champ who ?

[warpaint]

have been a redskins fan for 35 years ,but have never been to a game, i have only missed one game on the radio or t.v. over these 35 years. since i have only been able to see what the tv camera showed , was never able to watch champ bailey as he covered the wide outs on every play. my question is , is champ bailey really one of if not the best cover corner in the nfl ?? just seemed to me that when anyone had the nerve to throw in his direction he was often beaten , could be wrong here ,but cant remember him ever having that many interceptions , and was terrible when used as a punt returner.
would appreciate others sharing their thoughts with champ.
as of now i think he was a good corner ,but not a great one. o k everyone tell me how wrong i am.

[Spence]

Most people here, I suspect, will agree with you. I, however, am not one of them.

[akhhorus]

I think Champ is a very good/borderline great CB. However, he didnt want to stay here and he wanted a ton of money. What clinched it for me was Champ getting beat by guys like James McKnight, Josh Reed and Marty Booker. Any CB who gets burned by them, doesnt deserve a massive deal. So I agree with both of you.

[Farbod]

Champ Bailey was one of the best corners in the league, if not the best...

He was an exceptional tackler, and very physical against the best WR in the NFL...

He had one weakness however.... If his back was to the QB and he could not see the ball, he was toast... His hand reactions were not quick enough be he never got out muscled for the ball...

I am still sad to see him go, but Springs and Smoot are good enough...

[SkinsKY]

Most people here, I suspect, will agree with you. I, however, am not one of them.

I agree with Spence. I supported Bailey until the end, but there were few of us.

[sdredskinsfan]

I got caught up for a period of time thinking that he should be as good as Deion Sanders in Deion's prime. Of course, that never happened, but he still is a very good corner; just not deserving of cap-killing salary.

[dj_stouty]

I think Champ is/was great...but his performance on the field slipped last year.

Pash rush or no pass rush aside...I think Champ's biggest weakness is biting on QB head fakes, misdirections and/or play action passes. When Champ is beaten, it is usually because he hesitated on a Play Action and let his WR gain a step on him. Not too many WRs can catch a ball if/when Champ is right in stride. WRs tend to catch more balls on Champ when he is a step or two off.

Would I like to have Champ play for us this year? Absolutely! But not for the money he asked for. I'd prefer to have Portis minus a 2nd rounder, in the long run.

You are right about watching corner backs on TV. You never see their full coverage, as they are already downfield while the cameras are focused on the line of scrimmage. Too bad the NFL NEtwork hasn't come up with "CB/WR Cam TV". A full hour dedicated to the top WR/CB matchup in every game. That way we can have a better sense of who is best at that position and who isn't.

[DallasSux]

Champ is the best cb in the league. he always covered the best wr on the other team. everyone gets beat sometimes and he did too. i also thought he did a good job against the run.

[SonnyandSam]

Champ is an excellent cornerback. He had a bad year last year and got beat a couple times.

During his first four years, he played and performed as one of the best in the league. He not only covered and usually shut down the other team's best receiver but he also played the run as well as any cornerback in the league. He is not a ball hawking CB. He covers receivers so closely that few QBs would even consider throwing in his direction. Some CBs play off a receiver and are better able to intercept passes. Champ simply never had as many chances as most cornerbacks get.

Now last year, Champ did not play as well. Very good but not like he did his first four years. Yes, he got beat several times....and it looked so bad to all of us because we simply were not used to him getting beat AT ALL. But he was still selected to go to the Pro Bowl despite all of us thinking he had a down year. Don't forget, he played every game even with the broken wrist (or hand, whatever it was).

So, yeah, Champ is a great cornerback. To say otherwise ignoring the facts. Will he become one of the greatest cornerbacks of all time....well, we'll have to wait and see. After all, he is only 24 or 25.

As for his punt returning....he only returned punts in 2002 and he had a 9.9 yard average. That's a pretty darn good average. He just never broke and huge ones for a TD or big gain.

Champ was and still is a great cornerback. He just was not worth what he thought he was worth.

[Avg Joe]

When you're playing zone defense(the Burgundy and Gold hardly ever played straight up man press defense) people are going to catch passes. When you have no pass rush and are playing zone they really will catch passes. People don't consider you one fo the best for nothing. I give all db's a pass when forced to play zone.

Champ never to me seemed to embrace being a part of the Burgundy and Gold. His attitude was just too cavalier. But then, who really knows what kind of toll the environment at Skins park had on him. He could have just grown tired with the whole circus.

