Sorry all you Lex Hilliard fans...

http://twitter.com/BenVolinPBP/status/23857679351




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?

How does this effect Lex Hilliard.

I realize that Smith is a return specialist, but are they going to keep 5 RB's on the 53?

I like. Why is he available?

Who is to say it isn't Cobbs?

Who is to say it isn't Cobbs?[/quote]

Exactly. And since he's mainly special teams, who's to say it's not one of the 5 receivers.

Because Cobbs is Coach Sparano's favorite player, our best special teams guy in coverage, and very versatile player offensively; you can split him out wide, we've put him at FB, and he can run a little bit too. Hilliard is very expendable. He doesn't do anything that any of our other guys can't/don't do. Cobbs brings something else to the table.

Rich, Smith is available because of concussion problems he had last season and was having some "knee pain" this Off Season as well. Not sure if they got tired of his injury woes, or if they got somebody new... I don't know...But if he's healthy he's a darn good return guy. Much better than what we have now. He doesn't have elite speed, but, kind of like Welker, he finds a way to make things happen.

Cobbs is coming off an ACL injury...who's to say he can do any of those things anymore. Hilliard is very talented at receiving and running with the football.

While I have no idea who'd Miami would cut if they even do sign Smith, I don't think it's exactly a shoe-in for Hilliard to be cut....

Ike Ndukwe was Sparanos favorite in the 08 season, he didnt make it to 09....

Hilliard is very talented? Really?

C'mon man. The dude is a mediocre NFL player. If we cut him, we're not missing him 3 years from now.

Didn't you know? We have the most talented team in the NFL? Every player on this team is the best in the league at their respective position!!

Ted Ginn Jr. didn't do a whole lot for us from a receiving standpoint, but the guy was an explosive kick returner. His skill in that regard will be missed. I think our staff is simply trying to find that proverbial "diamond in the rough" when it comes to this Smith guy. That and I'm not too sure our staff is thrilled about letting Cobbs return kicks for us.

Uhh..yeah.
He could start on a number of teams in the NFL and be productive. 1000 yards? Maybe not, but if either Ronnie or Ricky go down, I want Hilliard taking carries over Cobbs. Cobbs just isn't a guy that can or will carry the ball 20 times in a game.

What teams could he start for? C'mon dude, I'm a homer, but Lex Hilliard is nothing more than depth.

Many teams don't even carry four guys, and Miami didn't in 08. Lex doesn't bring anything unique to the table. Cobbs does. Pat is safe, (as safe as anybody on the roster IMO); he brings something no other back we have does. Smith would also bring something unique to the table.

I realize Ronnie has had injury problems, and Ricky is getting up there in age but you can't be so afraid that you keep too many RB's 'just in case'.

Cleveland, New England, Washington, Tampa Bay, Chicago...

Stop acting like this is such a ridiculous thing. It's clearly just clashing opinions.

You are merely helping my case with this. Most teams don't carry four backs because they don't have four backs worth carrying, and like I said, Hilliard could be a starter elsewhere.

Please enlighten us with whatever it is that Patrick Cobbs can do that no other back on this roster can.

Lex reminds me of Ricky but I'm not sure he has the outside speed. Now if he can hold onto the ball & develop his catching he'd be an asset somewhere. Cobbs is special but only as minimal touches change of pace type

Any way I love that we're bringing in Clifton. I told my dad, a Bucs fan, it'd be outstanding if we got him after I heard he was cut this weekend. & of course he was mad, as always, at the geniuses who let Smith go. Kid's a stud. & if hes healthy & is given a good chance we will make room for him. Hes more like Cobbs so he may have to take his spot. PR, you should know from this regime that no one is irreplaceable or safe

Especially coming off an ACL tear.
See: Will Allen.

Cobbs > Hilliard

He's going to start over Jerome Harrison, Clinton Portis, Cadillac, and Matt Forte/Chester Taylor?
NE I'll kind of give you...he'd get some carries. But the others I cannot agree with at all.


You're suggesting Lex Hilliard is a starting caliber back. It is ridiculous.



Many teams don't carry four because the game has changed. Teams focus on carrying more WR's, TE's, LB's, and DB's now a days.



Cobbs can return kicks, he's our best special teams player in coverage bar none, (JA on punts is great, but where is he on kickoffs? Cobbs is terrific in both coverage units). He can split out wide and play WR, we've line him up at FB before and he can also run and take it to the house. He's the only scat-back-type guy we have in the backfield. Lex has some of Ronnie in him, and some of Ricky. But he does not have enough of either to be anything special in this league, and while he is an OK special teamer, he's not irreplaceable like Cobbs is. Actually I think he's overrated on ST's.

