Defence and the little guys

[bull shark]

There's been a fair bit of comment for a while about the defense (or lack of) by players like Kimmorley, Campbell, and others, so I thought I'd just separate it out for specific discussion.

I've always admired Dean Treister for his never-take-step-backwards attitude. But I've seen him knocked out at least 3 times that I can remember, and I'll bet he's had a lot more concussions than that.

So here's a scenario:
BK takes criticism of his defense to heart and decides that from now on he's going to throw himself at every big b**tard that comes his way in every game. Every third game he get concussion. Every third concussion requires a night in hospital. Once a season he breaks an arm or a wrist. And on it goes.

What would you be saying to your #1 playmaker if you were the coach? I suggest that you'd tell him to defend pretty well how BK (PC) defend now: "have a go, but don't put your body on the line"

The point I'm making is that these guys are there for attack not defense - you can't compare these guys to someone like Rickettson or Webcke. So when you criticise, use a reasonable standard. And I reckon that from that point of view both these guys do pretty well.

 

[gunnamatta bay]

Kimmorley is a tenacious defender, as tough as nails and for the amount of defence he does rarely gets injured. He has the ability to absorb punishment tackling and then spring into attack mode.

 

[carinashark]

Kimmorly is first class in defence! No question , the guy tackles way above his size and weight. In attack he is brilliant . He just needs better support players ready to take his passes, this will happen in 2004. I dont get why posts here continualy bag the guy! Our younger guys will have way more experience next year and without jarrad A getting in the way I think its going to be a great year.
Carinashark
PS ,Sorry about the optomism!

 

[Eskimo Sharkie]

Yes Carina, I always thought that he was pretty good in defence as well. I was trying to find some statistics for the 2003 season on tackles v missed tackles to do a comparison, but had not luck. I think that a lot of people have fallen into the trap of bagging him out because of Anderson or using as a scapegoat for the dismal 2003 season. Or they still haven't gotten over Campbell's departure.

As for guts and determination, you won't get any argument from me and you shouldn't from anyone else. He's proven during 2003 that he is as tough as nails. I'm still flabbergasted that he played for 15 minutes or so with a ruptured testicle, it makes my eyes water just thinking about it, and then there was playing for 60 minutes with a broken jaw. He's one tough little cookie in my books and there's no doubting his commitment to the Sharks from his performances on the field.

You can never be too optimisitic and I can't wait until the 2004 season kicks off.

 

[carcharias]

here here!
I wouldn't even play 1st grade let alone do it with a broken jaw or a split nut.

 

[bull shark]

I think that a lot of people have fallen into the trap of bagging him out because of Anderson or using as a scapegoat for the dismal 2003 season. Or they still haven't gotten over Campbell's departure.

Absolutely. I was like that at the beginning of the season, but when I really watched him for a whole game I realised that he's really there for the whole 80 minutes. So I now look at BK separately from CA. But...
Often when the big guys are coming at him he works to slow them down rather than take them on-on-one. And I think this is exactly what he should do. But a lot of the Ando/BK-haters see only the couple of missed tackles and ignore the other aspects of his game.

As for guts and determination, you won't get any argument from me and you shouldn't from anyone else. He's proven during 2003 that he is as tough as nails. I'm still flabbergasted that he played for 15 minutes or so with a ruptured testicle, it makes my eyes water just thinking about it, and then there was playing for 60 minutes with a broken jaw. He's one tough little cookie in my books and there's no doubting his commitment to the Sharks from his performances on the field.

The game with the broken jaw just blew me away - that was when my attitude to him completely turned around - he not only stayed there, he was fully involved.

You can never be too optimisitic and I can't wait until the 2004 season kicks off.

Yeah bring it on.
Whoever is the Coach - even if it's the guy I don't want - I can't wait to be cheering for the Sharkies again.

 

[millersnose]

gunna matta

i am sure you have received some pm's requesting you choose another avatar

the one you have is too big and pushes text off the screen

please fix it