[akhhorus]

Champ is the best cb in the league. he always covered the best wr on the other team.
Id rather have Charles Woodson(when healthy), Ty Law(when happy), Chris McAlister or Patrick Surtain. Champ is a very good cb, but he's not a ballhawk and he has serious problems with smaller, quicker WRs. Champ only covered the best WR early in his career, the last two years, he was covering one side of the field.

[dj_stouty]

[Champ] always covered the best wr on the other team.

Not entirely true...

Under Marvin Lewis, Champ primarily covered WR2s while Smoot covered the top WRs.

[AshlynSkins]

Champ is the best cb in the league. he always covered the best wr on the other team. everyone gets beat sometimes and he did too. i also thought he did a good job against the run
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:goodpost: I totally agree w/this assessment on Champ, I for 1 will still wear my Champ jersey for the few games I will be attending this season w/pride.

I'm sorry to see him go, but I'm also joyed to see Portis here as well.

It's a catch 22 w/me, Champ didn't want to be here at all, it was apparent IMHO.

[SonnyandSam]

Not entirely true...

Under Marvin Lewis, Champ primarily covered WR2s while Smoot covered the top WRs.

I don't ever recall that happen'!

[AshlynSkins]

I don't ever recall that happen'!
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either do I, could be mistaken but as much as I love Smoot' heart and gamesmanship I don't see him being a true showdown DB like Champ was/is.

[Spence]

Champ only covered the best WR early in his career, the last two years, he was covering one side of the field.You're half right. In 2002 Champ covered one side of the field, no matter which wideout was on that side. In 2003, he went back to covering the other team's #1 wideout.

[straightupbeast]

I'm a big champ fan...i still wish we had him...

[rhummer37]

Champ only covered the best WR early in his career, the last two years, he was covering one side of the field.


Early in his career, he was 2nd behind our boy D. Green

[split3clemente]

attridge, youre a homo

[akhhorus]

You're half right. In 2002 Champ covered one side of the field, no matter which wideout was on that side. In 2003, he went back to covering the other team's #1 wideout.

disagree. George Edwards still believed in the Marvin Lewis system and had the cbs cover by sides of the field. Thats why Champ didnt cover Chris Chambers or Eric Moulds. This is a stupid strategy, because you can just rotate the WRs around the field until you find a good matchup

[akhhorus]

Early in his career, he was 2nd behind our boy D. Green

not really, Champ was on Michael Irvin in his rookie year.

[RedskinsVision]

who's the champ? isn't it Vitali klitschko? :dance: :doh:

[Axegrinder]

In my opinion,Champ was good.Not great,good.Maybe even a bit overrated.
My problem with Bailey wasn't how he started his career[holdout]or ended his Redskins career[threatening to sit out] but the time spent in between.Sure he was a great athlete and he could cover,but he wanted to be Deion.
He wanted to play WR and return kicks,in addition to playing corner.With little success,I think it distracted him from his position.Not always the best tackler!

[redwolf1218]

champ was great and he never missed a game in 5 years, but i remember phil simms saying that bill parcells told him not to even throw the ball on darrel green's side of the field. i dont think champ commanded that kind of respect.

[LATrueRedskin]

Champ Bailey was great for us, a real class act. Can't blame him for wanting a change of scenery. Wish him luck in Denver. But...... we got Portis baby! Will i be wearing my Champ jersey anytime soon? Nope, he plays for another team.

[BandWagon]

champ was great and he never missed a game in 5 years, but i remember phil simms saying that bill parcells told him not to even throw the ball on darrel green's side of the field. i dont think champ commanded that kind of respect.

Nice entre to my comment. He may have been able to lockdown and remove a player from the game (can't settle the arguement about whether he played the best receiver or one side of the field), but I don't recall him making the kinds of plays that ole #28 did. Darrell brought excitement to the secondary and frankly I never felt that way about Champ. I give him props for his durability..that's a great string of games played in the NFL. Unfortunately, he'll never know what might have been with the skins now. I guess his patience ran short and wanted to chase the bigger bucks. Too bad...

Wonder if Springs' dad will be making any comments during the year....

[redwolf1218]

Nice entre to my comment. He may have been able to lockdown and remove a player from the game (can't settle the arguement about whether he played the best receiver or one side of the field), but I don't recall him making the kinds of plays that ole #28 did. Darrell brought excitement to the secondary and frankly I never felt that way about Champ. I give him props for his durability..that's a great string of games played in the NFL. Unfortunately, he'll never know what might have been with the skins now. I guess his patience ran short and wanted to chase the bigger bucks. Too bad...

Wonder if Springs' dad will be making any comments during the year....
true! it seems champ was great as soon as he came out of college, but he just stayed at that same level. i mean it's a good level and his durability is second to no one, but he doesnt seem to strike fear into opposing teams like green or even sanders in their prime. those guys, you didnt want the ball in the air near them, because you know you might give up 7 points.

