Originally posted by NCommand:Originally posted by KknighthawkK_9er:Originally posted by Kalen49ers:Originally posted by jesserdumas2:Originally posted by Kalen49ers:
I like Crabtree to make huge strides this year. Assuming we can fix some of the OL woes, I like Smith being able to get Crabtree the ball. I mean the dude as a rookie had ZERO offseason work with the team, ZERO pre-season game experience and ZERO work with the QB's to get the timing down and still had a good year.
I expect Crabtree to have a 1100+ yard season with 10+ TD's.
On the defense I like Ahmad Brooks. I think he can effectively be a starting OLB and can have a good 10+ sack season and also make other plays with FF's and maybe add an INT or two.
Do we have any knowledge about his pass-coverage ability?
Probably something he can work on for sure, however in his role he would be blitzing the majority of the time.
We know that Sing saying he "wasn't ready" probably refers the most to his inability to cover. This is something that will be a top priority this offseason; transforming Brooks into a complete OLB, instead of just a pass rusher.
His past role was blitzing the majority of the time. If he ever becomes a starter @ OLB, depending on who he supplants, he probably will not be blitzing all of the time.
Nah, that reference from Sing was in re: to him setting the edge. With the additon of a FS who can cover, even like last year, the OLB's will RARELY drop back in coverage. They will be rushing the passer almost exclusively while playing the run at the same time. Dropping back in coverge is really a non-issue (even for Manny last year - his worst year to date in coverage).
Dropping back in coverage is really a non-issue? Wow, that's not the case at all. Manny was man up vs. the other teams TE quite often. He was asked to cover as much as or more than he blitzed. OLB's, even if they are "setting the edge" (the new favorite line on the zone), are asked to cover frequently, specifically when we are playing more zone D -- like we were towards the end of the season.
Without having a CB on an island, like we were hoping Nate would be, aside from occasions of a zone blitz, one of the OLB's is covering a flat, or a man if we are in man.