BVP, Pierce, Rice and Nate "White House" Jackson article

[SoCalBronco]

Pride and grooming help
Van Pelt thriving on more coaching, confidence at QB

By Lee Rasizer, Rocky Mountain News
July 9, 2005

Bradlee Van Pelt believes he's coming along as a practice player.

Later this summer, during preseason games, the quarterback will see if he can take the next step and work his way up the Denver Broncos depth chart and become a legitimate contender to make the 53-player squad.


Advertisement


The former Colorado State star's athleticism and running skills have not been in doubt since Denver drafted him with the last of three seventh-round picks in April 2004. His ability to throw with accuracy and assimilate the offense is what he had to prove to coaches.

And at least in the media's limited access to Broncos practices this off-season, Van Pelt seems sharper with his passes.

He said he has been far from perfect but has been more consistent with his arm, which he attributes to increased practice repetitions - and confidence. He said his feeling heading into his second season, put alongside his first, is "uncomparable."

"I'm just getting the coaching that a lot of people got in college (and) high school," Van Pelt said. "I wasn't a 'groomed' guy in high school. I wasn't groomed in college. I'm getting the coaching. So I wouldn't say I've tweaked my mechanics. But I'm starting to get better and better. I know I have a far ways to go where I know I can go."

Danny Kanell and Matt Mauck remain ahead of Van Pelt on the depth chart, but Van Pelt believes his chances are "tremendously different" than last season and that he has "a great chance."

"What I think I'm doing is proving on the field why I should be around in the NFL and why I fit this system. I still have to go out there and do it in games. Practice is one thing. Games are another. By no means am I where I want to be or can be. I'm just slowly climbing the chart to where I want to go."

BUST OR BUST OUT: Circumstances, to some degree, have worked against Terry Pierce since the Broncos selected him with their second-round pick in the 2003 draft.

[SoCalBronco]

At the time, Al Wilson's contract was up and his future with the organization sketchy. Pierce was a fall-back option who became less necessary when Wilson signed a long-term deal as the team's middle linebacker, Pierce's natural position.

Injuries also have gotten in Pierce's way: a torn pectoral muscle in 2003, a knee injury in training camp last year. And his weight, at times, has been an issue for coaches.

And with the Broncos having reacquired Ian Gold to play alongside Wilson and second-year stalwart D.J. Williams, there appear to be significant road blocks to Pierce playing this season, especially with less talk now about the Broncos using a 3-4 alignment.

But defensive coordinator Larry Coyer believes it's time Pierce makes an impact in some fashion. The coach said Pierce can start doing so on special teams and by being a "multiple-position guy," which Pierce already has done by working at outside linebacker last season.

"It's time to play," Coyer said. "He's a big, strong guy. I think he's been through the peaks - and the valleys, mostly. But I think the guy knows what it takes to play. He knows what it's going to take. He also knows it's competitive. But this guy's got it in him."

Pierce has appeared on defense in eight games the past two years and remains Wilson's primary backup entering training camp later this month.

"The whole deal is just throwing all the past back, putting her down and let's see what happens," Coyer said. "I think he's done that. I think he's doing it right now."

RIGHT UP THEIR ALLEY: There was bedlam in the Broncos' meeting room Friday morning when coach Mike Shanahan announced the team would skip its final mini-camp practice and head to a bowling alley.

"These guys have been working extremely hard and we still have a few weeks left to finish off the off-season conditioning program, so it's a little reward for these guys," Shanahan said. "We've had 16 very good workouts, and it was a good changeup."

Each of the Broncos bowled twice. The 10 highest scorers among the defense, offense and coaching staff teamed in the finals, with each individual on those units getting one frame each toward the final combined score.

The coaching staff won with a score of 187, beating the offense (135) and defense (80), behind late strikes by assistant strength coach Greg Saporta, receivers coach Steve Watson and Shanahan.

"It's definitely embarrassing," linebacker Keith Burns said of the bragging rights and large trophy lost by the players, and specifically the defense. "In the off-season, we're going to evaluate our personnel as far as bowling, then regroup and get ready for next year."

[SoCalBronco]

RICE COOKED: Jerry Rice is known for an off-season training regimen the past two decades in which he runs hills to a point where other athletes who joined him dropped.

It's safe to say none of those mountains were at 5,280 feet.

The biggest adjustment Rice, 42, is making with the Broncos isn't getting acclimated to his teammates or the playbook - it's dealing with being winded at altitude.

