Defensive Thoughts and the Fuzzy 53

[JoeyBoy718]

I'm confused about Parnell. People are saying he had a better game than Smith, but people are saying he's horrible and will get cut.

 

[CowboyGil]

Nice write up, very detailed. Also like the use of 'discombobulated'. Underrated word IMO.

 

[dbonham]

I'm starting to lean towards keeping Patmon over Webb. Like you said, the man is going out of his way to avoid contact. I'm surprised Marinelli has put up with it this long.

"But does he cover?"

 

[CCBoy]

Martez Wilson - Have to appreciate a guy willing to try out new things. Wilson has to appreciate when those new things work. He started using his hands to try to fend off the tackles hands and it yielded a sack. Sure the rush was wide and the QB was outside the pocket running from the interior rush but it was a step. He has started using technique to positive results so let's see if he can grow from this. He still looks helpless against tackles in the run. Those big runs in the middle of the game were in large part because Wilson and Ojomo got parked next to our LB on the second level.


This is where the defensive line and the coaching staff has the rubber meeting the road.

 

[casmith07]

Defense
Justin Durant - To watch Durant play is to watch a man run. He is in tremendous physical condition covers a lot of ground play after play after play after play. He can cover the deep middle. Will pick up crossing routes behind him off playaction well. He is always the first to find his run fit and decisiveness has gotten him out in front of would be blocks. Good physicality taking on FB and TE but can have issues with OG blocks.

Watching Justin Durant, I feel like he is exactly what he played mostly with Detroit -- a true WOLB. With his conditioning and the way he runs, he's got the speed and athleticism to get deep in the zone and run with receivers and tight ends. Might not make a ton of plays on the ball, but by being in "the area" he will effectively make it hard for QBs to find guys open in his zone if Church and Wilcox are able to provide adequate top side bracket coverage. I like Durant to start at Will.

Bruce Carter - On the 3rd and 2 play, he didn't fight a cutoff block on the weakside until after McClain blew up the FB in the hole and the back cut towards Carter. Carter cannot shed before the first down. Will watch him run with a guy stride for stride across the field and then stop and let him go when he turns upfield. But then you will watch him meet a pulling guard in the hole on the goalline and just stone him. He is attentive executing his zone. I get why the coaches are frustrated with him. They talk about consistency and he doesn't have it. As opposed to Durant's athletic relentlessness it stands out.

Bruce is simply at his best when he's allowed to be a straight up thumper. He was a Sam in college and should be a Sam here. The only reason why they've been trying to pigeonhole the guy into the Will spot is because he has superior, elite athleticism for a man his size. Watching him run and destroy a sled, or re-watching old games where he played SILB in the 3-4 and watching him blow up pulling Guards in the hole or decleat a fullback is why they have hopes for him. I don't coach football regularly, and I'm just a fan, but I truly believe they have been playing Carter in the wrong position since last year. Put him at Sam and let him blow dudes up and take on Guards and FBs in the gap. That's what he's best at.

Rolando McClain - He has the physical tools and is making progress but he is not ready and they are running out of time now that they have decided to start him. He is slow at times on run fits and gets out of position especially vs quick hitting zone plays. It's funny how LB are slower finding run fits when the tackles are Ojomo and Rayford. He let himself get cut off inside a couple times and was chasing down the field. Nice effort on short yardage to meet the FB in the hole and blow up the play. Too bad no one else could get off a block and help. The coaches worked him a lot on that middle zone and as the game wore on he was getting better and better depth on it. then he made a play on the ball. That was encouraging. But these all seem like baby steps when the season is three weeks away. Hopefully football can keep his attention for at least 6 months.

Ro McClain just looks like a guy to me who is getting back into "football shape." He's a huge guy, but he's still a little slow and a little late, but that will come with more game speed reps. Hopefully his athleticism is good enough to make up for it, since he's likely starting at MLB. We're going to need it so that we don't get destroyed up the middle.

Anthony Hitchens - Pretty bad. He did not respond well at all to Wilson getting washed out and got carried out on the wave. They adjusted the formation to bring the strongside to him and he got caught on the second level. Doesn't shed blocks. He is slow reacting to routes. Head seems to be swimming. His special teams is not special either as he was front and center on those returns. Sink or swim.

Looks like a 4th round pick. We'll see how well the development of the coaches effects him going forward like it has for the other guys you spoke of, like Davon Coleman.

BW Webb - Webb has developed himself into a pretty good cover man. He can run stride for stride on go routes. I have seen him execute tandem and three deep zones that look polished and made Flacco throw the ball away. He will make plays on the ball and stick on breaks. He is very good in off man coverage. His press is mediocre but he can carry guys upfield if he is supposed to press on cover 3. He doesn't over-commit. He has a rapport with Church and Scandrick playing as the nickleback in zone coverages on the strongside. He is a marshmallow who at best tries to steer ball carriers and often runs from contact. I get his usefulness but he is one of the softest players i have ever seen. Makes Alan Ball look like Ngata.

Not big or strong. You're right on the money here -- looks like he can turn into a big time cover guy, but he'll never press anybody to throw off timing unless it's DeSean Jackson, and he'll never be a big time tackler. Needs to develop more, but after big improvement from the SD game to the Ravens game, I think I can keep him on the 53 and keep working with him.

Barry Church - He is a vital cog in the defense and has been flying under the radar. they play him all over the field: deep middle, deep half, intermediate, down on the nickel. He was back sticking his nose in there as the 8th man in the box. It's little surprise that Church back on the field saw zone coverage and defensive cohesiveness improve for a unit that struggled in those regards without him.

JJ Wilcox - He overran a play turning a 10 yard gain into a possible TD and later helped Webb knock the ball loose from Steve Smith. Going to have to take the good with the bad as our young safety gains experience. thing is that how fast he can improve may well dictate how much this defense can improve and i am impatient.

I've been on the hype train for both of these guys since before we drafted him (Church) and since we drafted him (Wilcox).

Church: literally the best read-and-react player in the secondary we've had since Woody. The speed at which he diagnoses a run vs. a pass is really good to see. I really like watching him come down in the box like Cam Chancellor because he mixes it up against Guards and Tackles and isn't afraid to get in there and try and hit somebody. Has also gotten much faster from before when he was a rookie (a slow one at that), so that's a big plus.

Wilcox: has all of the athletic tools to be a good to great to possibly elite FS for this team. Plays single high very well, but still has some growing pains like you described. I am confident, however, that just like Church, he will be a player that is a favorite among fans, teammates, and coaches by the end of this season.

Orlando Scandrick - He can press and play off. He looks for the ball and makes plays on it. He can take on blocks and tackle on the perimeter. He has turned into a complete player. Suspension will hurt.

A #1 CB who is happy playing his role as the #3 CB (since it doesn't matter anyway -- you need three starters today). Happy to have him, but yes, the suspension is going to hurt. Best thing to happen to Scandrick was Dave Campo getting canned.

Good stuff, man. Hopefully I'll get your thoughts on my thoughts.