Brandon Banks: Clash Time--Should He Stay or Should He Go? (MET)

[ConnSKINS26]

This thread is ridiculous. How about getting behind everyone on the team to make a playoff push rather than calling to cut someone. I think Banks is a good returner and his lineups in the offense keep the defense guessing. All you Vinny Cerratos please just shut up. Banks is not the problem. The defense is.

More than one position can't be a "problem" at the same time?

Why is Banks a good returner, in any ways try to quantify it and you'll realize what a ridiculous statement it is. You're running off of pure homer emotions.

---------- Post added November-24th-2012 at 07:42 PM ----------

Funny thing about Banks and the fumbles. Although he has fumbled 12 times in his career here, he has never lost a single one.

Recovered fumbles are pretty much accepted as a 100% random statistic. That's an incredibly lucky number, and it's mostly because he is always running along the sideline.

[BRAVEONTHEWARPATH93]

I love when fans try to come at other fans for being critical of players/coaches...

[ConnSKINS26]

Based on what, your feelings.

I think you should roll up your sleeve and stop wearing them for us to see.

So based upon that second sentence, you believe that liking Banks' play is the rational, non-emotional stance? Gotcha.

I like Banks, I like what he adds to this team. You put anyone else on kick offs or punt returns and you get 5 more yards.

Kick offs and punt returns require more than just a person to return them.......they require solid blocking up front!

Sounds like YOU should focus your frustration on Danny [the golden child] Smith and the special teams blocking. Where are the running lanes for a guy with Banks speed?

Tough to create running lanes for a guy who dashes straight for the sideline to offset the fact that he's a horrid fumbler with no wiggle and no ability to break tackles.

I don't like smith, but our FG kicking, kick coverage, and punt coverage units have been playing superbly. I find it hard to believe that the problem is with the ten guys comprising the entire punt/kick return blocking units and not with the one returner who, if you actually watch him play and remove you're homer goggles, obviously sucks at his job.

And I wish that the crybabies would do the same and realize that the coaches know something that we don't.

Keeping Banks was 100% Danny Smith's decision. So which is it, is it Banks or Smith? If its Smith, as you contend, then this comment makes no sense. Sometimes coaches ARE liable to make stupid decisions that fans can see coming from a mile away.

[Ghost of Nibbs McPimpin]

After watching Denard break a sandwich tackle today on a designed run, I'm really thinking we need to get our hands on him. The even better part of it is, he would be durable if you only had him running a little bit (as opposed to all the time for most of his career) and he can present a threat to throw on plays. I don't know that he's ever returned punts but he has some of the best pure speed in football and is fairly agile as well. He'd be a hell of a lot better gadget player than Banks and he's shown time and again that he can take hits.

---------- Post added November-24th-2012 at 07:28 PM ----------

This is why I'm an advocate of drafting Denard Robinson

Me too. If people think our offense is dangerous now, it would be positively lethal with a guy who can break tackle and go 60 with ease.

[Skinz4Life12]

Did these banks homers buy his jersey or something? He isn't getting it done, period.

[skinsarethebest]

The rational side of me says cut his ass ASAP... But I've got this irrational feeling that as soon as we do, he's gonna light it up for whatever team claims him...

[skinzwiz]

More than one position can't be a "problem" at the same time?

Why is Banks a good returner, in any ways try to quantify it and you'll realize what a ridiculous statement it is. You're running off of pure homer emotions.

That's ironic you say that because every "cut Banks" posts seems to be oozing misguided emotion. What magical running lanes do you want this guy to take? He gets all the yards he can every return.

You want somebody to quantify?! How about you look at the only stat there is. For return yards and average he is on par with every returner in the league. What the **** else can you quantify!

And people talking about him fielding a punt on the 1 yard line...yes, that was a terrible play and I was disgusted with that. But the best returnees make mistakes. Devin Hester looses 10-15 yards on some punt returns trying to do too much every now and then. It happens. Get over it.

