Javier Arenas next year

[Denisevi4]

Javi is definitely fans favorite player on the team. He's our one of the best corner. He's also BY FAR our best KR/PR, I mean nobody is even close in this category.

Although, I think playing corner slowed him down on returns quite a bit. Don't get me wrong, I think he did well both ways this season. But he's no superman. He gets tired and right after the defense finally stopped a drive, he would be the one who goes back and try to run with the ball. One could see he looked confused at times, fumbled the ball. He also didn't look fresh, especially in the 4-th quarter.

Plus, if he was playing KR/PR exclusively, he would have had more reps and be more instinctive at that, thus having less of those headscratching decisions, like the one he had in the SECCG, catching that going out of bounce ball.

So, with this season I'm fine. Him playing corner allowed us to redshirt Alonso. But next season, I hope somebody (Alonso, Dre, maybe Branden) steps up in front of him. If one of these guys is as good of a corner, let him play and that would make Arenas more productive at the ball returns.

Another example of a player like that is Devin Hester. Last 2 years the guy played for the Bears lights out as KR/PR. He was probably the most exciting player to watch in the NFL. Now they're playing/training him at WR. And look at him now, he cannot catch the ball and he forgot how to return the kicks.

If Javi thinks about NFL, he has to realize he has no future at corner. But he's a very special player on special teams. Maybe he could even ask the coaches to play him only at ball returns his last season and excel at that.

 

[buzzincuzzin]

Hey coach!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! CAN I PLAY LESS??????????? fat chance. 3 new corners beating him out for playing time?????? fat chance

 

[bamabryan]

:conf2: :conf2: :conf2: :conf2: :conf2:

 

[mlh]

Javi is one of our best defensive players. If you notice he is always around the ball and makes a ton of plays for us. I don't see anyone taking away his CB slot. He may get some rest as talent and depth is developed, but he will be a key factor in our defense next year. He is also one of the most competitive guys on the team. Don't look for anyone to take his spot, either on defense or special teams, and he would never ask the coaches to play him less.

 

[CrimsonBleedRed]

Another example of a player like that is Devin Hester. Last 2 years the guy played for the Bears lights out as KR/PR. He was probably the most exciting player to watch in the NFL. Now they're playing/training him at WR. And look at him now, he cannot catch the ball and he forgot how to return the kicks.

Difference is, the Bears lost a couple of key players that were on special teams, such as Brendon Ayanbadejo who was a major reason why Hester broke free for alot of his kicks.

With that said, not a chance that Javi will walk up to CNS and ask for less playing time. Cause if he did, CNS would tell Javi to keep on walking off his team. CNS want players who want to work, and who wants to play.

 

[Ark-Tider]

Javi is one of our best defensive players. If you notice he is always around the ball .

I agree. Javy is really good around the LOS. Rarely misses tackles and plays really fast. I thought he was one of our best d-backs this year...if not the best. JMO

 

[wastedmason]

Javey will be first team All-SEC cornerback next year if he stays healthy and maybe All-American.

 

[mlh]

There was an interview with him after one of the games this year. I don't remember which one. The reporter asked him about a play where the WR caught the ball out in his area. Javi said: "I tried to knock his helmet off. I didn't knock if off, but his chinstrap was loose."

Gotta love that intensity. I know CNS does.

 

[i_live_4_bama]

Javi is definitely fans favorite player on the team. He's our one of the best corner. He's also BY FAR our best KR/PR, I mean nobody is even close in this category.

Although, I think playing corner slowed him down on returns quite a bit. Don't get me wrong, I think he did well both ways this season. But he's no superman. He gets tired and right after the defense finally stopped a drive, he would be the one who goes back and try to run with the ball. One could see he looked confused at times, fumbled the ball. He also didn't look fresh, especially in the 4-th quarter.

Plus, if he was playing KR/PR exclusively, he would have had more reps and be more instinctive at that, thus having less of those headscratching decisions, like the one he had in the SECCG, catching that going out of bounce ball.

