(04-20-2023, 01:24 PM)Bullseye Wrote:

(04-20-2023, 04:13 AM)JagFanatic24 Wrote: I disagree with not having that element since Carnell Lake. Donovin Darius brought a special element to our defense, and he was better than Lake in his only year in which was 1999.

I watched him knock Kyle Brady out while knocking himself out and his eyes rolled back in his head and he got back up and continued to lay licks. Keyshawn Johnson found out who Darius was in the ‘98 playoffs. So did Jerome Bettis and many others. Robert Ferguson helmet got knocked off when he came across the middle and left the game on stretcher. Darius was a knockout puncher and brought a nastiness to that defense. He set the tone.

*Based on the first 6 seasons

Darius - 9 ints, 39 PD, 6 FF, 1 TD, 466 tck, 2.0 sk, 2 FR, 1 KB
Baker  -  7 ints, 34 PD, 6 FF, 0 TD, 650 tck, 7.5 sk,  5 FR, 0 KB
Lake - 7 ints,  39 PD, 4 FF, 0 TD, 478 tck, 11 sk, 11FR, 0 KB


*Based on Darius’ and Baker’s best season according to Approximate Value vs Lake’s only season in Jax

Darius - 5 ints, 7 PD, 2 FF, 0 TD,  89  tck, 0 sk, 4 FR
Baker  - 2 ints, 6 PD, 1 FF, 0 TD, 118 tck, 2 sk, 0 FR
Lake  - 0 ints, 6 PD, 0 FF, 0 TD,  58 tck,  0 sk, 0 FR


*Darius was listed as a SS or DB
*Baker was listed as a SS in 2017,2018,2020,2021, he was listed as a FS in 2019, and a Safety in 2022
*Lake was listed as a FS in his only season in Jax but was listed as a DB, SS, FS, RCB, LCB

Darius had 5 ints in 2004 which is more than Baker or Lake racked up in a single season.

Darius just didn’t come with any accolades. 0 pro bowls and 0 all pro selections. Lake is a 5x PB and made 1 AP. Baker has made 5 PB and 2 AP.

*Based on 1999 (the only year Lake was listed as a FS)

Darius - 4 ints, 12 PD, 78 tck
Lake    - 0 ints,  6 PD , 58 tck

I think they were different types of players, based upon how they were utilized in their schemes.  Despite his size and tackling/hitting acumen, I don't think DD was utilized as much in the box as Lake was in Pittsburgh or his one year in Jacksonville.  I think D was used as much as a traditional S down the field (think Kyle Brady and Robert Ferguson hits) as opposed to more of an in the box S like LeRoy Butler was in Green Bay.  Lake, because of the scheme, was used more like Butler in Green Bay, with a lot of blitzes and in the box.  I think DD was a physical punisher/enforcer in the run game and in the deep secondary.  Butler and Lake were more catalysts=less enforcers/intimidators than DD.  They'd get more hits on QBs, etc.  All of them were outstanding players, but utilized differently.  For the sake of public safety, it's a good thing DD wasn't utilized like Butler.  Could you imagine him coming clean on a blitz and getting a hit on a QB?!?

I remember vividly one game I attended. DD stopped LaDanian Tomlinson cold early in the game on a screen or bubble pass, and LT was not a factor afterward. On offense, Leftwich had a rare good performance; Chargers DE Marcelius Wiley later commented that what Leftwich did to the Chargers defense was "uncivilized." A roided out looking David Boston was the Chargers lone bright spot. He caught several passes.

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