it more safe.Probably because he has lost a step or 2 .

Barron is a in the box guy for sure . He would be a good replacement or bu for Mithelle, but no way should we bring him in to play FS..

I would look to the stud of course . Eric Berry if there is any way to swing it .He would be a great fit ass he has the speed and the Ball Hawking ability that we need ...If we couldn't get him, I would think outside the box a bit and look at guys like Patrick Robinson,Nolan Carroll, and Terrance Newman . I think these guys will be better at FS than they are at CB . I like the way they recognize and diagnose plays they may not have the great CB hips or great CB recovery speed they may be in the wrong position.. I would take a chance on any 3 of them as a FS ...

 

You know, for all of his shortcomings, I wouldn't be surprised if Shamarko Thomas could put up 115 tackles in the right system, allowing him to play in the box a lot. The reason I bring that up is that we may already have a Mark Barron on our team (Shark) that isn't really helping us where we need it the most.

RPO mentioned a safety from Detroit, and while I haven't checked into him yet, from what RPO is saying, he may be a better fit than Barron or Weddle, and a lot of other dudes. Sounded like he was a back-end safety with ability to help up front. Sorry, his name eludes me at the moment.

 

I agree about Shamarko. He's a bust, but not because he can't be a good in-the-box SS. I think he could do that fine. I can see him flying up to the LOS and blowing up running plays. We just need more than that. We need coverage. In fact, with the way our front 7 is shaping up (Tuitt, Dupree, and Shazier in particular), we might soon be able to stop the run without so much help from the safeties.

 

I may be in the minority here, but I don't think Shamarko could do any of that. He just doesn't appear to have the football smarts to accomplish that. Look, he was passed over in preseason by Allen, or at worst unable to grab the job from him, but then he got passed over by Golden as well. Not a good showing for the kid. I will be really surprised if he makes the squad next year.

 

Yeah, but that's because he kept blowing coverages. The team rightly decided that not blowing coverages is the number one priority, and Shamarko couldn't be counted on. But I think he'd be great in run support.

 

Stop that don't play the rookie till year 5, where he has a good yeat and signs for big bucks then stinks the joint up. Play Grant and Golsen and draft 2 more in the 2nd and 3rd rounds. Oh BTW try to keep Boykin and play him too

 

There's a big difference though the Steelers were paying Will Allen the vet minimum, I don't see the Steelers spending big money on a safety in free agency after the deal they gave Mitchell.

 

Barron has been a bust so far, bouncing from team to team.

 

Don't be surprised if they do look into FA. Golden I believe will be brought back. Although I like Will Allen their needs to be an upgrade at the position. He cannot be the starting SS going forward if we want to see the pass defense get better. I believe we will see a better secondary next season.