A Few Defensive Thoughts After Watching The All-22

[NeonDeion21]

- I do not think Selvie can play the LDE. I think this is why the teams has been signing and trading for LDE. SF could run on his side whenever they wanted to. He's a nightmare in the run game.

- R.McClain is a violent player. We all remember the few hits he had on the RBs and on the QB, but he abused SF's offensive line. The difference in hand strength between McClain and Carter is so obvious on tape.

- I like J.J. Wilcox, but he does a lot of the same things as Barry Church. Pairing those together means TEs are going to be a problem every week.

- SF has a terrific offensive line coach. The way that SF can switch between zone-blocking to down-hill run blocking is really something to watch. Their offensive line is coached very well. Everyone has solid technique.

- I don't think Morris Claiborne played that bad of a game considering he missed a lot of TC, all of PS and was matched up with Michael Crabtree most of the day without safety help.

- Justin Durant got hurt celebrating.

- At this point in his career, Carter is a much better blitzer than anything else and I'm not trying to be negative about it. He does a really good job at getting to the quarterback as a blitzer. I would like DAL to use him more in 3rd and long situations.

 

[Idgit]

- Justin Durant got hurt celebrating.

Seriously?

 

[erod]

The best thing I took from Sunday is that Rolando McClain is a better player than Sean Lee when he's into it.

 

[Yakuza Rich]

The best thing I took from Sunday is that Rolando McClain is a better player than Sean Lee when he's into it.

McClain seems to be into it when he's playing the MIKE. Put him at the WILL or the SAM and he seems to lose interest. That may be a problem when Lee comes back...of course Lee will probably get hurt again.



YR

 

[Jenky]

The best thing I took from Sunday is that Rolando McClain is a better player than Sean Lee when he's into it.

No he's not.

 

[erod]

No he's not.

He absolutely is. Bigger, just as fast, far more physical, and just as bright. At Alabama, he was one of the most dominant college linebackers I'd ever seen. And he carried a very high GPA. One of his biggest problems at Oakland was he would get really pissed at his teammates for not knowing their assignments.

But he's a knucklehead, as we all know. This could be short-lived.

 

[erod]

McClain seems to be into it when he's playing the MIKE. Put him at the WILL or the SAM and he seems to lose interest. That may be a problem when Lee comes back...of course Lee will probably get hurt again.



YR

Lee is done. Some bodies just can't carry steroids; they break down. And without them, he's a 210-pound guy.

 

[jterrell]

He absolutely is. Bigger, just as fast, far more physical, and just as bright. At Alabama, he was one of the most dominant college linebackers I'd ever seen. And he carried a very high GPA. One of his biggest problems at Oakland was he would get really pissed at his teammates for not knowing their assignments.

But he's a knucklehead, as we all know. This could be short-lived.

Versus the run McClain is better. Overall as a LB it isn't even close unless you count that Lee is always on the sideline in street clothes.

Lee's recognition, ability to get the defense set and defeat plays before the snap plus obviously his pass play is the best in the league.

 

[Jenky]

He absolutely is. Bigger, just as fast, far more physical, and just as bright. At Alabama, he was one of the most dominant college linebackers I'd ever seen. And he carried a very high GPA. One of his biggest problems at Oakland was he would get really pissed at his teammates for not knowing their assignments.

But he's a knucklehead, as we all know. This could be short-lived.

No, I like McClain, but sorry. Lee has one glaring weakness and everyone knows what it is. He's injury prone. That's about it. He's as complete as a linebacker can be. Whether it be run support, coverage, or rushing the QB. He's a stud who can't stay healthy.

Do I think Rolando was ever on Lee's level in terms of being complete? No. Do I think he can get there? Yes. Rolando probably has a higher ceiling and he has all of the tools. But his NFL career can't be compared to Lee's. Not just yet.

 

[Jenky]

Versus the run McClain is better. Overall as a LB it isn't even close unless you count that Lee is always on the sideline in street clothes.

Lee's recognition, ability to get the defense set and defeat plays before the snap plus obviously his pass play is the best in the league.

