This headline appears to be a bit misleading...

by JasonB on Oct 24, 2009 6:00 AM EDT in Philadelphia Eagles News

I didn't go to journalism school and I'm not employed by a newspaper, but there seems to be something wrong here. Geoff Mosher's article is provocatively titled, SAMUEL: I'M NOT PAID TO TACKLE. Now, to me that appears as though Asante Samuel told a reporter that he doesn't get paid to tackle. However, in that same article we find that what he said was this...

"I didn’t get signed here because I was a great tackler," Samuel said. "Everbody saw my film [before he was signed]."

So shouldn't the headline be Samuel: I didn’t get signed here because I was a great tackler?

But what do I know?

As for Asante Samuel and his "tackling" I'm kind of perplexed at my own reaction. I got a kick out of what Asante said. Obviously you always want the guy to say how he'll do better and acknowledge that he's struggled... He did kind of do that saying "I work hard on my tackling every day." But for some reason I found Samuel's rather brash statement funny.

It's probably funny because it's true. He wasn't signed here to be a great tackler and we all have seen his film. He is who he is. He's picking off passes at a fairly ridiculous rate so far and he's left a lot to be desired in the tackling department. That's the kind of player he's always been.

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I initially thought the “headline” that you metntion was the caption, because saying “Asante Samuel tackling” is also misleading!

Okay so maybe it's time to move on. Hopefully it'll be moving on to winning a Championship!

by LeonSA on Oct 24, 2009 6:41 AM EDT reply actions

I hate how this is the accepted norm in football…“pass catching tight ends” who don’t block..pathetic….for a guy that works everyday on his tackling he sure does suck at it

I thank God almost everyday that I wasn't born in Dallas!

by dcgreenspro on Oct 24, 2009 9:54 AM EDT reply actions

As long as Asante continues on this pace against the GOOD teams then I can deal with a missed tackle here and there. So far we’ve faced QBs like Delhomme, Matt Cassel, Josh Johnson, and Jamarcus Russell. Coming up in the next stretch are guys like Eli Manning, Tony Romo, Jay Cutler, Philip Rivers, Matt Ryan. Those two sets of QBs are in different universes as far as Im concerned. If he can keep up this pace then I say give him more money (if that’s even possible). But in reality, I don’t know that he’ll be able to. He better improve his tackling or he will become a liability.

by Smitty2K3 on Oct 24, 2009 10:19 AM EDT via mobile reply actions

I agree that Mosher’s piece is very much taking liberties with Samuel’s actual quote…

But that said, his tackling is shameful. Not just his technique, or his strength… What bothers me most is that his effort isn’t there, and that’s totally unacceptable.

by JimmyK on Oct 24, 2009 10:26 AM EDT reply actions

I really can't blame Samuel

Finding a CB that can tackle isn’t the common. We got lucky with Sheldon. Not taking down Zack Miller, c’mon Asante is 185 soaking wet and Zack Miller is 255. Its like getting mad at Gary Coleman for not successfully guarding Shaq. As long as Asante keeps picking off passes left and right then I can deal with a few missed tackles.

by macjack09 on Oct 24, 2009 11:22 AM EDT reply actions

Dude, you can’t make that argument. If you watch the hit, he went in head/shoulder first like a missile and whiffed completely. So if he’s 185, and Miller is 255, then he went head first at a wall hoping to make a tackle. It’s not that he doesn’t want to tackle, he just want’s to make the highlight reel with a big hit. How hard is it to just take a moment, wrap your arms around the guy and let your legs go limp so that somebody else can get in to finish him off.

It’s bad enough that it was a big gain, but he could have prevented a TD, even if it was a big play, they could have prevented a TD.

by thwalls on Oct 24, 2009 11:32 AM EDT up reply actions

CBs aren’t really taught to tackle. Matter fact, they aren’t taught to. I’m not defending Samuel, I’m just saying that finding a CB that can actually form tackle nowadays is hard. Look at what Celek did to Ronde. Ronde is a future hall of famer and Brent just leaped over him. We struck gold with Sheldo, but it’s not likely we are going to find another like him. I still think Asante is the better cover man but Sheldon is better everywhere else. If it were a receiver I would be a lot more angry with Samuel but the fact that is was a TE I can’t blame him completely. Zach should have never been open in the first place to start, and Asante tried to take him down the way most corners are taught. Most likely he could have at least slowed him down if he did wrap up (I don’t think he could have brought him down). And technically, Asante isn’t the only player on the team who has done a piss poor job tackling. So I’m not going to blame him for everything.

by macjack09 on Oct 24, 2009 12:45 PM EDT up reply actions

CBs aren’t really taught to tackle. Matter fact, they aren’t taught to.

I can’t possibly argue that statement more vehemently.

by JimmyK on Oct 24, 2009 3:53 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs

he went in head/shoulder first like a missile

He tried to pull a “Dawkins” and FAILED.

Andy Reid has to live with Sunday's reality: He was out coached by Tom Cable. (John Clayton)
Since 2005: Andy Reid 36-32-1; 7-25-1 when tied or losing at halftime.

by Route36 on Oct 24, 2009 12:22 PM EDT reply actions

Don't blame the author for the headline

Reporters generally don’t write the headlines for their articles. That is usually done by an copy editor.

by claw on Oct 24, 2009 12:41 PM EDT reply actions

samuel

Did anyone watch that preseason game in Philadelphia this summer? I believe the opponent was the jaguars, samuel was all over the place that game, even if it is preseason, no one can tell me the guy tries to avoid contact, that hit he gave that player on the goal line was ridiculous, he is not the best tackler, but he does not avoid tackling, that is just a stupid assumption.

by PhilsForever on Oct 24, 2009 12:50 PM EDT reply actions

He has physical limitations

that he overcomes, his body isn’t meant for tackling, and I’ve seen him many time since he;s been here try to lay a big hit and get hurt himself as a result. To overcome the limitations of average speed and a body not suited for making hits and become a very good cover corner who reads offenses like few players on defense ever has, is a testament to the hard work and dedication this guy has… one of my all time most respected players

My "t" and "y" buttons are messed up so don't bitch at me about misspelling, I'm just saying.

by RadioheadbeatlesEagles on Oct 24, 2009 4:14 PM EDT reply actions

also

they dude’s funny as hell and always has been a great teammate especially during games on the sideline. His tackling sux btw

My "t" and "y" buttons are messed up so don't bitch at me about misspelling, I'm just saying.

by RadioheadbeatlesEagles on Oct 24, 2009 4:15 PM EDT up reply actions

I don’t really care about his tackling that much he can tackle wide receivers just fine it’s a little tougher for a 5-10 185 pound person to make an arm tackle on a 6-5 ft 255 tight end. I think he did his best with it and went for the legs, besides I’d rather have turnovers anyway. Trotter missed that tackle too, and Mikell got pancaked by Murphy overall it was just a disastrous play.

by fhqwagads on Oct 25, 2009 2:54 AM EDT reply actions

oh my

he did dive in there like a missle with his head down after he left his feet he did not see the TE….anyone could have dodged that tackle attempt. at least keep your head up and get in front of him so he has to go around you or through you. Either way it will slow him up much. I know that CB’s are never the greatest tacklers but effort will go a long way in a lot of things. And that in my opinion was a piss poor effort. I don’t care if he gets 15 INT’s at least make an effort and slowing Miller down there.

by slandog on Oct 26, 2009 11:10 AM EDT reply actions