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So did Banks secure a spot ?

Fear The Spear

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I unfortunately missed the game, but saw a replay of the Banks return.
I know that Shanahan has supposedly stated Banks would have to contribute as a receiver to make the team. But does a TD return create a loophole there ?
 
I think Banks needs to go. We can't afford a roster spot for a one-trick pony who, if we're being honest, hasn't been a consistent impact player even as a returner. He's not Brian Mitchell back there and I just don't see investing a position on a guy based on the 'potential' he might occasionally break one. We have too many holes, and apparently are too damn brittle a team to not use that spot for solid depth at other positions.

All that being said, I find some of the personnel decisions the Shanahans make perplexing, and it won't surprise me at all to see them keep both Banks and Grossman where I would think they'd both be gone in favor of maintaining depth or keeping another youngster or two to develop.
 
I don't think so. He had one brilliant return, but he also had a muff where he lost the ball. Luckily, it was on a kick off and so he was able to recover it, but that was a big mistake. I don't remember him making any plays as a receiver and others like Robinson and Briscoe made themselves heard.
 
I thought it was strange last night that Theismann said on the telecast that the Bears would not kick to Banks anymore (if he had been returning) because of the return. Isn't the preseason exactly when you should practice these things?

Anyway, to the topic at hand, no. He looked so dreadful as a WR last week that I just don't see it. Aldrich Robinson has looked pretty damned good as a WR, granted against second and third teamers, so why not stick him back on returns and see how he does? As long as he doesn't pick up any bad habits from the sideline reporting ARE, and he can hold on to the ball and get solid yardage, I think that outweighs Banks very inconsistent brilliance.
 
Said ti last week, Crawford did well enough a punt returner and Banks did not do well enough as a WR to secure Banks a position on the team. But...Shanahan likes the kid, so...
 
Had Austin not had that 30+ return in the 4th quarter, i'd say he locked his spot... but now the Shanny's can see that while we give up 1, maybe 2 TD's a season from a special teams play... keeping a guy like Austin/Robinson/Briscoe, and having them return punts as well as play WR, they'll be more valuable..
 
Listening to Shanahan after the game, I don't think so. I think there is more to this story than need to play WR and the muffs.
 
How about trading Banks ?

What do you think we could get for him ?

Since it seems so certain he won't make the team, but Shanahan still has him returning kicks anyway, maybe the purpose for that is he's continuing to audition him for a trade ?
 
He probably should have some trade value - the problem is, teams know that if we are putting him out there as available, that means we intend to cut him. So I don't see it happening.

Goal - I'm thinking that if the Bears decided to kick away from Banks, that it's important to them to practice doing that (from the kicker's perspective) as much as it is to practice coverage skills. If you get in a game where one returner is just gutting you, that becomes a pretty important skill that you be able to avoid putting it in his hands but also not kicking it out of bounds. Just a thought.
 
One trick pony - fact. Would be nice if he could work as a gadget guy on offense but he's just not that guy. Like Boone has said before, he's a luxury we cannot afford. We just don't have the necessary depth at certain positions to carry specialists who don't contribute regularly on either offense or defense.

I can see him succeeding on a team that can afford to carry him on their roster and give him 3-4 snaps a game on offense. We need the roster spot (hopefully to develop another corner!)
 
in word...NO.

a decision to keep Banks....IMO......implies a lack of confidence in the offense to produce points.
 
Agreed. Banks' overall probabilities of contributing do not justify his occupying a roster spot that IMO could be used more productively.

It would be like buying lottery tickets to supplement your retirement income.
 
With Al Davis watching games from a higher vantage point than the Goodyear blimp now I don't see any team in the league willing to trade for Banks.

I also don't see him on the final 53 man roster in Washington this year.
 
Banks didn't show the coaching staff anything they didn't already know about him. We all have seen him return kicks for TDs, especially in preseason. I'm going to argue that Austin made a stronger case for himself than Banks. He sprung a key block for Banks on the TD, had a TD saving tackle on the ensuing KO, had his own strong return, and has shown he can play WR in games
 
Banks will be on the roster.

Shanny loves the guy.

Oh, and BMitch was a one trick pony, too.

If that trick was thinking highly of himself than I would agree but otherwise you are off base with this one.
 
Banks will be on the roster.

Shanny loves the guy.

Oh, and BMitch was a one trick pony, too.


Banks and Mitchell aren't even in the same neighborhood though - that's the problem. If you're going to be a 'one trick pony' you'd better have one damn good trick. And Mitchell was more versatile by far (he averaged 30-40 receptions and rushes per year in his prime - that's 30-40 of each more than Banks has accomplished to date). Mitchell was also a perennial contender in the All Purpose Yards category.

Honestly, the comparison is insulting to Mitchell, who despite his mouth and attitude was a great Redskin.
 
There's a huge difference though - Mitchell contributed to the offense well beyond just being a returner, which is the point. He was not a "one-trick pony" (unless you count Kev's dead-on assessment about thinking highly of himself!).

So, if Mitchell had only been average returning the ball and not been one of the best to ever play the game, there's still a chance he would have had a roster spot as a 3rd-down/change-of-pace back.

Banks...if he's not breaking returns, there's zero chance he's on the roster. That's literally the only thing he can do at this level.
 

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