Give Geathers a New Contract now

[HoosierCat]

Lance Briggs

Is the Bears' starting WLB...I don't see how he's comparable to Geathers' situation.

I do believe he's a FA after this season, tho, and if you are suggesting they go after him, by all means. But he says he wants to be the league's highest-paid LB, so hard to see him here...

[agreen_112]

Geathers is looking real good. We should definitely do what it takes to keep him around. I say the same about Justin. Keep em' both and continue to improve the secondary and LB with the draft.

[DC_Bengals_Fan]

By the way, for those of you who continue to ignore what a complete defensive end Justin Smith is (while pumping up Geathers' sack stats against Smith's), do note this criticism from the Indy Star this morning as their town goes in full meltdown mode over what happened in Jax yesterday:

"But let's be clear about this: There are a lot of Colts players, a lot, who have seen quite enough of this defensive approach and would love for Dungy to seize the reins of this fading football team. Fans and media types aren't the only ones who don't understand why the Colts defensive ends line up so far apart you need a bus transfer to get from Dwight Freeney to Robert Mathis. Or why it is that on every down, running or passing downs, those two are flying upfield like their pants are on fire, usually running past the play and exposing their undersized linebackers to situations they clearly can't handle."

There is more to playing end than sacks. Smith does it all, and does it all well. Geathers is developing into an all-down guy too, but for now is a specialist. Which is fine, and has its place. We have had way too few sack guys over the years on this team. But there is no need to run down Smith in the push to praise Geathers. None.

I'd have agreed with you last year. This year, playing at end, and not tackle, he's been quite good. I never understood why they made that decision - to me, taking a speed rusher and putting weight on him to push him inside is borderline retarded. At least all parties recognized how dumb it was and reversed it.

Geathers is staying on his assignment on running plays and has the speed to stretch end arounds to the sideline. Last year, it seemed every time the end got bottled up, and the outside backer would fly into a block, allowing the ball carrier to turn upfield for huge yards. This year, that's not happening, and as often as not the play of Geathers is the reason.

I think sometimes people forget just how young this guy is. He just turned twenty-freaking-three. He's always had fantastic pass rush moves, and now he's learned to play the run too. I don't think it's completely nuts to believe that he could easily be one of the best DEs in the league in two years, at age 25.

None of this affects whether we resign Smith, to me, as there are happily two end spots!

[rwalling]

Lance Briggs

I like Lance, but he will be paid WAAAYYY more than he's worth by somebody.

[Whur CHad At?]

Lance Briggs

I like Lance, but he will be paid WAAAYYY more than he's worth by somebody.

UM, he is a really good player. He is worth a lot. We have the money, it is time to grow some balls and pay some money to bring in some defensive playmakers now

[Kazkal]

Geathers is back in the top 5 for sacks.