After reading the article, what do you think? Of course, we all say "sure, prove it on the field bubba", but does this give you any encouragement or at least something to look specifically to see?
Originally Posted by: Zero2Cool
After reading the full article, it just leaves me very confused... fans were screaming for the CBs to play closer to the line, the CBs were verbally saying it (and then physically backing up as the games went along), LaFleaur publicly said it, so if everyone says they want the CBs closer, then whom or what is f'ning stopping them?
And yes, easy answer is Barry, but no one has said Barry wanted them further back, he wanted zone coverage, which Seahawks certainly have played press bump and run to start and dropped into zone coverages. And even if it was Barry, I'm sorry, but the CBs own legs kept backing them up as the game went along...
So it sounds nice, but there is some missing reality to this story, at least what has been made publicly so far.
Also, if they more in the face of the WRs, then what's the negative counter? Everything has a positive and negative aspect. Does it mean less vision? Less knowing where to drop a player in a zone and go to another?
Why weren't they doing this all before?
Also, this talks about the aggression for DBs, it doesn't talk about the aggression with the DL, and there is absolutely some there. Packers have averaged one full time 3 tech style player for more of the last decade. In the last two years, they have brought in four ... and that doesn't include Clark and Engebare whom can also play 3 tech, so for a total of 6.
That strongly suggest more one gap, more penetrating, more attacking, less run clogging, and telling that DL to go make the tackle themselves, and not keeping the ILBers clean.
And talk about the DEs and OLBers cross training a bit, at least certain guys (Van Ness, especially).
All this suggests being more aggressive up front too, as your not going to let their lighter pass rusher types just sit back and let the OL come to them in the run game, because they will be pushed back. You have to attack the gaps and get some penetration. OL might know they're slanting, but they might not know if it's inside or outside, and maybe not slanting at all, maybe trying to shoot straight up the middle. Becomes a bit more of a guessing game for the OL where they have to make sure they work as a single unit.
The downside is, they're lighter and less powerful and therefore maybe easier to move should the OL be able to keep up with them. Of course, if the OL can't keep up with them, 9r can't act as a single unit, then they're in trouble.
But I expect to see more base package this year with a 5-2 look... they'll probably get out of it for 3 WR sets (or 2 WRs and TE is actually a WR with a TE label) but otherwise try to stay in it.
Also, another random thought, I wonder how Nixon would be at deep Safety. Nickel when they're in nickel, but in base defense with no nickel, I wonder how he would be at Safety. To keep him on the field full time.