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We have really scene this play before.
Todd Bowles defended Buster Skrine today and said his issues are technique.
Bowles said he’s not making any lineup changes.
Skrine’s issues are more instincts than technique. Those are two different things.
But like I said, we’ve seen this play before.
What am I talking about?
Antonio Cromartie had a rough season in 2015. Todd Bowles kept him in the starting lineup even when he struggled. When asked about Cromartie, he was defiant. After that season, Cromartie was released.
Darrelle Revis had a rough season in 2016. Todd Bowles kept him in the starting lineup even when he struggled. When asked about Revis, Bowles was defiant. After that season, Revis was released.
Skrine has been a little better this year than last, but still very inconsistent and giving up too many completions and committing too many penalties.
He had a terrible game in Miami, and was a big part of the team’s fourth quarter pass coverage collapse that led to the Dolphins’ comeback win.
But Bowles is keeping him in the lineup. While Bowles is defiant when questioned about the player, the player will probably be released after this season, when the cap hit is a lot less.
So Bowles seems willing to keep rolling with high-priced starting corners, even when they are struggling and impacting games, during the season, but then move on in the off-season.
It’s a philosophy I don’t get, but maybe I’m missing something.
Or maybe as a former player, he knows the devastation and public humiliation of getting benched, and he doesn’t want to hurt them.
High-priced starting cornerback Byron Maxwell was inactive for the Dolphins on Sunday. Adam Gase didn’t like how he was playing. It happens.
Like I said yesterday, the Jets under Bowles/Maccagnan do make personnel moves when guys are struggling, but it usually involves the bottom on the roster.
They got rid of Marcus Williams after a bad game, and the same with Kalif Raymond.
Another example is when, after a poor performance in Oakland, Juston Burris was replaced by Darryl Roberts as the third cornerback.
But with high draft picks and highly-paid players, Bowles, like Rex Ryan before him, is loyal to the point of defiance.
Look, I have nothing personal against Buster Skrine. He’s great person, and he works very hard. His struggles aren’t related to not working hard during the week. He works his tail off.
Like I said before, the problem is related to instincts which is something you can’t teach; he’s too often late reacting and has to play catch-up. It is what it is.
On a human level, I hope he proves him wrong. Like I said, I have nothing personal against him.
But I’m from the Bill Belichick/Bill Parcells world of player personnel.
You don’t keep rolling with people who are struggling because of their contract or draft status or because they are nice people.
It should be a meritocracy.
October 23, 2017
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