I think at the point of attack Rolando MIGHT be better. But on sweeps, no one was running against us when Lee was in the game. He was like a homing missile locked onto that RB.

 

[xwalker]

.....

- I do not think Selvie can play the LDE. I think this is why the teams has been signing and trading for LDE. SF could run on his side whenever they wanted to. He's a nightmare in the run game.
Selvie looked really strong at the beginning of the preseason. I remember posting that he was much stronger than I remembered and I think Broaddus even commented on it. I assume his problem now is the shoulder injury. That will probably never be right this season. As you said, they have other options at LDE.

- R.McClain is a violent player. We all remember the few hits he had on the RBs and on the QB, but he abused SF's offensive line. The difference in hand strength between McClain and Carter is so obvious on tape.
No doubt. It's rare to see the OL step back when they engage with a 4-3 LB, but I see it happen with McClain. It's the fact that he runs really well to go along with the power that makes him elite.

- I like J.J. Wilcox, but he does a lot of the same things as Barry Church. Pairing those together means TEs are going to be a problem every week.
Yes, but I think it's for different reasons. Wilcox is delayed because he's a step slowing processing the play. Church is just a limited athlete.

- SF has a terrific offensive line coach. The way that SF can switch between zone-blocking to down-hill run blocking is really something to watch. Their offensive line is coached very well. Everyone has solid technique.
Much like the Cowboys, they have both talent and excellent coaching on the OLine. IMO, the best coaching on the Cowboys is done by Pollack and Callahan. IMO, despite the added talent, I don't think the Cowboys OL would be as good if they still had Houck as the OL coach. The techniques with this current OL are terrific, especially in the running game. They have a lot of blocks where I would describe it as having a primary and a secondary responsibility. The idea being to make absolutely certain that you get the primary responsibly and then do your best on the secondary responsibility. On a run right, Tyron must absolutely get his block the inside even if that allows the outside rusher to come free. His secondary responsibility is to see if he can get back out an get a hand on the outside rusher, but it's not his primary responsibility. Back in the Houck days, each player needed perfect execution for the run to succeed. In the current scheme there is room for error as long as you always error on the side of least significance.

They even had Doug Free playing decently. There is a lot of scheming and technique that has gone into getting better play from Free because he still has limits due to some weird lack up upper body strength.

- I don't think Morris Claiborne played that bad of a game considering he missed a lot of TC, all of PS and was matched up with Michael Crabtree most of the day without safety help.
Yes, I don't remember him getting beat deep. I think some of peoples frustration is scheme related. On 3rd down it frustrating to see them give such big cushions underneath, but that appears to be more of a scheme issue than a player specific issue.

- Justin Durant got hurt celebrating.
Really? I didn't notice that.

I really thought he should have been given that INT but I never seem to fully grasp the possession rule. He had possession when his knee was down and then when his elbow was down and after that the ball came out.

The Cowboys had LB blow out his knee on a celebration years ago. His name is not coming to me at the moment.

- At this point in his career, Carter is a much better blitzer than anything else and I'm not trying to be negative about it. He does a really good job at getting to the quarterback as a blitzer. I would like DAL to use him more in 3rd and long situations.
I didn't notice any significantly bad play from him otherwise, but I haven't focused too much on him in my initial review of the game.

 

[Zimmy Lives]

- I do not think Selvie can play the LDE. I think this is why the teams has been signing and trading for LDE. SF could run on his side whenever they wanted to. He's a nightmare in the run game.

If Selvie stinks at playing LDE, what does that say about Crawford?

 

[Mr Cowboy]

R.McClain is a violent player. We all remember the few hits he had on the RBs and on the QB, but he abused SF's offensive line. The difference in hand strength between McClain and Carter is so obvious on tape.

- I like J.J. Wilcox, but he does a lot of the same things as Barry Church. Pairing those together means TEs are going to be a problem every week.

It would be great to switch back to a 3-4 next year and have Lee and McClain manning the inside LB positions. Then move Carter in there when Lee gets hurt.

