Quote:Safety

Best overall: Jessie Bates III, Cincinnati Bengals
Grade: 90.1

After the season he had, Bates not making the Pro Bowl roster in the AFC stands as one of the team's biggest snubs. He led all players at the position in PFF grade at 90.1, and he showcased that few players in the league can compete with the kind of range and instincts he has at the free safety position. His 15 combined pass breakups and interceptions this season were more than any other safety in the league even though he plays a deeper role where he doesn't see nearly as many passes come his way as those who play more in the slot and box.

(01-19-2021, 07:47 PM)Nate (formerly eliminate08) Wrote: Bates was without question our breakout player on Defense. Love hearing this stuff especially after such a tough couple of years.

We will need to save up some dough to sign him long term. Bates could be our Ed Reed on down the road.

The only complaint I have had with Jessie's game is that at times he doesn't wrap up well enough but he can fix this.

You cannot teach his instincts nor his range.

(01-19-2021, 08:16 PM)TheLeonardLeap Wrote: You lost me there, Nate. Lol

Bates is great and I am really glad his run defense took a huge step forward as the season progressed, but I don't see an Ed Reed ceiling in him.

Ed Reed through 3 years: 21 INT, 44 Pdef, 4 FF, 4.0 Sacks, 3 Def TDs
Jessie Bates through 3 years: 9 INT, 31 Pdef, 2 FF, 0.0 Sacks, 1 Def TD

I look forward to Bates getting some more national recognition and appreciation if he maintains this level of play, but there's a wide margin between that and "Top-5 Safety in NFL History".

Granted, Bates did come into the NFL quite young. Pretty weird to think next year he'll be just 24, so lots of career left ahead of him. I was hoping Lou would be gone and they could get a DC who'd put a bit more focus on ball skills, or practicing catching, or whatever needs to be done. The entire defense (not singling out Bates here) needs to stop turning so many easy interceptions into drops.

(01-19-2021, 08:24 PM)Essex Johnson Wrote: How was Baltimore in Reeds first 3 years on def. I believe pretty good,  so what Bates accomplished might actually be more impressive with a bad def.

(01-19-2021, 09:51 PM)Nicomo Cosca Wrote: Yeah, let’s slow down on comparing him to Ed Reed. Bates might have a handful more INT’s if we actually had a pass rush, but 21 picks in your first 3 seasons? That’s insane. Especially in the early 2000’s when the league wasn’t as pass heavy yet.

(01-19-2021, 10:10 PM)jason Wrote: Well he did have 4 games a year vs Pick Six Palmer (I remember Reed getting quite a few against us) and about 14 Cleveland Browns QBs.

(01-19-2021, 08:24 PM)Essex Johnson Wrote: How was Baltimore in Reeds first 3 years on def. I believe pretty good,  so what Bates accomplished might actually be more impressive with a bad def.

(01-19-2021, 11:06 PM)TheLeonardLeap Wrote:


No. No it's not.

The 1st Ballot HoF Top-5 All Time safety is still more impressive.

Reed had 16 INT in year 2&3 combined. That IS why the Ravens defense was good those years. (They were 19th in scoring his rookie year.)

He had as many INTs his 3rd year as Bates has had in his career.

(01-20-2021, 12:07 AM)Essex Johnson Wrote: im not talking career.. but what he did this year with a bad defense is very impressive..rare a player from a bad team earns this award.  I agree Reed was a awesome player.. and high honors go to Bates for this year and maybe he is on his way to a great career.

(01-19-2021, 08:16 PM)TheLeonardLeap Wrote: You lost me there, Nate. Lol

Bates is great and I am really glad his run defense took a huge step forward as the season progressed, but I don't see an Ed Reed ceiling in him.

Ed Reed through 3 years: 21 INT, 44 Pdef, 4 FF, 4.0 Sacks, 3 Def TDs
Jessie Bates through 3 years: 9 INT, 31 Pdef, 2 FF, 0.0 Sacks, 1 Def TD

I look forward to Bates getting some more national recognition and appreciation if he maintains this level of play, but there's a wide margin between that and "Top-5 Safety in NFL History".

Granted, Bates did come into the NFL quite young. Pretty weird to think next year he'll be just 24, so lots of career left ahead of him. I was hoping Lou would be gone and they could get a DC who'd put a bit more focus on ball skills, or practicing catching, or whatever needs to be done. The entire defense (not singling out Bates here) needs to stop turning so many easy interceptions into drops.