"I was telling some of the guys, having to work under conditions like this, with the air being so thin, it seriously makes you think about, 'Wow, is it really worth it?' " Rice said. "But it is. It is. And it's going to pay off for me. It's just I have to get adjusted to it."

To that end, Rice plans to return to Denver about nine days before the July 28 opening of training camp to being preparation. His main focus will be sprint work and drills emphasizing cutting.

"I can run straight ahead and probably not get winded," he said. "It's the stop and go. That's what I've got to get used to."

QUOTABLE: Nate Jackson, on taking Dwayne Carswell's No. 89 jersey and moving to tight end: "They're calling me 'White House,' " an allusion to Cars- well's nickname, "House."

[Kaylore]

You gotta wonder about Pierce. Maybe knowing that Al Wilson is in front of him meant he doesn't need to try as hard to him.

Rich Tuten said that despite Nate Jackson gaining all that weight, he hasn't lost any of his speed. Might be something special developing this preseason.

[SoCalBronco]

You gotta wonder about Pierce. Maybe knowing that Al Wilson is in front of him meant he doesn't need to try as hard to him.

Rich Tuten said that despite Nate Jackson gaining all that weight, he hasn't lost any of his speed. Might be something special developing this preseason.

That sounds good. He is pretty tall, might be a weapon in the red zone against those LBs. Nate and The Putz might be a good combo. I like Nate although his journals are a little out there. At least we have a nickname for him now.

[elsid13]

That sounds good. He is pretty tall, might be a weapon in the red zone against those LBs. Nate and The Putz might be a good combo. I like Nate although his journals are a little out there. At least we have a nickname for him now.


Didn't he(Nate) have some type of rap nickname like Jack Nasty ?? SI had it in article.

[baja]

I have always liked Nate Jackson and continue to have high hopes for him. I also wanted to see him at the TE posion for a while now. We will have three good options at TE. Bye Hape and thanks for the memories

[-Slap-]

But defensive coordinator Larry Coyer believes it's time Pierce makes an impact in some fashion. The coach said Pierce can start doing so on special teams and by being a "multiple-position guy," which Pierce already has done by working at outside linebacker last season.

"It's time to play," Coyer said. "He's a big, strong guy. I think he's been through the peaks - and the valleys, mostly. But I think the guy knows what it takes to play. He knows what it's going to take. He also knows it's competitive. But this guy's got it in him."

Pierce has appeared on defense in eight games the past two years and remains Wilson's primary backup entering training camp later this month.

"The whole deal is just throwing all the past back, putting her down and let's see what happens," Coyer said. "I think he's done that. I think he's doing it right now."

Apparently Coyer believes if you hammer on a square peg long enough, it will eventually fit into a round hole.

by being a "multiple-position guy"

Uhh

Those that don't learn from their mistakes are doomed to repeat them.

[Billy Clyde Puckett]

I would hate to lose the depth, but I would not be a bit surprised if another team has an injury or a deficiency and Mr. Pierce is traded for a conditional draft choice.

[baja]

I would hate to lose the depth, but I would not be a bit surprised if another team has an injury or a deficiency and Mr. Pierce is traded for a conditional draft choice.

I think a trade is possible given his cap hit next season but I doubt it would be conditional and it would have to be a high draft pick.

[BigPlayShay]

Didn't he(Nate) have some type of rap nickname like Jack Nasty ?? SI had it in article.

comes from his "Stage name"

http://www.nastybreeze.com/

[Cito Pelon]

I've been optimistic this off-season, but I read this this article and it kind of takes the edge of my homerism.

It used to be the Broncs were the best-conditioned team in the NFL. They didn't take days off to go bowling. They did wind-sprints. Rice obviously isn't in any condition to play.

I saw a lot of guys especially on D the last few years that not only took plays off, but couldn't even get to the huddle quickly.

I'm going to go anti-homer here and ask if the team is conditioned enough to compete down the stretch and into the playoffs. This doesn't look to good to me. I've been on a few teams before, and one of the things you do in training camp is a hell of a lot of wind-sprints. This is one of the methods you use to weed out the guys that aren't going to perform for you.

In the NFL, it isn't all about athleticism and skill, you have to have players that can still go hard in the 4th Q and in game 16.

It's anti-homer, but I've been on Shanny & Co. in the past about lack of conditioning, and it looks like they're not pushing the guys hard enough again.

[ludo21]

I've been optimistic this off-season, but I read this this article and it kind of takes the edge of my homerism.

It used to be the Broncs were the best-conditioned team in the NFL. They didn't take days off to go bowling. They did wind-sprints. Rice obviously isn't in any condition to play.

