Shutting Down The Aqib Talib Trade Talk
By Cody Roark
After a stellar defensive season for Aqib Talib, many media analysts have suggested that the Denver Broncos use Aqib Talib as trade bait going forward.
Aqib Talib can be described in a variety of different characteristics. Provocative, chirpy, and arrogant are only several. But competitive, technical, and energizing are the ones that stand out to me.
When Talib played for the New England Patriots and the Broncos blew a 24-0 halftime lead, I despised Talib. My dislike for Talib wasn’t because of his arrogance or on-field bravado, it was because he was that dang good.
As a defensive backs coach and former Cornerback I had such admiration for Talib’s play at the position. He got into the opposing wide receivers heads and stifled them. Jimmy Graham and Julio Jones, for example, were two elite targets that he shut down that season.
I recall Peyton Manning throwing a fade route vs the Patriots 2 Man Under scheme and Demaryius Thomas usually rose above and got it over most defenders. Talib was on his hip pocket and squeezed Thomas where DT could not make a play.
Exit Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie from the Broncos secondary and enter in Aqib Talib. It was a busy offseason for John Elway who also brought in TJ Ward from Cleveland.
John Elway witnessed the Seahawks formula for beating them in SuperBowl 48 and realized it was defense. Add in elite defensive backs with a phenomenal pass rush and you now have a formula for winning.