Attacking Atari Bigby
It's only June I am beginning to see a full out attack on Atari Bigby and his starting job as a Green Bay Packer. Please people, it's not even close right now.
It's only June I am beginning to see a full out attack on Atari Bigby and his starting job as a Green Bay Packer. Please people, it's not even close right now.
Believe me, I'm no Atari apologist. I've always said that Atari has pretty much made his name on three or four big hits in his entire career. In addition, and as Greg Bedard stated on this week's Packer Transplants, Atari simply doesn't make very many big plays. That may be true, but to start thinking that Atari is in jeopardy of losing his starting spot is shallow at best.
I don't know why I have to mention this EVERY single year, but you can't judge anything without pads. It's like trying to judge the Miss America pageant using only head shots. You just can't make any kind of decision without being able to see what's below the neck. Yes, Morgan Burnett has looked good in practice, and that's a good start. But to think he has already taken over Bigby's starting spot is a little premature. Like I'm 16 and you just brushed my leg premature.
Atari Bigby elevates the play of those around him. Not by being all that good mind you, but simply by knowing what's going on. Last season the players said as much stating they were more comfortable with Bigby in there. Knowing you have a guy behind you that you don't have to worry about allows you to focus on your role, and your duties. Morgan Burnett is no where close to having that kind of respect yet. Bigby may not be flashy, but sometimes solid can go a long long way.
Like I said, I'm not Bigby fan by any means, and I too am hoping to Burnett follows the Clay Matthews route to rookie stardom. But to say that Bigby is in danger of losing his starting job before even a mandatory practice has begun is pretty uninformed, fairly stupid, and even downright Kornheiser.
Sorry, I couldn't resist.
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Comments (18)
June 14, 2010 at 10:27 am
I disagree with Bedard when he says that Bigby, "Doesn't make plays" He has 10 interceptions over the last 3 years, in somewhat limited playing time.
The problem with Bigby is staying healthy.
June 14, 2010 at 11:01 am
I don't like Bigby, I want Burnett to start.
But you're right. It's ludicrous to think practice without pads would put Burnett ahead of Bigby in the depth chart.
There's one thing, though. MM has been congratulating Burnett not for his play, but for his quick understanding of the playbook and the ability to communicate on defense. THAT, coupled with Bigby's absence, gives Burnett a shot at competing for the starting job.
Shot that normally would've never been given to a rookie.
June 14, 2010 at 12:24 pm
I'm not worried about Bigby. I for one hope he doesnt sign tender and loses his job to Burnett. Pads or no Pads I like what I see in Morgan Burnett!!!!!
June 14, 2010 at 12:49 pm
You should have an entire section of your the lounge devoted to OTA heros. I'll start the list:
Brandon Jackson
Jeremy Thompson
Alan Barbre
Morgan Burnett
June 14, 2010 at 01:50 pm
What about Underwood and Lee?
June 15, 2010 at 06:46 am
Spot on, Halo.
They should be called "The Barbreys."
June 14, 2010 at 06:56 pm
Here we go Morgan here we go, clap, clap, clap...
GBP 4 LIFE
June 14, 2010 at 07:51 pm
If Bigby ever gets around to signing his tender (he's usually up all night tweeting, surely he can find the time to sign a contract), he's in no danger of losing his job. Even if he holds out and misses part of training camp, I still think he's the starting safety alongside Collins. The only way Burnett gets a start is if Bigby gets hurt...I guess that means Burnett will be starting at some point this season, right?
June 15, 2010 at 10:07 am
"he’s in no danger of losing his job"
Really?
The people making the decisions WANT Morgan to start, you heard it here 1st. And if not, well, it's about time I'm wrong about something!
