Bates was the top rated Safety in the NFL by PFF

[*TheLeonardLeap*]

(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.

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.