Published: Thursday, December 3, 2009
Babineaux making big plays again for Seahawks
Seattle’s saftey is performing like he did earlier in his career when he earned the nickname ‘Big Play Babs.’
RENTON — If he keeps this up, Jordan Babineaux just might get his nickname back and keep it for good.
The Seahawks safety, who earlier in his career earned the nickname “Big-Play Babs” because of his knack for game-changing plays, has looked more like just plain Jordan for most of this season, his first as a full-time starter.
But that’s been changing as this season has progressed. In the past few weeks, Babineaux has started to show why the Seahawks parted ways with Brian Russell and named Babineaux the starting free safety just before the season’s start.
After recording a double-digit tackle total only once in the first nine games, Babineaux has done it in each of the past two, including a career-high 13 tackles Sunday against St. Louis. Babineaux also had an interception in the victory over the Rams, his second of the year, and earned the team’s defensive gameball for his effort.
“Jordan quietly is becoming a good player at that position,” Seahawks coach Jim Mora said. “He’s become a good tackler in the box. He has coverage skills. And then I think what’s coming is his play on the deep ball.”
It’s something of a paradox, but Babineaux is becoming “Big Play” again by not worrying as much about big plays. A backup safety and cornerback during his first five seasons, less was expected of Babineaux on a down-to-down basis. As a starter, however, he has had to focus more on being fundamentally sound and letting the big plays come naturally.
“He has a tendency to try to go look for a big play, and when you’re playing that position, if you go look too often, then they get one on you,” Mora said. “So let the game come to you. Diagnose what’s happening in front of you. And then trust yourself. I think that he’s doing that. He’s becoming a better player. We’re very happy with his progress because it’s been quiet, but it’s coming.”
Babineaux said last week’s game plan, which included more blitzing and more man-coverage in the secondary, suited him well, and that’s something he hopes to see again. He also agrees with his coach’s assessment on letting the game come to him. Babineaux likes to watch the league’s top safeties, like Baltimore’s Ed Reed and Pittsburgh’s Troy Polamalu, make big plays, but he’s also starting to better understand that there’s more to the job than that.
“As much as I want to be that kind of player, I’m really waiting right now to let the plays come to me and learn more about the position,” he said.
And by doing that Babineaux has become much more comfortable as the season has gone on.
“We’re in week 13 now and I can honestly say that week to week I’ve been taking what I’ve learned and the things that I might not have been so good on the week before and rolled them over and try to correct that as a player so I can take full advantage of the opportunity that I have as a full-time safety,” he said. “But it’s definitely been a growing process.”
The Seahawks other starting safety, Deon Grant, noted that even though Babineaux has played a lot during his Seahawks career, it has taken some time for him to adjust to a new scheme as an every-down player. And a lack of memorable interceptions or tackles led to the temporary removal of Babineaux’s nickname.
“We did take it away from him one time last year,” Grant said. “The beginning of this year we took it away from him. But Babs is going to make that name big. He’s a safety that’s about to take off. ... He’s finally showing why they call him ‘Big Play Babs.’ He’s coming into his own right now. He’s a smart safety. He likes to listen, he likes to learn, he likes to work. I think you’re going to see a Pro-Bowl-caliber type safety. This dude’s about to show the world.”
Babineaux has been better of late, but he knows there’s a ways to go still before he can live up to Grant’s praise — and make sure he doesn’t lose his name again.
“I’m not where I want to be and certainly have some things still to work on,” he said. “I’m happy, but I’m not satisfied.”
Injury update
Defensive ends Lawrence Jackson (groin) and Cory Redding (concussion) both missed practice Wednesday, as did linebacker D.D. Lewis (knee). Mora said he expects Jackson to be fine for Sunday’s game against San Francisco, but didn’t yet know the status of Redding or Lewis. Running back Julius Jones, who has missed the past two games after suffering a bruised lung three weeks ago in Arizona, practiced in full.
