04-10-2022, 10:49 AM
Apple gets roasted by a lot of people that aren't fans of the team. He's a league-wide meme generator, mainly because he talks a lot of shit on social media.
I really don't care about that sort of thing. He's effective enough that I don't view him as a major liability, and to be fair, Awuzie got some flak from talking heads outside of Cincinnati.
For what they are paying, Apple is a bargain. He has the physical tools to get the job done if he's healthy and invested.
As others have mentioned, even the best corners will get roasted by top-end receivers in the modern NFL. The rules are set up to let passing offenses thrive. Ramsey is making stupid money and Ja'marr made him look silly. Ramsey would have had a long week in the national media if Burrow had any time to get him the ball on the routes that Ja'marr was abusing him on all night. If I'm building a team and have to decide where to invest big money, corner might be a place that I settle for capable and low-cost over what the league and media considers elite players that will still get destroyed by good receivers every time. The premium for defensive backs just does not offer the kind of return on investment that you'd hope for.
If I'm allocating resources to improve a pass defense, I'm paying and drafting high on the DL. Get guys that can dominate at the line of scrimmage. The secondary's job will be much easier by default if the quarterback is under duress and your defense can get by without expensive talent on the back end.
I really don't care about that sort of thing. He's effective enough that I don't view him as a major liability, and to be fair, Awuzie got some flak from talking heads outside of Cincinnati.
For what they are paying, Apple is a bargain. He has the physical tools to get the job done if he's healthy and invested.
As others have mentioned, even the best corners will get roasted by top-end receivers in the modern NFL. The rules are set up to let passing offenses thrive. Ramsey is making stupid money and Ja'marr made him look silly. Ramsey would have had a long week in the national media if Burrow had any time to get him the ball on the routes that Ja'marr was abusing him on all night. If I'm building a team and have to decide where to invest big money, corner might be a place that I settle for capable and low-cost over what the league and media considers elite players that will still get destroyed by good receivers every time. The premium for defensive backs just does not offer the kind of return on investment that you'd hope for.
If I'm allocating resources to improve a pass defense, I'm paying and drafting high on the DL. Get guys that can dominate at the line of scrimmage. The secondary's job will be much easier by default if the quarterback is under duress and your defense can get by without expensive talent on the back end.
