From this fan's perspective, Goldson was below-average at safety this year, despite a contract that probably made him the highest paid at his position.Scott do you know how much guaranteed money is in his contract? If there were no cap ramifications, I would cut him and get someone who can cover. Goldson's skill set is primarily blowing up guys, which is now mostly illegal. WIth the rule change, he is no longer elite, and not even above-average.I realize he is a good leader, but even in that department he is not half the leader John Lynch was because he does not master the mental side of the game, and a big part of a safety's leadership is getting the DBs in position, knowing the opposing teams' tendencies, etc.
$22mil guaranteed. $9mi cap hit whether he's a Buc or not 2014.
I think his inability to cover is exaggerated. Before he was known as a big hitter, he was known for his excellent coverage (even playing corner in certain SF packages earlier in his career). I'd like to see Goldson with one more year.
$22mil guaranteed. $9mi cap hit whether he's a Buc or not 2014.
Well in that case he gets another year to prove himself. Let's hope he can pick up the new scheme better and faster than he did Schiano's defense. Tog, you say he is good in coverage but that didn't prove to be the case this season. SF fans have told me he was bad in coverage there and that that was a big reason why he wasn't re-signed there.
I think he got thrown off his game by getting fined so much due his inability to immediately change his contact angle/target range. Yes, one would think that would all become automatic and a quick adjustment would be made after one game. But, we have all seen that theory to be rare(Players don't change habits on a dime). I, too, would like to see Goldson continue to play here. I'm sure an off season to ponder the sum of all his fines and OTAs, etc working under Smith's system will do him some real good.
Tog, you say he is good in coverage but that didn't prove to be the case this season. SF fans have told me he was bad in coverage there and that that was a big reason why he wasn't re-signed there.
Do you really trust that Sheridan/Schiano were maximizing the talent they had in the secondary (given how poorly they were wasting the little talent on the line)? It's certainly possible that Goldson's play has declined and he's become little more than a thumper. And perhaps his last year or two his coverage declined in SF - some pundits certainly think so. Yet I think his coverage ability isn't so black and white. Here are some excerpts from different articles:
Early in his career, long before Goldson took on the hard-hitting mentality, he would be asked to play more of a cover role on the outside. That aspect of his game diminished once he became a viable option as a hard-hitting enforcer on the back end of the defense.
But as Niners Nation’s Tre9er pointed out to me on twitter, Goldson has only recorded one other “pass defensed” in addition to those picks, according to Pro Football Focus’ statistics.Also according to PFF, quarterbacks have slightly over a 92 rating when throwing into Goldson’s coverage.
From the beginning of the 2011 season to the end of the 2012 postseason, no 49er defender has been able to force more turnovers than his 14. Moreover, according to the analysts at Pro Football Focus, he amassed a plus-6.3 grade this season [2012] and he finished the season by allowing one of the lowest quarterback ratings against.His 44.8 rating against was the ninth-lowest mark at his position leaguewide and the fourth-lowest mark in the NFC. An absolute step in the right direction after a subpar 2011 season in coverage. Last year, he was burnt to the tune of five touchdowns, 596 yards allowed and a quarterback rating against of 90.9.
Overall, I watched a player who stayed deep and kept his eyes and feet moving. He reacted very well to plays in front of him, and had a knack for being around the football despite his lack of elite speed. He showed himself capable as a man-to-man defender in the few examples I saw, and he made impact plays even from deep positions.
Thanks for this great insight Tog. It seems there were a combination of factors mitigating against him. Let's see if Lovie and whoever our new DB coach is can leverage his talent.
Just give Goldson another year, we save nothing by getting rid of him anyways.
Hopefully '14 will be his last year in a Buc uni. He is a liability in more ways than one.
Hopefully '14 will be his last year in a Buc uni. He is a liability in more ways than one.
Barron and Tandy paint a different picture. They feel he's been extremely valuable as far as helping them prepare for games and tips on taking care of their bodies. Although Schiano has been fired, he had praises for Goldson. I think He'll be ok. Especially under Smith's direction.
Hopefully '14 will be his last year in a Buc uni. He is a liability in more ways than one.
Barron and Tandy paint a different picture. They feel he's been extremely valuable as far as helping them prepare for games and tips on taking care of their bodies. Although Schiano has been fired, he had praises for Goldson. I think He'll be ok. Especially under Smith's direction.
I also think the league targeted him unfairly (whatever you think of their rules (I think they're idiotic) they are unforced unevenly) and it clearl affected his game. I think with an improved defence and time to adjust, he'll be improved. If not, pretty sure we can jettison him after next year with no cap hit thanks to Dom's awesome contract structuring.
Hopefully '14 will be his last year in a Buc uni. He is a liability in more ways than one.
Barron and Tandy paint a different picture. They feel he's been extremely valuable as far as helping them prepare for games and tips on taking care of their bodies. Although Schiano has been fired, he had praises for Goldson. I think He'll be ok. Especially under Smith's direction.
I also think the league targeted him unfairly (whatever you think of their rules (I think they're idiotic) they are unforced unevenly) and it clearl affected his game. I think with an improved defence and time to adjust, he'll be improved. If not, pretty sure we can jettison him after next year with no cap hit thanks to Dom's awesome contract structuring.
So did the league unfairly target him 2 years ago when he was with the 49ers and got 7 personal foul penalties?...3 of which came after the whistle was blown, just like what we saw with him head-butting a player without a helmet. He should have been suspended for that alone. There is no room for that BS. Goldson is a borderline dirty player and he will not be changing his ways. His recklessness three times this year resulted in friendly fire, one of which knocked Mason Foster out with a concussion for a game and a half. He plays for the big hits instead of playing the ball. Barron, by far, will be the better safety going forward. The only thing Goldson has on him is that he leads the chants prior to the game.
Personally, I believe since you have a $9 million cap hit on him, whether he's here or elsewhere, you keep him. I do believe that this new defensive coaching squad will be able to coach him to what he needs to do. The guy is an incredible athlete, and a punishing hitter. The secondary coach will need to adjust his hitting method. Just in case this cannot be done, I feel drafting an under-the-radar SS in the 3rd or 4th round is not a bad option. Another way to go is to get a SS off FA. We'll see! I can't wait to see!!! GO BUCS!!!!
I don't know much about what Goldson did two years ago, but this season I thought refs focused upon him unfairly to the point where it was obvious.
It's quite possible the Jets game sent up a signal to the league officials to zero in on Goldson's tackling strategy. When that happens to any player it becomes open season on that player. Just ask Harrelson. I have no doubt , with proper coaching he will adjust his game and be very valuable next season.