I saw a lot of guys especially on D the last few years that not only took plays off, but couldn't even get to the huddle quickly.

I'm going to go anti-homer here and ask if the team is conditioned enough to compete down the stretch and into the playoffs. This doesn't look to good to me. I've been on a few teams before, and one of the things you do in training camp is a hell of a lot of wind-sprints. This is one of the methods you use to weed out the guys that aren't going to perform for you.

In the NFL, it isn't all about athleticism and skill, you have to have players that can still go hard in the 4th Q and in game 16.

It's anti-homer, but I've been on Shanny & Co. in the past about lack of conditioning, and it looks like they're not pushing the guys hard enough again.


i definitely disagree. Mini camp is just shorts anyway, plus how is getting the team together and making them more a unit by having fun a bad thing?? Plus most the team has been at the Broncos facility working out and pushing it for 5 months now. I think this was a great idea by the coaching staff, and obviously shanny thjought that they deserved it. Here he is :homer:

[Cito Pelon]

i definitely disagree. Mini camp is just shorts anyway, plus how is getting the team together and making them more a unit by having fun a bad thing?? Plus most the team has been at the Broncos facility working out and pushing it for 5 months now. I think this was a great idea by the coaching staff, and obviously shanny thjought that they deserved it. Here he is :homer:

Go bowling after you do wind sprints, homer.

This is the NFL. The Broncs have some ground-gaining to do after a hiatus of six consecutive years without a playoff win. These are the Broncs, not the Browns, Bengals, Raiders, Chiefs, Dolphins. The Broncs have to win some consecutive playoff games this year, next year and the year after that to maintain their position as one of the top-five playoff game winning teams of all time.

These are the Broncos, not some mamby-pamby team content to win a playoff game every once in a while.

In order to win playoff games consistently, your team better be as a first step be in the best condition of all the teams. That's mandatory. That's the first thing the Broncs should address at every minicamp.

[baja]

Go bowling after you do wind sprints, homer.

This is the NFL. The Broncs have some ground-gaining to do after a hiatus of six consecutive years without a playoff win. These are the Broncs, not the Browns, Bengals, Raiders, Chiefs, Dolphins. The Broncs have to win some consecutive playoff games this year, next year and the year after that to maintain their position as one of the top-five playoff game winning teams of all time.

These are the Broncos, not some mamby-pamby team content to win a playoff game every once in a while.

In order to win playoff games consistently, your team better be as a first step be in the best condition of all the teams. That's mandatory. That's the first thing the Broncs should address at every minicamp.


Cito it's official I think you are nutts!!

[leon_d]

Or Tom Coughlin.

[Cito Pelon]

Cito it's official I think you are nutts!!

And you're a butt-kisser, so what? Do you have anything pertinent to say?

[sirhcyennek81]

question. what happened to the os? Bronc...os..come on now...say it with me...Bronc...os...Bron...cos...Broncos. there we go. Annoys me, heard people refer to the supreme court as the supremes. finish the word. damn.

[Kaylore]

Cito, if you listen to why they got the day off, it was because of phenomenal off-season workouts and very productive, dedicated camps. They got the day off because they were working hard, not the opposite.

And personally, I think its little things like this that spread reputation around the league of our organization being so classy.

[Pat Bowlen]

Cito, if you listen to why they got the day off, it was because of phenomenal off-season workouts and very productive, dedicated camps. They got the day off because they were working hard, not the opposite.

And personally, I think its little things like this that spread reputation around the league of our organization being so classy.
I think he's just upset because he can't bowl, or something.

[wabbit]

One of the real failures of this coaching staff has been the inability to find a place for Terry Pierce.

He's not a bust, the guy has worked his tail off & his payback is a new assignment on Special Teams....same thing he's always done..only different (if you get my drift)

Pierce is a prototypical MLB...nice size, good smarts, adequate speed, but he's in no way an upgrade from Al Wilson, which leaves the option of moving him out of position...or playing Special Teams.

Just seems a waste & he has to be frustrated.

Maybe a trade, assuming one is possible, IS the best answer...out of conference preferably.

[Cito Pelon]

question. what happened to the os? Bronc...os..come on now...say it with me...Bronc...os...Bron...cos...Broncos. there we go. Annoys me, heard people refer to the supreme court as the supremes. finish the word. damn.

Never heard of a Bronc? Same thing as a Bronco. Damn. Gimme a break, Angry Midget Rumpleskillethead. :Broncos:

[Atlas]

I think a trade is possible given his cap hit next season but I doubt it would be conditional and it would have to be a high draft pick.


