Ok you Ian detractors

[Billy Clyde Puckett]

Take a deep breath and repeat after me "It is nice to have Ian back where he belongs"

[listopencil]

This is the first regular season game I've gotten to watch our D play and I've got to say one thing-forget everything bad I ever typed/said about Ian Gold. The guy looks studly. **** yeah!

[stoxman]

Originally Posted by Big Guy

Take a deep breath and repeat after me "It is nice to have Ian back where he belongs"

I agree! I've pretty much stayed out of all the Ian hating that goes on here as I've always kind of liked him (except when he left). Dude has a motor and is showing it tonight!

[-Slap-]

Hopefully Ian will keep playing well enough that someone feels this thread is necessary every week. I'll just stick with last week's reply.

09-19-2005, 02:08 PM #76
-Slap-
-Yah Mule-

Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Las Vegas
Posts: 15,630

The more experienced you are, the more the game slows down for you. I think the toughest thing for guys like Ian and DJ is to slow themselves down just a little bit because linebackers are hyper aggressive from birth. All fast linebackers go through a period where they overrun the football a lot and most good offenses will incorporate enough misdirection to exploit that in a young player. Who would you rather run a reverse against, Tom Jackson in his 15th season or Ian Gold in his third?

Ian's timing his blitzes much better now, which is key for him. He's also coming a lot harder than he did in the past. He got picked up on a blitz last week and the collision with the back was epic. He didn't make the play, but he totally sold out trying to make it happen.

Its funny that all criticism of Gold was distilled down to make it seem like my only complaint with him was his size. The previously mentioned Tom Jackson was an undersized linebacker, too. In fact, many years ago, around 1976, before Ian Gold and many of the posters on this board were even born, many people thought Tom Jackson's days in the NFL were numbered. Many teams began utilizing a two tight end set as a base package. Some League observers thought that the 5'11", 220 pound linebacker from Louisville would get manhandled lined up over the tight end. It didn't work out that way, though. Instead TJ went to the Pro Bowl in 77, 78 and 79. Speed, intelligence and a pair of huge, strong hands were TJ's attributes.

Gold doesn't have a pair of inhumanly strong mitts like Jackson, but he does have a suddenness that's uncoachable. Now that's he's playing within the system and allowing the plays to come to him, he should be very successful. I don't care if he gets run over sometimes. I'm not expecting him to stuff the run like a two-down MLB. I just want consistency and I want to see him around the football as much as I did yesterday.

[Moon§hiner]

I liked what I saw last time he was here and I definitely like what I am seeing from him now....speed makes up for size in this day and age...just ask that other "midget" D Williams...heh

[Jesterhole]

We look awesome today.

The incredible news is that Trevor Pryce and DW look as good as Ian today. I didn't even know that DW beat out Walls for the starting corner job.

OK, one more half...

[-Slap-]

Originally Posted by Moon§hiner

I liked what I saw last time he was here and I definitely like what I am seeing from him now....speed makes up for size in this day and age...just ask that other "midget" D Williams...heh

Had Ian played this way the first time around - or started out like Darrent - he never would have left the first time.

Darrent has nine tackles already. Pocket Atwater out there.

[Atlas]

Gold has played amazing. Next to Champ he has played the best on the team this year. With Rod Smith closely behind. Thank God for Smith.

[Bronco Yoda]

Gold is playing like platinum. Maybe it's time he changes his name.

[Moon§hiner]

Originally Posted by -Slap-

Had Ian played this way the first time around - or started out like Darrent - he never would have left the first time.

Darrent has nine tackles already. Pocket Atwater out there.

Ian left because he had a knee injury and a condom for an agent...I've never held that against him...just wanted him to prove his knee was better

[Cito Pelon]

Gold does have his moments.