About Waynes...

Waynes gets too much flak from fans IMO...  he has had some trouble with in-breaking routes this season, but overall I think he's improved a lot since last year.

As you said, he's been very good in run support minus a few plays against Detroit, his tackling has improved by leaps and bounds, and his coverage on side line routes has been solid.  He's also learned how to be "handsy" without drawing a flag.

He's an ascending player IMO.  We'll see if he can continue to take that next step...

You're not alone.  I've never understood the outright disrespect he's gotten from some.  We all see things differently, I guess... but it's almost like- unless a player is perfect- he's a bum.  Waynes isn't the best CB in the world... and maybe, due to his draft position, some people think he should be.  On the other hand, it's quite possible that other people felt like "their" draft pick should've been who the Vikes picked; and when the team went a different way, those folks held a grudge...?

He can be the Sandejo too Harry

I keep wanting to like Waynes more, but his play does not warrant it. As for better tandems, off the top of my head I would say the Jaguars have 2 corners better than Waynes, the Giants have 3 corners I would take over Waynes, the Broncos do, too, the Chargers have 2 better corners, the Patriots have 2 ......  And is that really the test? Waynes is not terrible, but you draft a guy at 11 and the best you can say is he's not that bad?  The Cowboys took the Michigan corner in the third round and I would take him over Waynes. There are probably other teams with 2 better corners but I'm not going to research it. Not sure how anyone can say he is not a disappointment considering where he was taken.

I like Waynes and have said so since Day 1. He's not perfect, but he's got excellent recovery speed and he's a very willing tackler in the run game. 

It been 3 years and he is still a work in progress. My guess without looking, he may be the leading tackler on the team.
But I look at him as the weak link in the secondary.

Waynes seems to be doing better.  He gets targeted a lot and is mostly holding up well.  His playing time has been extended this year as he has finally matured.

Passes defended:
Smith: 6
Waynes: 4
Rhodes: 4
Barr: 3

https://www.teamrankings.com/nfl/player-stat/defense-pass-defenses

Tackles
Kendricks: 40
Sandejo: 37
Waynes: 36
Smith: 32
Barr: 31

Not sure if that tells us tons though.

In 2016 Waynes and Rhodes both has 11 passes defended.

I like Waynes, but he gives up too many plays that he shouldn't.  It has been said in here, and multiple other places, but he relies on his speed to much.  That was great in college when he was faster than everyone, but obviously that gap closes in the pros.  That being said though, he is improving.  I think a lot of the knock on him was where he was taken in the draft, but you can't put that on him.  We have had ALOT worse corners.  I think eventually he will come into his own, and we will stop worrying about using a first on him.

We are truly spoiled with our defensive talent. And any imperfection sticks out like a sore thumb. It's beyond ridiculous to me the amount of grief Waynes gets. Is he perfect? No. But even if he makes a bonehead play, he usually redeems himself. He's still learning and settling in but he has grown a lot along the way. Sometimes he plays too far off, especially after a penalty. And he needs to watch his hands and positioning. His speed serve him well and when he makes an interception, he reads the play well. 

When's the last time Waynes turned his head to find the ball when he sees the receivers hands go up or out for the reception? He simply has no ball awareness. For a guy with his supposed speed, he consistently lets his man get behind him and is always trying to close  the gap late in the route.

I wouldn't be nearly as hard on the guy if he had been taken in the 3rd or 4th round, but you don't spend that kind of collateral on that big of a project. Nothing in his collegiate career should have caused our scouts to fear losing him to another team prior to the 3rd rd.  

I prefer Waynes over Gedeon. 

@"mgobluevikes" said: When's the last time Waynes turned his head to find the ball when he sees the receivers hands go up or out for the reception? He simply has no ball awareness. For a guy with his supposed speed, he consistently lets his man get behind him and is always trying to close  the gap late in the route.

I wouldn't be nearly as hard on the guy if he had been taken in the 3rd or 4th round, but you don't spend that kind of collateral on that big of a project. Nothing in his collegiate career should have caused our scouts to fear losing him to another team prior to the 3rd rd.  

Bingo! He never plays the ball. He just tries to read the receivers eyes to punch it out which gets him called for PI. You can see team after team targeting him for long periods of time. He's fast and tackles well, maybe a safety in the making...

My biggest complaint with Waynes is he never turns his head.  Also, he normally is trailing the receiver, he can't depend on his speed like he did in college.

And yet, we had the third overall D last year, third against the pass...go figure...

http://www.nfl.com/stats/team?seasonId=2016&seasonType=&Submit=Go

@"BarrNone55" said: And yet, we had the third overall D last year, third against the pass...go figure...

http://www.nfl.com/stats/team?seasonId=2016&seasonType=&Submit=Go

Yeah but that does not mean that EVERY defensive player is playing great. Waynes is not terrible. Nobody is saying that. Those who refute that position are refuting a point not made. But he is the weakest link on the defense. I think only Barr was a higher pick than Waynes. (Maybe Newman?) I think his celing is pretty low. I suspect he won't ever be much better than he is now. 

Keep in mind for the most part today he was playing againest 2nd and 3rd string recievers.

Waynes is above average and getting better. It took Rhodes a few years too. I've been exasperated with Waynes at times but it's easy to see how much better he's gotten. Sendejo too. To me that shows a good player and good coaching. It's encouraging.

Waynes is getting what he needed most, more playing time.  If he was a bad as some on hear think he wouldn't be starting and getting any praise from Zimmer.  How does he intercept any passes when he "never" gets his head around?  Rhodes in year three wasn't any better, remember him getting torched by Erin/abused by Jordy?  He gets better with each game he starts.

I think both Waynes and Alexander were both in this catch 22 of needing to get more playing time to develop and not being better than Newman/Munnerlyn to get playing time.  I think Waynes is a little behind schedule in his development, but is developing into a good enough CB.  I don't think he's top 10 or anything, but he doesn't need to be.  Most importantly, he's not a liability.

@"Norse" said: Keep in mind for the most part today he was playing againest 2nd and 3rd string recievers.

And last week he was covering jordie nelson...arguably one of the best in the game.