On Wilcox, I don't think he is or erev will be a starting caliber safety in this league. He starts for the Cowboys because the Cowboys don't value the safety position.

 

[xwalker]

McClain seems to be into it when he's playing the MIKE. Put him at the WILL or the SAM and he seems to lose interest. That may be a problem when Lee comes back...of course Lee will probably get hurt again.

YR

When was McClain at WILL or SAM?

 

[jterrell]

- I do not think Selvie can play the LDE. I think this is why the teams has been signing and trading for LDE. SF could run on his side whenever they wanted to. He's a nightmare in the run game.

- R.McClain is a violent player. We all remember the few hits he had on the RBs and on the QB, but he abused SF's offensive line. The difference in hand strength between McClain and Carter is so obvious on tape.

- I like J.J. Wilcox, but he does a lot of the same things as Barry Church. Pairing those together means TEs are going to be a problem every week.

- SF has a terrific offensive line coach. The way that SF can switch between zone-blocking to down-hill run blocking is really something to watch. Their offensive line is coached very well. Everyone has solid technique.

- I don't think Morris Claiborne played that bad of a game considering he missed a lot of TC, all of PS and was matched up with Michael Crabtree most of the day without safety help.

- Justin Durant got hurt celebrating.

- At this point in his career, Carter is a much better blitzer than anything else and I'm not trying to be negative about it. He does a really good job at getting to the quarterback as a blitzer. I would like DAL to use him more in 3rd and long situations.

great report and a lot of what I saw on DVR. now that they have the game up i'll spring for all-22 myself.

Mo isn't bad at all, he just isn't what people want with pick 6. He was probably the best CB on the field for either side. But he isn't taking away slants from 215 pound Crabtree.
Crabtree is the guy who went up and made plays over Earl Thomas while they were in college.
Mo is for better or worse Greg Ellis.
He is a good player at a position where we were in dire need but he isn't truly elite.

Our DL wore down badly as the game went along. You can see why we carry so many. They are really good for about 15 snaps but on a long drive they tire badly.

It looked to me like Durant realized mid-celebration he was hurt. That can happen as adrenaline wanes after a made play.
I played once with a broken hand for like 30 minutes before it became an ache then a tremendous unbearable pain.
But it could have happened during it as well.

Wilcox has ability but you are absolutely right. We can't rely on him in coverage because he doesn't know assignments so his best asset is reading and reacting to the ball which makes him a solid run force.
Safety is my top overall target for 2015. We've got to get stronger in the heart of our defense.
A pro bowl caliber free safety and I think this defense is 2 years experience from being elite.

 

[xwalker]

If Selvie stinks at playing LDE, what does that say about Crawford?

Crawford was the starter in this game and Selvie was the backup.

 

[Chocolate Lab]

I think at the point of attack Rolando MIGHT be better. But on sweeps, no one was running against us when Lee was in the game. He was like a homing missile locked onto that RB.

Agree. Say that McClain is more physical in the run game, fine. But Lee's anticipation and hands for the interception are ridiculous for a linebacker. And we all know how important pass defense is in today's NFL.

 

[Zimmy Lives]

Crawford was the starter in this game and Selvie was the backup.

I did not catch that. I just watched the game a few days ago and did a lot of fast-forwarding.

 

[Mr Cowboy]

The Cowboys had LB blow out his knee on a celebration years ago. His name is not coming to me at the moment.

The late Godfrey Myles......R.I.P.

 

[erod]

No, I like McClain, but sorry. Lee has one glaring weakness and everyone knows what it is. He's injury prone. That's about it. He's as complete as a linebacker can be. Whether it be run support, coverage, or rushing the QB. He's a stud who can't stay healthy.

Do I think Rolando was ever on Lee's level in terms of being complete? No. Do I think he can get there? Yes. Rolando probably has a higher ceiling and he has all of the tools. But his NFL career can't be compared to Lee's. Not just yet.

I agree there, and I'm certainly not comparing careers. But if they can untap McClain, then they've really got something.