[Renegade7]

I think your viewpoint is delusional. He has gotten utterly complacent returning punts and kicks. He no longer puts his body on the line by using his straight line speed! Pay attention to this next time you see him return a kick, hes consistantly crow hopping left and right making sure the defenders dont get a clean shot on him. Obviously this is part of his goal but he refuses to turn on the speed when he finds a crease. If he does start to pick up speed he cant get to the sideline fast enough.

It's not delusional, its just not as merciless as your feeling on the issue. I said he hasn't been the same since he got hurt, and there's no telling where his head is on the issue. This team doesn't need another 1000 yard receiver right now, and he is putting the ball on the ground way less then he used to.

I don't see the point in kicking him to the curb for another backup linemen. The linemen won't be used to score and change field position. Shanny has no problem getting rid of our favorite hopefuls (Colt, Marko, etc), so the fact he's STILL on the team tells me something. It really does.

---------- Post added November-24th-2012 at 09:40 PM ----------

My guess would be Walmart.

Serioulsy - fielding a punt in your own end zone. Really?

Second year player? Young player mistake, maybe?


Look, I've been on the fence about cutting this guy a couple games this season. But the reality is he's the 7th WR on the roster. He's not hurting us more then he helps, and he's STILL not as bad as ARE was at returning punts. I'm fine with him being pushed off the roster, but I don't agree with just cutting him. Not unless he has another subpar year in a row...

[skinzwiz]

It's not delusional, its just not as merciless as your feeling on the issue. I said he hasn't been the same since he got hurt, and there's no telling where his head is on the issue. This team doesn't need another 1000 yard receiver right now, and he is putting the ball on the ground way less then he used to.

I don't see the point in kicking him to the curb for another backup linemen. The linemen won't be used to score and change field position. Shanny has no problem getting rid of our favorite hopefuls (Colt, Marko, etc), so the fact he's STILL on the team tells me something. It really does.

---------- Post added November-24th-2012 at 09:40 PM ----------



Second year player? Young player mistake, maybe?


Look, I've been on the fence about cutting this guy a couple games this season. But the reality is he's the 7th WR on the roster. He's not hurting us more then he helps, and he's STILL not as bad as ARE was at returning punts. I'm fine with him being pushed off the roster, but I don't agree with just cutting him. Not unless he has another subpar year in a row...

Exactly this whole discussion seems ridiculous. I not saying the guy is a superstar but he is not really hindering the team. Banks can not be blamed for any loss this year.

[tibbidoe]

It seems that his primary function on this team is as a returner, which he hasn't been good at. What he brings to the offense does not offset how little he has provided in the return game.

Keeping him for his offensive production makes no sense.

To me, it'd be like hiring a really crappy assassin, and keeping him around because he makes an okay PB&J sandwich.

[Bang]

I think some people are underestimating Banks as a player in the offense. When they use him in those packages where he motions into the backfield it has to be obnoxious for defenses.

You're kidding right?
They aren't afraid of him. No one is.
One man can take him down with one hand.
note the Vikings game, Antoin Winfield... little 5'9" 190 lb Antoin Winfield did just that,, knocked that little tiny prancy boy over with his wrist. Banks got the ball, Winfield made his move, All it took was his wrist and palm, and down went the 159 lb sack of feathers.

No one follows him on those long looping playfakes.

When the season started I thought maybe his speed would make defenses account for him.
Now I know better. No one cares what he's doing. If he gets the ball, their smallest guy is way more than a match for him.
When he comes on the field we announce we're going with ten men for this play.



I noted on Thursday that when Griffin had several plays in which Banks was trailing, he chose to eat the ball rather than pitch it, including once smashing into a double team tackle for a measly one yeard gain rather than put it in Banks' hands.


Give it up on this runt.


~Bang

[fwo40]

That's ironic you say that because every "cut Banks" posts seems to be oozing misguided emotion. What magical running lanes do you want this guy to take? He gets all the yards he can every return.

You want somebody to quantify?! How about you look at the only stat there is. For return yards and average he is on par with every returner in the league. What the **** else can you quantify!