Point is that Cobbs can do a lot of jobs that Ronnie and Ricky can't. What does Lex bring that isn't already in the backfield? Nothing. If Ronnie and/or Ricky were to get hurt, I would probably want Lex getting more carries then Cobbs because he's a tougher in-between the tackles runner, but Cobbs is a far superior all-around player.

BTW, I'm not saying Hilliard should get cut. It would be silly to cut him yet keep a guy like Parnell or whatever his name is on the roster. But I doubt they keep 5 backs, and so Lex would be the odd man out, IMO.

According to Ben Volin, they didn't need a workout! He's signed!!!

Beauty!!!

If it comes down to Cobbs and Hilliard, I'd keep Cobbs. They are only one year apart in age and Cobbs is better catching passes out of the backfield, has more speed to get to the outside on run plays, and contributes more on special teams. Hilliard was supposed to be an oversized runningback that could play the fullback position and catch passes out of the backfield. Only problem is, Lusaka Polite can catch the ball too! So there really isn't a need for Hilliard unless another runningback goes down. I'm surprised that we're keeping more than three runningbacks this year. I'd much rather see us go shopping for another tightend or offensive lineman.

I dont see why we would cut Lex over Cobbs Ive seen lex make alot more tackles on Special teams then I have ever seen cobbs. Lex shows more skill to me then cobbs has not saying lex is the best thing ever I think he is a good second string hb and st player. I guess we will see.

The first highlights against Detroit and KC made me chuckle. Not really great examples.

But the other highlights were impressive.

Super.... Hope we at least cut an injury prone guy to make room for this one....

Definitely my question as well.

Concussions ... serious enough to end his season last year after his second one. I'm excited about his playmaking ability on returns. Let's hope that he doesn't kill himself.

I agree with this statement.

I don't think this is going to effect Hillard but I think they might move Roberto Wallace back to the practice squad.

Based on what? First off, neither player has gone the distance in a game therefore you can only speculate.

Hilliard 23 carries 89yds 3.9avg long is 18yds
Cobbs 33 carries 171yds 5.2avg long is 44yds

Both are regular season stats where the player was used in a similar role.

From Omar's twitter:



http://twitter.com/omarkelly

Based on size. Cobbs is not built to be a 20 carry a game guy. Hilliard is.



Thank you, Captain Obvious, for pointing out that I am speculating (i.e. giving an opinion). I would have never figured it out without your post.

Yes.
Jerome Harrison had two nice games, who's to say Hilliard couldn't start over him? Clinton Portis is getting old, Cadillac never makes it an entire season, Chester Taylor is nothing more than a backup and as just a runner Hilliard might be able to take Forte's place.

I'm not saying it would happen...it's just opinion and obvious speculation.

I asked who he would start over. You named those teams. But now that's not who he would start over, just speculation.

Jerome Harrison had several good games last season when they needed to give him the load.

Portis just turned 29 last week, and rushed for over 1400 yards just 2 seasons ago. He's healthy again this season and I'm actually expecting a big time season from him.

Cadillac never makes an entire season, true, but he's still 10X the back Hilliard is when he's out there.

Chester Taylor has done very well anytime he's gotten called on, and had it not been for Adrian Peterson he'd still be a starter and probably and effective one. Forte is a good back. Had a great rookie season and than a bad sophomore year in 2009 but has bounced back nicely and came into camp in great shape and had a good Pre Season.


Regardless, Hilliard only gets carries if somebody is hurt. Cobbs gets touches even with Ronnie and Ricky both healthy and running wild. If you had to cut one of them, the choice is easy, IMO.

Cobbs gets touches even with Ronnie and Ricky both healthy because he's a change of pace back. He is a third down type back. He doesn't have the body to sustain the punishment of carrying the load.

Hilliard does, and is more of a north/south powerback. Always moving forward.

You use a guy like Hilliard on 1st and 2nd and on 3rd and short. You bring a guy like Cobbs in on 3rd and 5 or more.

I agree with that. Like I said earlier, if Ronnie and Ricky go down, I want Hilliard getting the bulk of the load. But Cobbs, like you said, brings a change of pace to the position. Lex doesn't bring anything that a healthy Ronnie and Ricky don't. That's my only point.