it's always baffled my why some really physically talented players just don't perform. Ballentine is a perfect example, sure he went to a small school and needs some more seasoning. But he has all the physical gifts to be a top flight corner. His measureables were considerably better than Baker, and yet he was a 6th round pick. He was a weak spot on Monday, but it's not like he way blowing coverages, so mentally he's covering the right folks, but receivers are beating him. What is it that separates the athletes from the great players? Is it will power? technique? intelligence?
this is why I get so frustrated with fans for showing zero patience with 1st, 2nd year players.
Try it this way:
Sure he has all the physical gifts to be a top-flight corner, but he went to a small school and needs some more seasoning.
On the opposite side,
Blake is a perfect example....his speed #s indicated a slower player.....but he certainly played much quicker then his #s.
So again without a true pre-season, Ballentine was put into a starting role and I don't think he played terrible. I think the picks/rubs is something we will get better as a team. Their top 6 DB's consisted of Ballentine, a rookie and a vet who had all of a week's worth of practice.
We need to see progression in him but I think he takes his lumps during the 1st half of this year.
I've always been a big fan of Ben's game. He is underrated IMO. If you are not getting to him, he is going to rip you up, and he did. That was some high level QB play.
What?????
You can tell right away, but Webster and Sehorn were exceptions...ok. Well maybe Judge and Graham can tell..
He may not pan out, we do not know, but a small college 6th round draft choice may need a few more games before we can tell anything.
Wayne Gretzky wasn't big. He wasn't physical. He wasn't particularly fast and he didn't have an elite/powerful shot. But he was uniquely aware of his surroundings, what everyone was doing and going to do, and what he needed to do to succeed. He was literally steps ahead of everyone else on the ice and as such, he looked like God even if there were tons of players who had better physical tools than he did.
The lesson is that fans tend to overate physical traits; the 25th fastest CB in the NFL is faster than anyone you or I will ever meet. Being fast, or big, or tall, is pretty much taken for granted in the Pros and the physical difference between 'elite' guys and JAG at the NFL level just isn't as big a deal as we like to think. They are ALL incredibly physically gifted and being 10 lbs heavier, 2 inches taller, or 0.3 seconds faster in the 40 yard dash just isn't that big a deal.
What is a big deal is the guys who have the situational awareness and technique to be steps ahead mentally coupled with the athletic ability to make stuff happen. Those are the guys who end up being special.
Ballentine has the physical profile to succeed, but he comes from a small program and he's trying to catch up, and so far it isn't happening for him (which is a bummer) but it happens all the time.
That nanosecond of hesitation is the difference between making a play and not, especially on a passing play.
A perfect example is the TD to Schuster where Yiadom had the coverage. That hesitation was clear as day and on display, and it was an easy TD.
These guys on NFL teams have the athletic ability. But it's the difference between that confidence on what your responsibilities are that allows a player to hit that responsibility at 100% speed... and ultimately keeps them in the league (or sends them packing).
Lots and lots of great athletes fail at the NFL level and it has nothing to do with raw ability.
Webster failed when he was playing a zone scheme. He started to succeed when he was allowed to play more press man.
And IIRC he was benched midway through his 3rd season before something clicked.
That and fans expections are are not attainable. Some fans beleive that if player X is drafted to fill a positon of need, player X "must" be that player. It has to work. Then as usual, they will get crapped on.
I think it's more of a expecation that a drafted player to fill a postion of need should be playing better. As we know, not every draft pick makes it.
I came to conculusion years ago that it takes a few yrears to see what a player is. Not all, but some, Sometimes that "light" does not come on. Or, they are beat out by someone better at the positon.
I played a teaching pro 5.0-5.5 and he toyed with me
CB may be fast, but right now he's not playing fast. That's likely due to the fact that he's got a lot going on in his head. He was considered a very raw prospect last year, and now he has a new defensive scheme - specifically described by many as "multiple", with new DB's in Bradberry Holmes, Yiadom, Ryan, having moved from slot last year to outside corner this year, facing an unfamiliar opponent.
Just too much new for him.
He might improve given time. He might now.
Right now I'm going with the coaches in believing he can/will learn to play fast.
You can't tell with corners right away. RBs and maybe kickers are the only positions where you can tell right away.
Shame about Beal opting out but gives him the opportunity to get bigger and stronger. Made more plays in limited time last year than both the other Bs.
Ballentine is a nice kid and a great story. But not much of a CB and may never be. Sehorn and Webster came from major programs and were high round picks. Hard to compare.
We will see much more of Ryan and Holmes this week as they phase out CB.
If he sucks - draft or sign a CB in the offseason and cut him b/c we know he can't play.
ok, so without blowing up on you which I'm trying not to do anymore on this board...
so what level of coaching or expertise tells you that? If you dont have that then what gives you sense that you can post something like that
I'm willing to admit I dont have that level but I trust this coaching staff and the general idea that its his 2nd year after spot starting late last year.
please advise
Thanks - and agreed that confidence is a big part of it. Some guys I'm convinced are just built to take the emotional beating better than others.
Seriously, can you imagine failing at your job in front of 75,000 screaming fans with cameras recording your every agonizing second? Most of us would be in therapy by the second quarter of our first game. But some of these guys seem born for it... and some less so.
Thanks!
Also, to all the people pointing out that it's too early to give up on Ballentine - I actually very much agree. Another bizarre outshoot of the current NFL culture is we give up on guys way to fast.
My post was solely as to why Ballentine isn't succeeding RIGHT NOW despite seeming to have the physical ability to do so. This isn't to say he can't figure it out in another season or two; even if the odds for a guy like him (late round pick, small school prospect, etc.) aren't great.
Right now the Giants should be all about guys like him - young, cheap, and talented. Let them compete and learn, and see who sticks. If Ballentine doesn't work out that's a bummer but it happens.
- how good is your understanding of the playbook, you thinking too much?
- how well do you study film, learn tendencies?
- how well do you understand football, know what’s likely coming?
- how well do you know the D and where help is/isn’t?
- how fast can you process information on the fly?
- how hard do you compete, how bad do you want it?
- how do you handle pressure, do you tighten up?
- how is your conditioning?
- how short is your memory, do you spiral after a bad play? Try too hard?
Everyone in the NFL is insanely talented. They are all physically gifted. Good players have to anticipate what’s coming accurately, understand their role in the D, know the D backwards, etc to be able to put the tools they have to good use.
^^ This.
Every time I look at Corey Ballentine I see Corey Webster. Not because of the first name but because of the skillset. Give Ballentine another year to develop. I think BBI will be quite pleased. Just sayin'.
Hope he works out because they need some reliable resources in secondary but have a feeling otherwise. We’ll see.
I sorta remember Jason Sehorn being a non factor until his third year...........takes time for certain players. Not comparing the two, but sometimes it takes time.
To write off Ballentine as a non factor for the future is ill advised at this point.
As someone said above, he's going to play a lot and we'll find out.
In all honestly, we need to catch a break and have Ballantine become solid and SOON. I think his lack of big school experience coupled with a very limited off-season hurts him. He has the physical tools and I gather the spirit to be good but needs experience.
Thanks bc. Seems like he was better than I had thought then. Might have mistaken him for guys that rotated in too.
at any rate, I think the rub routes were a problem for all of them