Brandon Alexander

[Sir Blue and Gold]

HB generally provide run support and BA is a terrific phyical player. Holm can cover more ground than anyone in our lineup.

Half backs are most comparable to a slot corner. Run support is not usually a defining characteristic. They have to cover first and foremost and they don't have the help of the sideline. They're always up against really good receivers hitting scrimmage with a ten yard head of steam. It's a really hard position to be excellent at. You think he's lost a step as a safety? It would be three times worse at half.

[Tiger]

It's sad but we all get older and that is part of the game.

[TecnoGenius]

Is it me or does Alexander seemed to have slowed down allot. Maybe it's just my observation , to me he seems to be caught out of position at times. I like him , his leadership quality and work ethic as well. He is a punishing hitter and is not old he turns 31 on Sept 2th next Friday on rematch day .

Weird game to choose to pick on BA37.  This was the first game in a long time he was in the picture on many deep balls.  We're so used to not seeing BA at all on those because he's sneaking up to the line on run support, or guessing the wrong side.

I would actually give him kudos for this game for being in the picture.

What I would do is on suspected deep shots is put in our other FSs like Hallett21 and task him as a Dequoy-style roamer.  Yes, I know he screwed up badly vs SSK, but we could mitigate that by giving him strict instructions to play the deep threat only -- no trying to cheat up on the short/mid routes like what burned him.

BA37 is still a great general any-down and run-support FS.  If we let him go in FA, I would love for us to get our own version of Dequoy: light, fast, roving, athletic.  To heck with run stop.

[Pigskin]

BA will be 31 on Friday. So, I am not buying age is his problem. He has also made 53 DTs which is second highest on the team.

[Pigskin]

Did anyone else notice the spear BA took when he was on the ground after recovering the fumble. I believe it was #62 that came in late and speared him.

[TecnoGenius]

Did anyone else notice the spear BA took when he was on the ground after recovering the fumble. I believe it was #62 that came in late and speared him.

Did BA recover a fumble?  Are you thinking of another player?  What quarter/time?  I'll check it out.

Late spearing on non-QB ball carriers is endemic in the league and no one gives a poop.  (i.e. after player clearly down but before the whistle is blown.)

I think Ds are coached/instructed to hurt and punish RBs/Rs as much as possible on every play in the hopes of sidelining them after enough hits.

[blue_or_die]

If anything, Safety is the perfect position for BA at this point of his career.

As a young stud, He was fast and physical and a perfect boundary half back or corner.

Now at thirty one years old, We still get that skill set albeit in a more muted way than five years ago, But he is effectively hidden from the intense responsibility on the outer edges. The safety position also allows him to use his great amount of experience and high football IQ to direct the secondary, Kind of akin to how a middle linebacker can see what an offense is doing and adjust the whole front 7.

Remember, 15 years ago we used to hide average Canadians at the safety position. BA is a luxury in our secondary even if he's not quite the player he was at his peak.

[blue_gold_84]

Age is catching up to him but I think he's still more than serviceable in the right role on D.

He's been such a stud over the years, too.

[Blue In BC]

Age is catching up to him but I think he's still more than serviceable in the right role on D.

He's been such a stud over the years, too.

I think I mentioned he could be a good candidate for a DI / rotation spot in 2025 if SMS and ego don't create an issue.

Realistically I don't see him starting next year but I could see him still on the roster.

[Throw Long Bannatyne]

Weird game to choose to pick on BA37.  This was the first game in a long time he was in the picture on many deep balls.  We're so used to not seeing BA at all on those because he's sneaking up to the line on run support, or guessing the wrong side.

I would actually give him kudos for this game for being in the picture.

What I would do is on suspected deep shots is put in our other FSs like Hallett21 and task him as a Dequoy-style roamer.  Yes, I know he screwed up badly vs SSK, but we could mitigate that by giving him strict instructions to play the deep threat only -- no trying to cheat up on the short/mid routes like what burned him.

BA37 is still a great general any-down and run-support FS.  If we let him go in FA, I would love for us to get our own version of Dequoy: light, fast, roving, athletic.  To heck with run stop.

BA also got turned inside out by Emulus in the Banjo Bowl but that's going to happen when the Safety is planted deep waiting for the play to come to him, BA was at a standstill while Emulus had the advantage of full momentum.  He's also been playing more traditional Safety this year under Younger, not as much filling gaps and playing short to help stop runs. 

As long as BA's healthy his mobility is still decent but when he gets banged up they need to rest him instead of letting him play.  That stretch going into the playoffs last season he was playing well below capacity and should have been taken out, as he could barely run.

[dd]

Lets not forget that our defense turned around the second BA went to safety. Sure he's lost a step, but he's smarter than he was back then and is still a heck of a football player. He's as physical a safety as there is in the league. I m thinking he stays right where he is.

[J5V]

Lets not forget that our defense turned around the second BA went to safety. Sure he's lost a step, but he's smarter than he was back then and is still a heck of a football player. He's as physical a safety as there is in the league. I m thinking he stays right where he is.

I'm all right with that too but I do wonder about plays like that flea flicker we saw to Gino Lewis for a TD that beat BA and TF. That was a bad look.

[dd]

Ya that was such a Flukey bogus play, ball totally under thrown , receiver reacted better than ford and BA but defenders read the receivers eyes, they aren't looking back at the Qb. So ya it was a bad look but whatever receivers plays sometimes and the defense doesn't always make the play

The bigger tell is how many more plays did Lewis make vs Alexander and Ford.

[Blueforlife]

The concerns about BA have some merit but are overstated imo for this season.  He can and will get it done.  Just like Biggie, players change.  The best ones adjust their style as their body ages and their skills change.  Next season who knows.  He fits in well right now with the other great play makers we have on defence.

[TecnoGenius]

I'm all right with that too but I do wonder about plays like that flea flicker we saw to Gino Lewis for a TD that beat BA and TF. That was a bad look.

We've bitten on every flea flicker against us this season.  I think MTL did one?  And another team?  Our DBs get too excited on the short routes and INTs and are failing to honor their responsibility.

It doubly sucks because there have been many flea flickers league-wide this season and less than half the Ds fall for it.  I hate it when other teams are being smarter than us.

It must cause MOS fits.  I would hope this latest burn will have them all preaching and underscoring being assignment sound.