[IowaSkinsFan]

I think Champ is a very good/borderline great CB. However, he didnt want to stay here and he wanted a ton of money. What clinched it for me was Champ getting beat by guys like James McKnight, Josh Reed and Marty Booker. Any CB who gets burned by them, doesnt deserve a massive deal. So I agree with both of you.

This, in a nutshell, is my view.

[CowboyKilla]

I really don't miss him. He didn't want to be here anymore would have been gone in 1yr, justified or not. We were smart to get one of the best backs in the league for him. Bye Bye.

[LuvSkins17]

Champ was a great corner for us and he will be better with the Broncos. Champ did his best when our D Line was better. When our D Line got weaker, people ran more and playaction killed us in the past. Everyone would freelance and bit on fakes. The D took chances to try and cover for the weak D Line.

Champ is gone now. In my honest opinion. He didn't wanna be here any longer and I am glad he is gone.....

[Brokenstriker]

very good but with some weaknesses
exceptional against the run

Ordinary/below average punt returner with exceptionally bad technique re: carrying the ball
Worse as a receiver, perhaps should relabel his performance at that position to "fumbler"

[redwolf1218]

in 1998, champ's senior year as a bulldog, he had 47 catches for 744 yards and 5 TD's. for the money the broncos are paying him they should use him like that some.

[Keino]

have been a redskins fan for 35 years ,but have never been to a game, i have only missed one game on the radio or t.v. over these 35 years. since i have only been able to see what the tv camera showed , was never able to watch champ bailey as he covered the wide outs on every play. my question is , is champ bailey really one of if not the best cover corner in the nfl ?? just seemed to me that when anyone had the nerve to throw in his direction he was often beaten , could be wrong here ,but cant remember him ever having that many interceptions , and was terrible when used as a punt returner.
would appreciate others sharing their thoughts with champ.
as of now i think he was a good corner ,but not a great one. o k everyone tell me how wrong i am.

Champ Bailey is one of the 2 best CB's in the game today. Anyone that tells you we won't miss him is delusional, and anyone that tells you we have a CB on our roster right now as good doesn't watch football....

[redwolf1218]

Champ Bailey is one of the 2 best CB's in the game today. Anyone that tells you we won't miss him is delusional, and anyone that tells you we have a CB on our roster right now as good doesn't watch football....
i'm just wondering, who's the other one?

[garedskin]

Good not great. ALL CBs get burned.That is a fact.Not all are game changers.Was champ a game changer? NOT while he was in washington.There won/loss record is proof of that.Always seemed to be part of a high ranked Defence that just always seemed to give up a little bit more points than there offense could muster.I think Chris McCallister of Baltimore is the best right now.

[REDMAN]

Champ is a beast and one of the best players in the NFL.

[PennSkinsFan]

i'm just wondering, who's the other one?

McAlister

Champ will be missed, no one can be foole don that, but Springs will do just fine, and add in Sean Taylor, a dominating Safety (hopefully), and I thinkt he secondary has been improved. Once again, the main struggle in the secondary could come from indirect influence, ie:, a bad defensive front.

[redwolf1218]

McAlister

Champ will be missed, no one can be foole don that, but Springs will do just fine, and add in Sean Taylor, a dominating Safety (hopefully), and I thinkt he secondary has been improved. Once again, the main struggle in the secondary could come from indirect influence, ie:, a bad defensive front.
wasnt McAlister drafted the same year as champ? now they have added reed. too bad we couldnt have added taylor to the secondary with champ. but hind sight is 20/20 and if champ was not gone, we might not have taken taylor.

[dukeuch]

I see a lot of folks here knocking Champ as "not a ball hawk". Well, Springs had a total of 5 INT's in his the last three-injury filled years. I think we really do not know what we have in Springs, and that there is real potential for a major breakdown at CB.

[redwolf1218]

interceptions are a misleading stat for corners anyway. the guy getting the ball thrown at him the most often has the most int's. i'd like to see our safeties lead the team in int's.

[Patrick]

My nickels worth ............... Champ did for our defensive backfield the same as Darrell Green did at the same point in his career. Champ was (and is) hopefully developing into an excellent CB (don't like to use the word "Great"). It will be interesting to see if Champ can now raise the bar (like DG did). I would imagine that IF it were true that he did not like it here - just being on a team of HIS choice (and that has made him financially happy) SHOULD elevate his game that much more. AND if not, then possible he does NOT deserve that title of greatness some of you are willing to give him. Over-rated - don't think so BUT we'll find out this year baring injury.