Are you talking about Pierce??? The guy hasn't hardly played in three years and you want a high draft pick for him? The Broncos would be lucky to get a 6th for him.

[Cito Pelon]

Cito, if you listen to why they got the day off, it was because of phenomenal off-season workouts and very productive, dedicated camps. They got the day off because they were working hard, not the opposite.

And personally, I think its little things like this that spread reputation around the league of our organization being so classy.

Sure, go have a good time. I guess they'll pick up the slack later.

[SoCalBronco]

Are you talking about Pierce??? The guy hasn't hardly played in three years and you want a high draft pick for him? The Broncos would be lucky to get a 6th for him.

Yeah i dont think we could get better than 6th for Terry. Maybe a 5th or something that could be conditionally higher if he performs well assuming a team loses their MLB in the preseason and needs to improve against the run. Im not sure a 5th or 6th is worth the insurance we have in case Wilson goes down. Im very frustrated that we cannot get anything out of Terry for various reasons unrelated to his own skill, but i dont think we should give him away for compensation that low even though thats the greatest compensation the market will likely yield. With our luck if we did that, Wilson would get hurt and we would be screwed. Terry was pretty impressive to me last year in the Run D area in the preseason. We're just in between a rock and a hard place with this guy. And as Slappy says, there is no way he will ever be even an adequate OLB no matter what Coyer says. He's a pure MLB. Even if one of our OLBs got hurt, Sykes is very likely ahead of Terry on the depth chart on the outsides.

I still think Denver didnt need to take a MLB in 2003 notwithstanding Wilson's contract situation. If we didnt work out the contractual deal, we could have franchised Al for 2004 and he would have taken the franchise money. They all end up taking it. At that point, you would have given yourself another year of negotiations to see what the deal is before committing a high round pick to a replacement. If it still looked poor in 2004, you franchise Al and draft a MLB. He then has 1 yr. to learn from Al before taking over. We could have just strung out the whole thing, give them another year to negotiate, if it still looks bad, franchise the guy and then draft a replacement in 04. We acted too early, IMO.

[DBroncos4life]

Trade him to the Saints. I'm sure we could get Bellamy and a 5th rounder out of them for him. Bellamy is going to lose his job anyways, of course I'm not sure the need for a 33 (just turned) year old saftey though. 85 plus tackles in 7 straight years and topping 90 5 of those 7 years as well as 24 career picks. That looks much better then Fergy at this point.

[Tombstone RJ]

One of the real failures of this coaching staff has been the inability to find a place for Terry Pierce.

He's not a bust, the guy has worked his tail off & his payback is a new assignment on Special Teams....same thing he's always done..only different (if you get my drift)

Pierce is a prototypical MLB...nice size, good smarts, adequate speed, but he's in no way an upgrade from Al Wilson, which leaves the option of moving him out of position...or playing Special Teams.

Just seems a waste & he has to be frustrated.

Maybe a trade, assuming one is possible, IS the best answer...out of conference preferably.

This is the type of crap that pisses me off about the Broncos coaching staff. Instead of designing a defense around the talent they have, they try to cram the talent they have into the system they want.

I've been saying over and over, the Broncos need to shift to a 3-4 in order to utulize the talent they already have. But no, hell no. They are gonna have to trade Pierce, a second round pick, get nothing in return, and then watch him become a starting LB for another team.

Its assisine. :-[

[baja]

Are you talking about Pierce??? The guy hasn't hardly played in three years and you want a high draft pick for him? The Broncos would be lucky to get a 6th for him.

You really think other teams don't know what we here know, that Pierce is starting material and the only thing keeping him off the field is the guy ahead of him is one of the top 5 at his position?

[DBroncos4life]

You really think other teams don't know what we here know, that Pierce is starting material and the only thing keeping him off the field is the guy ahead of him is one of the top 5 at his position?

Teams will trade low picks for back-up QB's that are behind sure starters but they won't do the same for a better LB then what they got now? While a 2nd or 3rd maybe out of the question out right but a 4th with the CHANCE that it becomes a 3rd wouldn't be out of the question. If it was the other way around like we needed a MLB and we could get a young one for a 4th or a 3rd round pick I wouldn't mind if that, hell we traded a 4th and a 5th round pick for Dline help.

[-Slap-]

Unfortunately, the only way Pierce will get to showcase his talents is if AW gets hurt, something none of us want to see happen.

