Hamza Abdullah No Longer Restricted, Re-Signs With Broncos

by John Bena on Apr 17, 2008 10:45 AM MDT in Roster Moves Comment 6 comments

The Broncos officially brought back one of their own by resigning SS Hamza Abdullah to a one year contract --

Remove Hamza Abdullah from the restricted free agent market.

The fourth-year safety signed his contract tender from the Broncos. Expected to open the season as the Broncos' starting strong safety, Abdullah will receive a $927,000 salary.

The restricted free-agent period expires Friday and with no offer sheets from other teams coming, Abdullah decided to clear his mind and concentrate on getting ready for the 2008 season.

A seventh-round draft pick of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2005, Abdullah was eventually signed by the Broncos and started the final eight games in 2007.

He will likely begin training camp starting at strong safety next to veteran John Lynch, although both safeties will receive competition from veteran free agents Marquand Manuel and Marlon McCree.

From those four safeties, Abdullah, 24, is by far the youngest and is also the fastest so he may be the only every-down player from the group.

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I hope his tackling improves

fader nation is a conquered nation

by mdierk on Apr 17, 2008 11:20 AM MDT reply actions 0 recs

Improvement by Abdullah

I think he did get better as the year progressed. I do not argue there is still much room for continued improvement.

by firstfan on Apr 17, 2008 11:42 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

I think they will give him a longer contract

about mid season. His preformance will determine the amount and length

Davis to the Hall!

by Jon Tollerud on Apr 17, 2008 12:29 PM MDT reply actions 0 recs

First, I'm glad he was re-signed. The depth we have at SAF gives us room to address other needs. Hamza has a lot of potential, having the features we need in a SAF. Still, he needs to smooth out a few rough edges. This season will certainly determine his future with the franchise.

Second, can anyone tell me why our fastest option at SAF is considered for SS instead of SS? And why is our slowest option (Lynch) considered for FS? The thinking may be that we need speed to cover elite TEs in the division, but with a FS in zone coverage we need the speed to cover blown coverages against receivers. I've never understood our approach to the SAF position. The SAF position seems like an afterthought to Coach. We rarely go for an elite player (Lynch being the exception), and we don't use them to maximize the potential of our best players on defense (our elite CBs).

Third, I still beleive that Lynch will be a running down option. Our two newest SAFs from FA have a good shot at seeing much field time.

Last, I like the one year signing. Hamza proves himself and gets re-signed, or we address SAF in next year's (deep SAF) draft.

"Greater is an army of sheep led by a lion, than an army of lions led by a sheep" Defoe

by Steve Nichols on Apr 17, 2008 6:03 PM MDT reply actions 0 recs

RE: Lynch in coverage

as a FS Lynch was very good last year. He may not have the speed, but I watched every snap he was in on last year and he had only two blown coverages, one before his groin injury and one after.

When they switched defenses he moved up into the box on about half of the plays, and hamza got the box on the other half.

So, he excels in deep coverage, whether by hook or by crook. He also excels in box play, though he doesn't cover good TEs very well. Late in the Chicago game last year he was in the box and rolled out to cover Desmond Clark, and got manhandled and injured on the play, which went for a short firstdown.

In short, I think they want speed on the TEs, and recent history suggests that blown coverages in the backfield are rare and of little concern.

I wish my sig was as cool as mdierks!

by Jeremy Bolander on Apr 17, 2008 6:28 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

Whew

Whew...finally. Abdullah has a chance to be a starting safety, and I think he at least deserves that chance. A one year deal is a conservative one, but we need to see if we have a safety of the future ASAP. I'm very pleased by this latest signing by the Broncos.

by phantom818 on Apr 17, 2008 9:26 PM MDT reply actions 0 recs