I'm always puzzled when I watch King. There is always distance between him and the receiver, even in man coverage - almost as if he thinks he is trying to bait the opposing QB to throw his way... which he kind of does - but because his guy is wide open.
Enter Stokes - in your face and aggressive. While you know he will draw a few penalties playing this way, at least he is in position to make a play. I would easily take a couple of flags over receivers running wild in the secondary.
King is backup material at best - his starting days are coming to an end.
Originally Posted by: hardrocker950
The 49ers are very strong in the middle with TEs and their FB, but that's one area the Packers struggled, especially after Barnes got injured, but Sullivan, Summers, and Black all struggled being the 11th guy...
I wouldn't be shocked to see King being used more in the slot, after least against TEs, which King doesn't have the slot quickness he has the length and the slot gives him Safety help over the top to allow him to be more aggressive.
That's one thing I never understood why people blamed Pettine for, fans blaming for King playing so far off the line (though maybe that's the writers fault for not getting more details on who's decision that was)... but watching the field and body language it seemed to be Kings decision, as he keep backing further and further up as the game went along...
Everyone agrees in theory, the idea of King in press off the line in theory would be an improvement than him in a deep off man, but last year he got further and further off as the game went along like he was afraid of being be beat deep and didn't care About being beat in front of him. Also I wondered if he was banged up, as his acceleration/quickness just didn't seem to be the same last year as prior years.
But my overall point is that even if Stokes is a starting outside CB, I don't nessarily think that means King gets benched as he might be the 5th DB for nickel still.