KC Joyner Hearts Fred Bennett [ESPN the Mag]

[Keith]

FRED BENNETT
CB, Texans
To experts who say Dunta Robinson is the best corner in Houston, think again. Bennett is not only better than Robinson, the stats say he was the premier corner in the league last season. The 24-year-old Bennett, a fourth-round pick in 2007, actually had better metrics in his eight starts than any numbers Robinson has posted in his four-year career. Bennett's 4.7 overall YPA led the league among corners with 60-plus attempts, and opposing WRs gained only 67 total yards on the 24 combined medium, deep and bomb passes he faced. With pass-happy teams like the Steelers, Colts and Browns on Houston's sked in 2008, Bennett's name will be on everyone's lips.

http://sports.espn.go.com/espnmag/story?id=3493682

Click the link above to read the other three players Joyner luvs as busting out this year, or wait for it in your 7/28 issue of ESPN the Magazine.

I think Bennett did a terrific job last year as a rookie, and shoot yeah I am optimistic about his future... but I seen it with my eyes when I say that the pre-injury Dunta is a better pure talent than Bennett.

Joyner gets a little too happy with his number crunching over his eyeballs sometimes (didn't he try to use stats once to prove how David Carr really didn't suck?), but at least the numbers show something good here.

[ArlingtonTexan]

I like the attempt to provide an "objective" messure by Joyner and Football Outsiders, but unlike baseball where a hit is a hit, all tackles and blocks are not the same thing and can't be treated as such.

That said, Bennett played well (better than I expected), but was not the "premier" corner in the league.

[painekiller]

Originally Posted by ArlingtonTexan

I like the attempt to provide an "objective" messure by Joyner and Football Outsiders, but unlike baseball where a hit is a hit, all tackles and blocks are not the same thing and can't be treated as such.

That said, Bennett played well (better than I expected), but was not the "premier" corner in the league.

When Deion Sanders was the best CB in the league, was he considered a hitter? No it about playing the ball, and I am sorry Dunta is does not appear to have the best ball skills, he is a super talent and I am not saying Bennett is better as a CB, just that they are different type players and both types can be successes.

[ArlingtonTexan]

Originally Posted by painekiller

When Deion Sanders was the best CB in the league, was he considered a hitter? No it about playing the ball, and I am sorry Dunta is does not appear to have the best ball skills, he is a super talent and I am not saying Bennett is better as a CB, just that they are different type players and both types can be successes.

Well Sanders in terms on his coverage skills is arguably the best ever. One thing that is difficult to measure in terms of corners is how many fewer times does a team even bother to throw your way, not just what you do when an attempt is thrown your way (which what Joyner did in this case).

Overall, I understand that they are different and think that is best that they are. Can't wait until Dunta proves healthy.

[Bigtinylittle]

I remember reading that Sanders used to play off receivers quite a bit sometimes, hoping to lure the QB into throwing to his man. That's scary good.

[NBT]

Still it's good to see some of these eastern writers start to pick up on how far the Texans have come along in just 2 short years.

I look for the pass defense, and the run defense to be much improved this year.

I think Bennet will continue to improve.

What I am wondering about now is whether or not Schaub is the QB we need to take us to that next level. Not knocking the kid, just need to see more than we were able to last year.

[dadmg]

Originally Posted by ArlingtonTexan

One thing that is difficult to measure in terms of corners is how many fewer times does a team even bother to throw your way, not just what you do when an attempt is thrown your way (which what Joyner did in this case).

FO also has stats on that, and our new addition Reeves was targeted an absurd 107 times last year and his success rate on those was only 47% (ranked 53rd in the league. And for the ragging they do on Bennett for run support, Reeves ranked 80th in the league with a paltry 17% success rate in run support. Robinson and Bennett were 25th and 29th with 55 and 54%. Faggins numbers in run support are very similar to Reeves (he ranked 78th) and the average Faggins tackle in run support occured 11.2 yards from the line of scrimmage (10.8 for Reeves.) Dunta was one of the tops in the league with his average stop coming 4.4 yards from the line of scrimmage, ranking him up there with some of the top linebackers.