And people talking about him fielding a punt on the 1 yard line...yes, that was a terrible play and I was disgusted with that. But the best returnees make mistakes. Devin Hester looses 10-15 yards on some punt returns trying to do too much every now and then. It happens. Get over it.

Count me in "the people talking about him fielding a punt on the 1 yard line". It was beyond a bad decision it speaks to the type of player Banks is...not smart. Devin Hester does not field balls inside the 10, let alone at the 1...Devin recognizes that he has one job on his team, and that's to be a returner and give his team field position. Banks' play was something that highschoolers get benched over....and you know he's heard not to field that ball probably a 1,000 times in life.

So, it would appear he has bad instincts or low football iq to go with fumble problems....why wait for this to finally bite us in a huge spot?

[Momma There Goes That Man]

Exactly this whole discussion seems ridiculous. I not saying the guy is a superstar but he is not really hindering the team. Banks can not be blamed for any loss this year.

Is the basis of releasing players whether or not they directly cost us games? Banks costs us field position over and over every single game, which can cost us games anyway. If he's not fielding punts inside the 10, he's letting them bounce over his head on the 30 so they can be downed.

I get there aren't always running lanes open, so maybe just try your best to find one, make one, slip past a defender or anything that involves running forward instead of directly to the sidelines.

His contributions on offense are so minor and easily replaceable and improvable they are not worth mentioning.

I just cannot figure out why some people have such a strong attachment to this guy.

[MustangSteve]

What should happen is Danny Smiths ST should open him a damn hole to run through like they use too! Then we can see this kids speed again as he's taking it to the house. Not even Devin Hester can run through 11 men, he needs a hole as well, then his speed does the rest. Do your damn job Danny Smith so this speedster can put even more points on the board. Nobody is going to run a kick or punt back with that pathetic blocking we have on special teams.

Ever since they moved the kick off 5 yards forward, because Mara got torched by Banks the year before, Danny Smith can't adjust to it. Yes Mara was part of this kickoff move, he's trying anything to give his whores any advantage he can. Damn it I hate that man and his team because of him. And do your job Danny Smith or get out of Washington and off my team!

[NLC1054]

What should happen is Danny Smiths ST should open him a damn hole to run through like they use too! Then we can see this kids speed again as he's taking it to the house. Not even Devin Hester can run through 11 men, he needs a hole as well, then his speed does the rest. Do your damn job Danny Smith so this speedster can put even more points on the board. Nobody is going to run a kick or punt back with that pathetic blocking we have on special teams.

Ever since they moved the kick off 5 yards forward, because Mara got torched by Banks the year before, Danny Smith can't adjust to it. Yes Mara was part of this kickoff move, he's trying anything to give his whores any advantage he can. Damn it I hate that man and his team because of him. And do your job Danny Smith or get out of Washington and off my team!

This is bull.

Watch Banks return. Seriously, just watch him return, don't let any emotion get in the way. Get the All-22 if you can, but if you can't, and you have the game DVR'd or something, just fast forward and watch Banks return.

Banks first problem is, he doesn't allow his blocks to set up. He's impatient. He comes out of the end zone or fields a punt, and he's at 100 MPH. He doesn't have any vision; on kick offs he'll out run his blockers, and/or he misses opportunities to cut back. Or, on punts, he'll catch the ball, start running, then freak out because the blocking isn't perfect (yet), then spin around and try and go the other way. If he sticks his foot in the ground and gets up field, he gains yard. Too often he leaves yards on the field.

His second problem is, he always wants to get to a sideline. Again, he won't get north and south. He'll take a kick out of the end zone, and the first thing he does, before letting anything set up, is start veering towards the sideline. Guys can't even get themselves turned around and set up to block, because he's so friggin' impatience, and trying to create a lane on a sideline is a lot harder than trying to create one in the open field.

Watch Devin Hester return; the first thing he does is he tries to find a crack in the middle of the field. He's patient; he allows his blocks to set up, and he does a fantastic job reading those blocks.

Banks just wants to go fast. There's more to being a kick returner than just being fast though.

He's not getting cut, he'll be here until the end of the season. Then we'll see if Shanny wants to cut his umbilical cord.