I've been calling for it for a while with Richardson and Hyde... the argument against it has been, they won't be able to hold up in the run game... my counter argument to that was compared to what? Brad Jones?!? (who was starting at the time). I think they can play the run just as well as some (non-physical) ILBers can. But I'm doubting it happens all of sudden, but I doubted they would move Matthews to ILB and they did more of it. The difference here is they had a clear healthy guy to move into Matthews spot... where Burnett hasn't been healthy and Banjo isn't completely clear there (yet).
Also to note the Packers are the current leader in least points opponents score per game (and will stay there until next week, IF the Ravens can score at least 3 points on the Cardinals), so I'm guessing they're going to keep doing what they're doing.
Denver has also lack success running the ball, so the defense will probably be winning their ears back ready to rush the pass rusher, as the top two sack defenses go after the QBs. Which Hyde would fit in pass coverage and blitzing... but doesn't Palmer normally make all the defensive calls?
Originally Posted by: beast
Beast, I just reread the thread and noticed you mentioned Hyde doing the AZ ILB thing before me, sorry for not recognizing that.
On Hyde not being big enough, there is something to that; but like you're saying and I agree only if the ILB ya got is playing with “downhill thump.”
I was hoping and expected Palmer would play with more “thump” as the year progressed; IMHO his thump has only increased marginally; maybe next year he’ll develop at least the thump of Barrington. When you watched Ray Lewis of Patrick Willis thump and FB or RB was lead blocking; they’d just blast through them like they were 5 YO kids. If an OL came out Lewis and Willis would hit and stun them, always stopping them sometimes knocking them back; then they’d toss/push them to the opposite side of their pursuit of RB. Of course they could also finesse their way around them too.
If Palmer played with that kinda thump, putting in a smaller Hyde might harm the run D; but to date Palmer isn’t playing with a lot of thump anyways. If both Hyde and Palmer are avoiding blocks by finesse, why not use the faster Hyde, while utilizing Hyde’s other advantages. Moreover, with the way the DL has been playing, not a whole lotta beef is getting to the second level anyways.
And there is something to be said for keeping doing what works; but ya can always go back to that. I believe you gotta keep things fresh; ya gotta keep looking for improvements. The Bye is the perfect time to implement a fresh idea; but we may not see it until later in the year. Between Burnett's, Richardson's injuries, Banjo's sudden really good play, and not realizing Randall would be a top 15-20 CB [and maybe higher] this early; the question GB has not faced until now is: how do we get Hyde on the field?
I thought Mathews has had the headset, but not sure; and expect Burnett to get it when he returns. Usually the headset goes to a 3 down player, which has not been Palmer since Thomas started playing Dime.