So, with this season I'm fine. Him playing corner allowed us to redshirt Alonso. But next season, I hope somebody (Alonso, Dre, maybe Branden) steps up in front of him. If one of these guys is as good of a corner, let him play and that would make Arenas more productive at the ball returns.

Another example of a player like that is Devin Hester. Last 2 years the guy played for the Bears lights out as KR/PR. He was probably the most exciting player to watch in the NFL. Now they're playing/training him at WR. And look at him now, he cannot catch the ball and he forgot how to return the kicks.

If Javi thinks about NFL, he has to realize he has no future at corner. But he's a very special player on special teams. Maybe he could even ask the coaches to play him only at ball returns his last season and excel at that.

What you mean after they FINALLY stop a drive. You make it sound like they hardly ever did that or had trouble doing that.

 

[Denisevi4]

What you mean after they FINALLY stop a drive. You make it sound like they hardly ever did that or had trouble doing that.

I meant those rare moments when defense had a hard time stopping opponents offense, Javi was on the field all the time, that's when I felt bad for him. I don't know how he does that, he's like a machine.

Remember the Tulane game? These guys were driving the ball pretty well. Didn't turn into many points though, but made consistent drives nevertheless. I don't exactly remember how it was, but there was a sequence of plays going something like this: defense stopped them, they punt and Javi returns for a long touchdown, again defense stopped, their punt is blocked and returned for a touchdown by Rogers, again defense finally stopped them, Javi making a good return but gets injured because one of their guys lays a perfect hit on him in the end. He was on the field all the time, I mean like 30 plays in a row going full speed. He was like a sprinter running a marathon. No wonder he was injured, I'm surprised he survived.

 

[rolltide0692]

Yeah, tell Javier that.

He has always said that he is a cornerback that also returns kicks.
Not a kick returner that plays cornerback

 

[Denisevi4]

You just made an argument that defeats your first point. He played the whole game against Tulane, yet managed to break Harry "the most awesome player ever" Gilmer's punt return record. Pretty good for a guy that is exhausted.

I agree, that's incredibly good. And I love the guy(as a player of course)!

But, where exactly did I break the logic? I did acknowledge that Javi "did well both ways". I just think he would do much better and be more consistent at KR/PR if he plays that exclusively. Anyway, that was my thought and I don't expect everyone to agree.

 

[rolltidescott]

As someone else said earlier this season, Javy is a very good d-back who also is a good kick returner. He's not a good kick returner wh just a decent d-back.

 

[capnfrog]

Javi is a very good corner as well as a PR/KR. I think his biggest asset is what he brings to this team in leadership and spirit.

 

[TIDE-HSV]

All the starters are allowed to play on only one special team. Non-starters can play on all. I've tried to figure out how that applies to JA, since he's both KR and PR. Nevertheless, the other starters are running the field on either kicking or punt returns, including playing the "gunner" slot. I don't think there's any material difference in running the field as a returner or running it on kickoffs and punts. We don't have the depth to keep our best off the field on ST. We started the year trying that, but there were too many breakdowns, overruns and the like, so the starters began seeing the field on ST again...

 

[BFANLC]

All the starters are allowed to play on only one special team. Non-starters can play on all. I've tried to figure out how that applies to JA, since he's both KR and PR. Nevertheless, the other starters are running the field on either kicking or punt returns, including playing the "gunner" slot. I don't think there's any material difference in running the field as a returner or running it on kickoffs and punts. We don't have the depth to keep our best off the field on ST. We started the year trying that, but there were too many breakdowns, overruns and the like, so the starters began seeing the field on ST again...

I think when our depth improves from a quality stand point we will no longer be seeing double or triple duty from our first teamers. To tell you the truth we need another game breaker on offense. That is where Javier needs to be expelling any extra energy he may have.

 

[CapstoneGrad06]

Tired or not, Javy brings a tremendous amount of skills to both the defensive backfield, and in returning kicks and punts. I don't think either phase of his game suffers because of the other. We substitute a lot on defense, and special teams is only a few plays a game. Plus, a shot at the NFL will only come if he showcases his defensive ability, in addition to what he does on special teams.