Originally posted by RichmondPete:Originally posted by ruthless49er:Originally posted by RichmondPete:Originally posted by ruthless49er:Originally posted by 49erFan:
I think Willis provides good coverage for an inside backer.
There are plays where he gets matched up one on one with a shifty back or a slot receiver though, and those are not good match ups for any inside backer.
Willis does do a nice job of dropping into to zone coverage though.
I guess how you feel about his coverage depends on what you are expecting to see from and inside linebacker. He's definitely not going to turn his hips and run with a back or receiver like a corner would. You just have to know that.
I guess i hold much higher standards of play from Willis than others do. Hes got the speed and the athleticism to take over his middle zone. If receivers are coming over in the fourth quarter on the last drive of the game i expect Willis in his awesomeness to make a play. The TD to Rice there was no safety help for Nate. It seemed to me that it was Willis' responsibility to get deep enough to make Favre look elsewhere.
Ray Lewis in his prime was almost like a corner in his zone. I was hoping someone with more football knowledge could break it down for me. But for the most part it seems there are nothing but homers out here who cant process honest football questions.
The TD to sidney rice was the entire defenses fault. Willis looked to be the closest man on the play but you cannot rely on an inside linebacker cover a receiver in the endzone period.
hmm it seemed to me that Willis got fooled on that play and took a step back a lil too late. I know looking at it that the ball was thrown over Willis' head. Just like Davis TD was on the middle LB who didnt drop back far enough it looked to me that Rice made a good move to the post and Willis wasnt far back enough.
On Linebackers Covering WR. Willis is the most athletic linebacker in the league, that does not mean he has anywhere near the coverage skills of a saftey or corner. If he did, he wouldnt be an ILB.
He did take a step back to late, I mean the guy cant make every play on the field. The point is that Willis was responsible for the middle, that play did not take long to develope and the worst thing an inside linebacker can do in that situation is commit to a receiver before he enters his zone. I dont think any linebacker would have made that play.
I see what you are saying and my point is on plays like the TD seems the coaches trusted him to that underneath part of the route. He seemed to second guess for a second.
My point on that play was he made a mistake and i dont agree with you I really believe Willis is the linebacker who can make that play. He has teh talent to be that good in coverage. But thats just one play that i pointed out. Throughout the game it seemed pass defense was the weakest part of his game.
People on this board talk about him like his coverage is great and he is a master at everything and can do no wrong. they hate to admit he has a weakness his pass coverage could use some work. He is fast as f**k he can contend with a rb in my honest opinion Taylor shouldnt have burnt him, hes been taking bad angles this year.. go ahead i said something bad about Willis..hate me
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