There are 365 users in the forums
Originally posted by oldninerdude:You think maybe that was due to the lack of coverage help over the top?
I think we're gonna see a major reworking of the secondary this year.
Originally posted by LoneWolf:
Originally posted by oldninerdude:
You think maybe that was due to the lack of coverage help over the top?
I think we're gonna see a major reworking of the secondary this year.
Or it could have been confidense in the players covering the short routes. Fangio has an interesting way of doing things with defenses, and i understand the theme of that style coverage and it worked quite a bit for us.
Originally posted by NCommand:So let's say we go the other way--press coverage with the CBs (Asomugha on one side, Culliver on the other) and use a FS who has the football smarts to see which of them is gonna need help over the top, even if he's not a "big hitter."
OND & LW...
The more I think about it, the S play may be THE reason for our scheme. When you have two big hitters but who aren't rangy enough on a regular basis to provide sideline (over-the-top) help, you want to keep everything in the middle of the field and in front of you as much as you can. You drop your S's 25 yards deep and play them down hill. You drop your ILB's in coverage...a lot esp. in the RZ/EZ. You play your CB's off and use the sidelines - and force the WR's inside.
Yet, where was our biggest weakness? WR's running double-moves on us on the S's. Amendola-like WR's who are moved all over and exploit the underneath routes. And especially, right down the middle of the field esp. in the RZ/EZ (either by taller TE's and/or more physical WR's moved inside the slot running a simple seam route). The S position was really exploited here esp. in the playoffs where teams were equipped to do this against us.
Goldson - absent all playoffs
Whitner - gave up 14 TD's including 2 in the Superbowl
To me, it seems like we were funneling everything to the middle of the field where Willis/Bowman were in coverage and the S's could hit (play to their strengths).
Originally posted by oldninerdude:
So let's say we go the other way--press coverage with the CBs (Asomugha on one side, Culliver on the other) and use a FS who has the football smarts to see which of them is gonna need help over the top, even if he's not a "big hitter."
Use an ILB to cover the tight end with the SS helping in the middle of the field and deep.
If its a spread offense, use Brown and/or Rogers as the nickel back/dime back and press at the LOS, using the FS to help out deep.
It all seems to depend on having a safety who can help over the top, who can cover the deep routes--even if he's not an intimidating hitter.
So that seems to me to say that they're gonna be looking for a FS who has the football smarts to recognize which WR is gonna be giving which CB the most trouble. Plus he'll need to be a sure tackler in the open field.
I don't know which rookie FS would fill that bill, but I'm guessing that Baalke will id one of them, and it will be someone nobody expects, cause it won't be based entirely on measureables, but on "football smarts" and football player intangibles Baalke sees on film.
Originally posted by thl408:
That breakdown of Nnamdi vs Megatron was very encouraging. His strengths has always been his physical nature and ability to read routes. That doesn't go away with age as much as speed does.
Maybe Culliver can play a Merton Hanks role where he's a FS in the basic package, but lines up as a CB in nickel/dime packages. This assumes Rogers, Brown, and Nnamdi can hold down the top three CB positions.
Originally posted by dtg_9er:
NC--I think you hit it with the scheme protecting our safeties last year. The big hits made receivers leery of going over the middle but left the sides somewhat vulnerable. So the CBs played off the line and protected against the deep routes. I could see some very interesting combinations in the backfield next year...perhaps even four or five CB sets. Of course, this may be due to limited resources at FS or even SS. I would love to know what the team really thinks of Robinson and Spillman...other than as ST players.
The draft usually doesn't tell us much about next years prospects but this year may be very different...may tell us a lot.
Originally posted by NCommand:Whitner fit the scheme they've run the past two years. He's the "robber" responsible for the short part of the field just beyond the LOS and gives run support there. Trouble is, he's not very good at coverage, and horrible at coverinig TEs. Can he adapt to a new scheme? I have to think he's gonna get phased out unless he can improve his coverage abilithy--or grow six inches.
Funny you mention BOTH Culliver and Nnamdi at CB...our two most physical (and taller) CB's. Given that Baalke, all FA, was looking at the taller, more physical CB's available, pro days, CB interests, etc. and I swear I read somewhere (or saw a video), of him alluding to us getting more physical with his CB play, I've been in the mindset that he wants to go big and physical like in Seattle (b/c they get away with murder up there). Brown plays the slot? Rogers?
Then b/c of the lack of "size" clearly affecting our SS and coverage in general (remember, these TE's were scoring TD's over Willis/Bowman too, not just Whitner - Brown and Rogers playing way off; S's starting up to 30 yards deep), and seeing Culliver completely out there on an island to watch receivers catch PUNTS from Flacco in the Superbowl with zero S help, I have this sneaky suspicion we draft a taller FS with great speed (sideline-to-sideline, over-the-top help for CB's, deep sideline patterns, etc.), IQ, range, sure-tackler, etc...generally, a great "coverage ability."
Then you can play your CB's up on press more and use your coverage S's for true help and finally release Willis/Bowman from constant coverage and play them more down hill and even in attack-mode more.
Now, what to do about Whitner as that is a problem (not just salary) that just can't be solved unfortunately. Whitner seemed to be matched up on the TE's the most (strong side)...what scheme can we use to combat that one if he stays past June 1st? In the RZ slide Nnamdi inside to cover the TE's in the slot and move Brown out to RCB? Willis/Bowman are good underneath but if they have to turn and run with the TE's for too long, the TE's typically get behind them for TD opportunities.
Thoughts?
Originally posted by oldninerdude:
Whitner fit the scheme they've run the past two years. He's the "robber" responsible for the short part of the field just beyond the LOS and gives run support there. Trouble is, he's not very good at coverage, and horrible at coverinig TEs. Can he adapt to a new scheme? I have to think he's gonna get phased out unless he can improve his coverage abilithy--or grow six inches.
I also think Dahl starts the season at FS. He's got the size and speed, and if he gets into the film room and learns to read opposing QBs, who knows. He may be the short term answer.
Originally posted by Willisfn4life:lol. I completely understand.
Originally posted by oldninerdude:
Whitner fit the scheme they've run the past two years. He's the "robber" responsible for the short part of the field just beyond the LOS and gives run support there. Trouble is, he's not very good at coverage, and horrible at coverinig TEs. Can he adapt to a new scheme? I have to think he's gonna get phased out unless he can improve his coverage abilithy--or grow six inches.
I also think Dahl starts the season at FS. He's got the size and speed, and if he gets into the film room and learns to read opposing QBs, who knows. He may be the short term answer.
Originally posted by oldninerdude:
lol. I completely understand.
But I did say "may be" and "sjhort term."
Originally posted by gold49digger:It would be great if they draft someone who can immediately step in, but that doesn't seem likely.
Originally posted by oldninerdude:
lol. I completely understand.
But I did say "may be" and "sjhort term."
No offense, but I hope you are wrong on this one
Originally posted by gold49digger:
No offense, but I hope you are wrong on this one