GBP 4 LIFE
June 14, 2010 at 07:58 pm
Hither to fro, all stupid moves and or statments shall be known as Kornestish
June 15, 2010 at 05:38 am
Good points, Alex. Even if Burnett looks good in the preseason, he will be a question mark coming into the regular season because the entire starting defense seldom or never plays together in the preseason, and even when they do, it's against vanilla offenses. So in order to win the starting job, Burnett will not only need to look like he's learned the playbook, he will have to show that he can bring something to the table that Atari cannot. We know he has speed, but does he have football speed, i.e., can he use his speed to make plays and compensate for mistakes? If he does, that will help his cause. It will also help if he is better able to cover the deep part of the field, which is a weakness for Atari.
June 15, 2010 at 09:45 am
Wow, once again I differ from the masses. I could be way off base (1st time for everything) , but... I tend to think there are certain people on the coaching staff as well as in the front office that would love nothing more than to see Morgan starting against Philly. Maybe I'm reading to much into the trading up to get him and the outright praise a coach rarely gives a Rook, but I won't be the least bit surprised if Morgan's opposite Nick week 1. Oh, and I think the entire Organization is over Atari. Go back and watch the Arizona game (REAL CLOSE), they WANT Morgan (or anyone not named Atari) to be the guy, after that shit.
I'm on record as being fine with it. I find it terribly hard to believe there would be much of a drop off from Bigby to Burnett. Bigby's never done anything for me. It's alright if you're gonna be an average Safety, average is OK, but if one is just going to be average they need to at least be available. And we all know available and Bigby are two words that just don't belong together.
If the kid shows a hint of starter potential in the preseason with the 1's, give him the job. Get him in there, get the learning curve over with. Come playoff time he should be 100% and know the Playbook inside-out (our D is stout enough to cover some growing pains, that's why the early move makes all the more sense), also Bigby should be healthy and ready to back him up by then after his latest injury (which you know is coming). And I don't wanna hear "we can't plug in a rookie if we're making a playoff run", who did we have on the back-end last season when we made our Playoff push??? UPGRADE.
GBP 4 LIFE
June 15, 2010 at 09:59 am
Giordanno (spelling? couldn't care less) & Martin if you needed me to spell it out. And Atari belongs with them, they don't have talent, he doesn't have heart. 'Zona... watch it.
Go Morgan it's your birthday...
WOOT
June 15, 2010 at 12:09 pm
I don't remember if it was Jennings, or DD, or Woodson, but I remember a player being completely pissed that Bigby was on the sidelines without his helmet during that game, almost questioning his injury.
June 15, 2010 at 07:12 pm
Jennings. And that's what it looked like to me as well.
June 15, 2010 at 03:54 pm
Fitz, I think you are in the majority of Packer fans with your opinion, but I'm more with Alex on this one. In the past decade, Packer fans have seen one horrible safety after another come up through the ranks, and it has cost us a lot of ballgames. Marques Anderson. Antuan Edwards. Mark Roman. Marquand Manuel. Aaron Rouse. And there are probably one or two that I'm forgetting. Some of these guys were highly regarded when they came here.
Even our best safety, Darren Sharper, was horrible for two years before he finally got his act together, and he cost us dearly in that playoff loss to the 49ers that ended the '98 season. The learning curve is usually at least a couple of years for safeties. So I am not at all down with your idea of just throwing the rookie in there and seeing how he does. I hope Burnett beats out Bigby, because he seems to have way more potential, but to start as a rookie he needs to prove himself to be clearly better than Bigby, in my opinion.
June 15, 2010 at 07:19 pm
I guess I just don't agree with that last sentence. I would think if it were even you would go with the kid. He's only going to improve, and I really think everyone is kind of ready to get someone other than Atari in there. Coach is always preaching 'availability' and 'accountability', I don't think Atari brings either to the table and I just have a hunch the folks that make the decisions don't either.
Great thing is, we will see soon enough. Can't wait.
June 15, 2010 at 11:47 pm
Bigby just doesn't seem to be doing the smart thing. He has no other option than to play for the Packers this year. He is going to be a UFA if the FA rules revert back the old way under a new CBA. If I were Biby, I would be focused on securing myself as the starter and putting up the best #s I could so that I could extract from nice #'s from the Raiders/Redskins.