I think it's been tougher with the injuries to DBs. Back in 2010 and the like we had injuries on the D line and were super thin so what did Dom do? Pulled some 2 or even 1 DL packages with more LBs out of some crazy corner of his mind and took advantage of the healthy talent we had at LB and DB, got creative with the blitz packages, and generally was able to maximize the talent of the people he had healthy.
It's harder with the CB injuries since you can't just stick a LB up on a WR, but I still don't see that same sort of creativity from Dom anymore.
Originally Posted by: Porforis
I believe that has to do with what he has to work with... as if you have a strength area (say OLB), you might be able to put extra on them to cover up a weak area (say DT)... as Capers did at times last year when he used Peppers and Datone as a pass rushing DT on 3rd down.
But this year... is there a big strength area (yes DT), but a big strength area that can cover out for other areas? Not really, unless you count Safety, with Burnett filling in at nickel (now that there is another decent/good SS), and Burnett/Jones filling in at coverage ILB.... but those are almost full scheme adjustments, and not just creative moments.
Though before the season, I had wondered if Lowry might be athletic enough to play edge defender in the 4-2 nickel looks... and I saw it some in preseason... I didn't see it enough to get a great feel for how good or bad it would be. But they seem to prefer him as the 3rd DT at least for right now... of course that's with Matthews/Perry and a sometimes healthy Brooks.