Tim Jennings is the returning nickel back but I think he is a bit undersized and got abused a bit by the bigger receivers last year.
I really can't blame Tim for some things because if a team went to a 3-4 receiver set, a la New England, he was always lining up with Randy. You don't put someone 5-8 and over 30lbs less on a receiver like that. I blame the coaches for putting him on those receivers when I think he would have been better suited to play the slot guys, such as Wes Welker. Tim is a good open field tackler and quick, but he just doesn't have the size to run with the big receivers. Leave them for Marlin and Kelvin, with Bethea as coverage support.
Really Jim I think they are going to rotate the 3 of them in and out. Depending on the receivers I think they will give them all good playing time, since one will probably have to step up next year beings Kelvin's and Antoine's contracts expire after this year. Hughes can play safety and I think Coe has the ability to step in for Kelvin if they give him a good amount of playing time this year. I seriously hope they can sign both of them back, but Antoine and Kelvin are playing so good now its going to be hard to give them what they deserve yet keep it reasonable for the salary of the team.
|