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Jor-El said:
Interesting. I was thinking about Hughes this morning, partly related to the "Why not Will Hernandez?" aspect, but also because several people have commented in the past week that Rhodes was a disappointment in 2018 and maybe we should move him and let Hughes start.
But, though I liked what Hughes did in his shortened rookie season, remember his limitations: he's 5'10" and 190 soaking wet. That's going to replace Xavier Rhodes? Rhodes wasn't as impressive this year, but we also didn't have to face a lot of bigger WRs, partly because Jordy Nelson and others have left the NFCN. Josh Robinson got run out of town by Zimmer three years ago for being too short and spending most of a season injured...how is Hughes dramatically better?
Rhodes is still a good CB and vital to controlling taller receivers. Mac Alexander was one of the few defenders who improved in 2018 and has become a good nickelback. We found good depth in Holton Hill. But we passed Hernandez, Braden Smith, James Daniels...not to mention Nick Chubb. Hughes was a luxury pick by a team that had true needs.
Hughes is better because he didn't spend his entire college career playing Zone like Robinson.
Oh, and fyi, the League changed. Huge guys like Evans and Alshon and Brandon Marshall that could out muscle, out leap and post you up have been getting replaced by smaller, shifter guys.
And for 1,000th time, Hernandez is NOT a ZBS guy. You were much more spot on with Braden Smith.