[watermock]

I'm not upset about his playing special teams and backing up Wilson or mopping up in a few games we might have put away by the 4th. I'm sure the perception is he's a bust, and while I don't agree, he really is a pure MLB, not OLB at all. Why trade him for a low pick when we have plenty of picks next year? Also, I didn't know 2rd rounders in rookie contracts are big hits on the cap. Maybe your confusing him with Champ Bailey.

Regarding conditioning, just because Jerry Rice is 42 and probably just moved from sea level, why be concerned. I'm not concerned with Rice at all, he will get in shape. If he's still winded by August, we cut him. No big deal. Someone saying they need to work on conditioning at altitude is what you WANT to hear. It's a player in denial about his conditioning that worries me. I'm much more concerned with Warren's conditioning. Rice won't even be on the field alot barring injury. It's nothing compared to the brutality of taking on a double team along the line, and Warren has had the rep of taking plays off. I think alot of Denver's late game losses were because of poor playcalling late, major mistakes in execution, and yes, some slackers like Deltha. But I'll match our conditioning program against anyone's.

Finally, there exists two trains of thought on pre-season camp. If your team is attending offseason workouts, they SHOULD be in decent shape. Not football shape, but that's why they play the preseason. I AM concerned about the team coming together, so Bowling was a good idea, especially if Shanahan felt the mini-camp went good.

My point is that physicians are starting to question the idea of working players till they drop. Often, they lose too much weight, have more injuries like hamstrings and can be too worn out. It's nice to be old school about it, but it's not like these guys stumble in after dissapearing for 6 months. It doesn't work that way in Denver or alot of other teams. I think Cleveland suffered from poor conditioning and coaching, especially when Butch Davis was throwing in the towel by midseason.

There is such a thing as overworking the team, it's a fine line. We don't have to play New England next week.

[watermock]

A couple other points.

Shanahan's teams have seemed to come out very flat, not as much early, as much as to start the second half. This is where it seems Shanahan has really struggled. IMO, it has alot to do with his medicinal/scientific approach, but I'm not in the locker room. A little Vermeil type emotion might be in order. I'm not really blaming Shanahan or Kubiak for knowing the playbook inside out, or even what the team needs to do to correct and adjust. They just seem like like come out of halftime like they were studying algebra at times shaking their heads like "what the hell was he talking about". If the players think too much, they lose alot of instinct. That's what worries me about D.J. Williams moving to Sam.

Now this is old school. Maybe we need less x and o's at halftime, and more "go rip them a new a-hole" at half. We have been letting down at the end of the first half and into the second half for awhile. But I don't think it's conditioning. Shanahan is one of the best x/o guys ever, but his teams seem to think a bit too much. Well, everyone but Jake. Kubiak is supposed to handle that, along with McPhereson, or whoever is QB coach, but again, there is a killer instinct kinda missing, not conditioning. Al Wilson has it, Nalen has it, Jake wants it. Pryce has experienced it, and hopefully can get our motley crue of DL focused, if not from sheer will, at least from the fact there is going to be tremendous competition there. Picking the right players at DL and CB is the key to the season IMO.

I'm 90 percent sure that Shanahan isn't a master motivator. Everything else about his game is outstanding IMO. The team coming out flat is a fairly obvious indication. I don't think Kubiak is a great motivator as well. I think Coyer might motivate better, but be a little less technical. He seems more like the guy that tells you to bite that WR's head off. Everyone has different personalities, and strengths.

Sorry if I'm redundant, I'm just ranting, but it wouldn't surprise me if I was a fly on the wall to listen to Shanahan give class, then Coyer to come out and say, "Now go and do what he said..", I wasn't a big fan of the Coyer signing, but I'm on the bandwagon, I think he has done well, and players like him. Or at least respect him.

I'm not sure liking your coach is even a good thing. Didn't your favorite teacher let you slack off? The one that pushed you earned your respect.

One other thing. Shanahan treats the players like men, and expects them to act like it. He must go bananas when these people act like 15 year olds. We have had our fair share of idiots over the years, but if you look back, not many are there the next year. IMO, it's another characteristic of Shanahan. He's totally willing to wipe the slate clean, but if your an idiot next year, your out the door. I can only think of a few players who have made it back thru the door, Sharpe and Gold. Both surprised me. Gold acted like the bigger fool, coming off the ACL. That signing baffles me. I could see Sharpe finishing his career in Denver, Gold is baffling.

