MarlinTheMagician

I think this is a distinct possibility, but I think it is coin flip. Thus my concern. As other posters stated, he was undeniably tentative, at least in the first half of the year. Could be he didn't trust what he did see and didn't see enough - rookie problem that will clear. There was some improvement in the second half, but I did not see it as dramatic. I think he has a lot to prove this year to justify his draft status - he will either emerge or fade. He definitely does not seem to have the quicks to be a plus FS. I think his path is SS and to capture that opportunity he is going to have to assert himself more physically. Certainly could happen, but he has not proven it yet or showed enough flashes that I feel comfortable. Utah is over. Don't care about any insults, he is a big variable in the D - if he is a plus NFL starter our D looks a lot better than if he can't break into the lineup. Given apparent coverage limitations he needs to do that with physicality.

Take Spender Brown - clean cut, but a real bastard from day one. Wanted to put defenders though the turf. Was always obvious. Same for our extra-lineman dude whose name I forget at the moment. Mean.

Kind of like it. Guarantees a level playing field and rewards ingenuity.

Bless you. Hang out with Cole some this summer. Corrupt him.

Don't think you will get that. Hell, if not one other poster is worried at all about Bishop's development, I guess that does make me feel better. BUT - there is no way the top two safeties would have been mocked to us so often, or that persons on this board would have clamored for one of them, if Cole had balled out last year. The concern was not that "he didn't play well" - I thought he kind of played okay-ish. The concern was I did not see plays that demonstrated the traits we drafted him for -- size and speed used to deliver authoritative hits. Take Josh, or Shakir or Spencer Brown - they all did that even when experiencing rookie struggles. Not trashing the young man, not even saying he didn't play decent for a rook, but show me a little more sandpaper.

When someone says "kidding" it is usually a tell!

I do feel reassured by the first paragraph - and heck, I even know that is absolutely a truism, can't judge a book by its cover. But I really want to see it. I would rather he miss badly, but aggressively, than settle for "scheme sound." Not saying he will settle for that, but I want to see it. Match my SAT score bro, dare you! Kidding, but I very much want to be stupid here. I want to see him square some folks up. If you can honestly say you saw a lot of that last year, I was not watching the same performance. It is time. I hope it happens.

Agree with the second part, but you have to admit Tasker looked like a choirboy in a kind of psychopathic way -- still does. Like Lenny Dykstra (who looked innocent when very young). Plus, my man Tasker played with unbridled aggression from the first play I ever saw of his. Dude was just a baller, and I am sincerely hopeful that is in Cole. I want to see it. In the NFL. Let's go Cole! I think he is a key for the D - a fact that is noted, but I think underrated.

Yeah, is similar to the bad feeling I had about Josh Rosen, only different. Looking at the pictures and interviews of that pencil-necked tool, all I could think was "never, ever will be a leader of strong men, and therefore will fail as an NFL QB." So ffs me all you want, I have a track record 😀 And like I said, would love to be wrong. Rapp - he is a train wreck the way he injures everyone and can't say healthy himself, but just looking at him you can picture him putting a hurt on people. That is great - and I read the same kinds of reviews when he was drafted. The play I saw last year was more tentative, in my eyes. Could just be because he was a rook and missed time, but I hope what you saw at Utah translates to the NFL - it doesn't always. If it does, and I am 100% rooting for him, my next worry will be "can he stay healthy".

I feel a need to be reassured by the board. I get a creeping fear - which can only be based on some weird, deep-seated prejudice -- that Cole Bishop may well lack the toughness to be an NFL strong safety. Maybe he looks a little bit too much like a choirboy. Maybe he is too handsome and I am secretly jealous. I am 100% rooting for him. I know he has the height, weight and speed. But I look at him and think "likely to be scheme sound." No, please! I want to look at him and say "geez, I would sure hate to be a running back and see that animal flying downhill at me. Snot flying, drool dripping, that dude is going to wreck someone." I want to think - wide receiver over the middle? Not worried about it, Bishop will get there and lay the MoFo out. They may complete one, but it will be VERY expensive for them. Tell me I am stupid, a hater or just off base. I really liked the pick when they made it, I am hoping he grows into a silent assassin on the back-end. Even if he is scheme sound too (and I know he wasn't always that last year either). Let's go Cole - cheering for you, and want to feel stupid for doubting you. I may have to buy a Bishop jersey just to exorcise my doubts. Thoughts?

And "we need another receiver"

You heard it here first - save the post - he plays all 17 this year.

Raiders at Bills, 1967. Dad took me to my first game. Sure miss that guy. Was at The Rockpile, of course. A framed picture of a Bills interception that day sits in a privileged bookshelf position in my NYC office. Will always be my favorite Bills game, even if they win the Super Bowl. Thanks Dad.

No, no, no - don't jinx it folks!

Not high, pregnant. Those butterflies --