Herald Writer John Boyle: jboyle@heraldnet.com. For more Seahawks coverage, check out the Seahawks blog at heraldnet.com/seahawksblog
The Seahawks safety, who earlier in his career earned the nickname “Big-Play Babs” because of his knack for game-changing plays, has looked more like just plain Jordan for most of this season, his first as a full-time starter.
But that’s been changing as this season has progressed. In the past few weeks, Babineaux has started to show why the Seahawks parted ways with Brian Russell and named Babineaux the starting free safety just before the season’s start.
After recording a double-digit tackle total only once in the first nine games, Babineaux has done it in each of the past two, including a career-high 13 tackles Sunday against St. Louis. Babineaux also had an interception in the victory over the Rams, his second of the year, and earned the team’s defensive gameball for his effort.
“Jordan quietly is becoming a good player at that position,” Seahawks coach Jim Mora said. “He’s become a good tackler in the box. He has coverage skills. And then I think what’s coming is his play on the deep ball.”
It’s something of a paradox, but Babineaux is becoming “Big Play” again by not worrying as much about big plays. A backup safety and cornerback during his first five seasons, less was expected of Babineaux on a down-to-down basis. As a starter, however, he has had to focus more on being fundamentally sound and letting the big plays come naturally.
“He has a tendency to try to go look for a big play, and when you’re playing that position, if you go look too often, then they get one on you,” Mora said. “So let the game come to you. Diagnose what’s happening in front of you. And then trust yourself. I think that he’s doing that. He’s becoming a better player. We’re very happy with his progress because it’s been quiet, but it’s coming.”
Babineaux said last week’s game plan, which included more blitzing and more man-coverage in the secondary, suited him well, and that’s something he hopes to see again. He also agrees with his coach’s assessment on letting the game come to him. Babineaux likes to watch the league’s top safeties, like Baltimore’s Ed Reed and Pittsburgh’s Troy Polamalu, make big plays, but he’s also starting to better understand that there’s more to the job than that.
“As much as I want to be that kind of player, I’m really waiting right now to let the plays come to me and learn more about the position,” he said.
And by doing that Babineaux has become much more comfortable as the season has gone on.
“We’re in week 13 now and I can honestly say that week to week I’ve been taking what I’ve learned and the things that I might not have been so good on the week before and rolled them over and try to correct that as a player so I can take full advantage of the opportunity that I have as a full-time safety,” he said. “But it’s definitely been a growing process.”
The Seahawks other starting safety, Deon Grant, noted that even though Babineaux has played a lot during his Seahawks career, it has taken some time for him to adjust to a new scheme as an every-down player. And a lack of memorable interceptions or tackles led to the temporary removal of Babineaux’s nickname.
“We did take it away from him one time last year,” Grant said. “The beginning of this year we took it away from him. But Babs is going to make that name big. He’s a safety that’s about to take off. ... He’s finally showing why they call him ‘Big Play Babs.’ He’s coming into his own right now. He’s a smart safety. He likes to listen, he likes to learn, he likes to work. I think you’re going to see a Pro-Bowl-caliber type safety. This dude’s about to show the world.”
Babineaux has been better of late, but he knows there’s a ways to go still before he can live up to Grant’s praise — and make sure he doesn’t lose his name again.
“I’m not where I want to be and certainly have some things still to work on,” he said. “I’m happy, but I’m not satisfied.”
Injury update
Defensive ends Lawrence Jackson (groin) and Cory Redding (concussion) both missed practice Wednesday, as did linebacker D.D. Lewis (knee). Mora said he expects Jackson to be fine for Sunday’s game against San Francisco, but didn’t yet know the status of Redding or Lewis. Running back Julius Jones, who has missed the past two games after suffering a bruised lung three weeks ago in Arizona, practiced in full.
Herald Writer John Boyle: jboyle@heraldnet.com. For more Seahawks coverage, check out the Seahawks blog at heraldnet.com/seahawksblog
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