[SoCalBronco]

Good posts, Mock. Your correct in that Shanny does most things well besides motivating. He just isnt a people person. He's too introverted. He will get us a great gameplan though. That's why its so important that we have at least a couple very vocal leaders on both sides of the ball that can get people going when things go into the rut. The Al Wilson's, Rod Smith's etc, are very vital in this regard.

[watermock]

Good posts, Mock. Your correct in that Shanny does most things well besides motivating. He just isnt a people person. He's too introverted. He will get us a great gameplan though. That's why its so important that we have at least a couple very vocal leaders on both sides of the ball that can get people going when things go into the rut. The Al Wilson's, Rod Smith's etc, are very vital in this regard.

That is exactly what I am talkn' bout foo'

Maybe they will bond with Coyer, who is white as snow, maybe they won'.

I'm amused how they prace round like Mohammed Ali. Wasn't that right before Deltha was traded?

I can't imagine my attitude as a coach when Deltha gave up a game winning catch late and Deltha laughed and trotted off.

To say I was pissed was an understatment.

Shananah simply threw him out with the garbage.

Anyone who looks at that play knows Deltha never broke on the ball at all. He never even saw it. It was like Dale Carter on Opium.

[SoCalBronco]

That is exactly what I am talkn' bout foo'

Maybe they will bond with Coyer, who is white as snow, maybe they won'.

I'm amused how they prace round like Mohammed Ali. Wasn't that right before Deltha was traded?

I think we have good leaders on the defense. Im sure Coyer can get them motivated. He seems like the type that can get in your face if your not getting the job done.

[watermock]

You inow what pissed Shanahan off about Deltha?

he finally returns a punt for a TD late in a game allready decided, and went into a TO dance.

That and the total breakdown in coverage against New England. It wasn't even a decent pattern, he he just gave up on the route.

If anyone bothers to bother looking at tape, the Deltha "coverage" wasn't even flag football.

Someone pull this up, it's incredible.

[watermock]

My post got cut up.

I'm tired. I want to lay it strait that Coyer isn't a great coach because he'
s white.

The point is how Middlebrooks and Deltha acted when they finally made a play. I don't mind Deltha running in a gimme punt return with 3 minutes to play with a huge lead. It was a real game changer. His prancing around for a team about to take a devestating loss was absurd.

I don't remember everything.

We have to all go into therapy at the Broncos expense for therapy.

Just because the grapes are so close.

[footstepsfrom#27]

I don't like the 3-4, but what I would like to see is Pierce starting inside and Al Wilson taking the weakside spot from Ian Gold, who I think is to small. I'd like to see Gold tried at strong safety. He's as fast as Kennedy was and could be a monster blitzer if he could learn the coverages enough to play back there. I just think Pierce in the middle and Wilson outside would be better against the run.

[Atlas]

This is the type of crap that pisses me off about the Broncos coaching staff. Instead of designing a defense around the talent they have, they try to cram the talent they have into the system they want.

I've been saying over and over, the Broncos need to shift to a 3-4 in order to utulize the talent they already have. But no, hell no. They are gonna have to trade Pierce, a second round pick, get nothing in return, and then watch him become a starting LB for another team.

Its assisine. :-[

People here are complaining because we have so much talent at LB that our second rounder has to be a backup?? I guess we should trade DJ or Al so Pierce could get more playing time???

Just look at it this way Pierce is a reliable and cheap backup. AND it's also obvious that he isn't one of the top 3 LBers on the team. I don't see why everyone is complaining.

[Rock Chalk]

People here are complaining because we have so much talent at LB that our second rounder has to be a backup?? I guess we should trade DJ or Al so Pierce could get more playing time???

Just look at it this way Pierce is a reliable and cheap backup. AND it's also obvious that he isn't one of the top 3 LBers on the team. I don't see why everyone is complaining.
Id bet Pierce is a better backer than Gold is, but that he isnt suited to play OLB. In fact, Id bet Pierce would start at MLB on 90% of the NFL teams. Just not here, Baltimore, CHicago, or Pittsburgh.

[footstepsfrom#27]

Ian Gold has already proved he can't handle NFL sized O linemen against the run and he wears down over the year. Plugging in Pierce in the middle would let Al freelance like a demon on the weak side...I could see him creating real nightmares lined up outside Pryce.

[Atlas]

Id bet Pierce would start at MLB on 90% of the NFL teams. Just not here, Baltimore, CHicago, or Pittsburgh.

I'd take that bet. What are you basing your opinion on. He hasn't done nothing in the regular season, he hasn't done anything in the preseason.

I'm not saying your wrong but I just don't know why you think he is so good. If he was that good I would not have resigned Wilson.