Jump to content
  • Welcome!

    Register and log in easily with Twitter or Google accounts!

    Or simply create a new Huddle account. 

    Members receive fewer ads , access our dark theme, and the ability to join the discussion!

     

Alan "Blue Balls" Ball leaves Panther offer on table


CubsWin

Recommended Posts

so, this RavensInsider guy.. I wonder if he works for the Panthers. He's constantly scooping our beat writers. (not that it's that hard to do)

 

Likely has plenty of agent and other insider contacts and gets word of things and passes them along.  In other words, he just does his job and does it well.  Panthers fans just aren't used to a beat writer who actually does this.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

at end of 2013 season, PFF profiled Ball in their Secret Superstar series:

"[ball] finally got some substantial playing time in 2009 [ball's 3rd season in the NFL]

...

in 2010 [balls's 4th season in NFL], Ball gradually became the weakest link in Dallas’ pass coverage. Historically more of a press-man outside cornerback, Ball looked lost playing deep in space. His -8.0 coverage grade that season was fourth-worst of any safety in the league. ... the seven touchdowns he allowed tied for the most at his position.

He was demoted to backup cornerback in 2011 [balls's 5th season in NFL], spent some time miscast in the slot, and again posted a negative coverage grade. The damage had been done, and Ball entered free agency in 2012 as a low-valued commodity.

[in 2012, Balls's 6th season in NFL] Ball followed his former head coach Wade Phillips to the Texans, where he was once again relegated to special teams duty and had his lowest defensive snap total since 2008.

...

[in 2013, Balls's 7th season in NFL] Ball won a starting job in training camp [in Jacksonville] and was reliable for the first half of the season before going on an impressive run down the stretch. He finished with seven positive coverage grades in his last eight games ... his +4.9 coverage grade put him in the Top 20 at his position. For perspective, that was the same grade notched by the more-heralded Alterraun Verner. Ball allowed just two touchdowns in coverage and a reception for every 13.0 coverage snaps, the 10th-best rate among 81 qualified cornerbacks.

...

What stands out on Ball’s film is how good he uses press-bail technique to prevent deep passes. On the 15 plays he faced Deep Targets last season (passes 20+ yards past the line of scrimmage), he allowed three completions and a 36.9 passer rating. A perfect example came in Week 11 vs the Cardinals, with 0:22 left in the second quarter, when Ball lined up in press, matched Michael Floyd stride-for-stride on a go route, and knocked the ball away as soon as it arrived.

...

With another year in this system and a seemingly improved defensive line in front of him, don’t be surprised if this veteran Secret Superstar carries his newfound success into 2014 [balls's 8th season in NFL]"

https://www.profootballfocus.com/blog/2014/05/23/secret-superstars-2014-jacksonville-jaguars/

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.


×
×
  • Create New...