Training Camp Player Review and Thoughts

[xwalker]

I've made some notes about players after watching as many videos as I could find of training camp.

Keep in mind a few things:
1: Media reports/comments in this time period between the start of training camp and the 1st game are often very misleading. Most media comments are from watching live, not from watching video. Every year there are a few media favorites to start camp that do nothing in PS games and vice-versa.

2: Veterans should be ahead of rookies at this point.

3: Veterans don't tend to go all-out when the play is away from them. Many practice reps are for the purpose of installing plays or teaching technique. Not every rep is an all-out compete period.

4: They practice a large number of reps. Players are at varying levels of exhaustion at any time. All players will look good on occasion and most will look bad on occasion. It's about consistency and being good a high percentage of the time.

5: Don't fall for stupid narratives. Brian Price losing his footing at the same time Fred shoved him was a meaningless issue. It was not a "pancake" block. Fred has dominated some DLinemen, but that 1 snap against Price was not really proof of anything.

You should be able to zoom in on the spreadsheet below:

 

[Fla Cowpoke]

Very informative, thanks for all your work putting that together.

 

[Tangle_Foot]

A thread with a disclaimer
But I enjoyed it

 

[Kaiser]

Charvarious Ward looks like he is making an impression. The one day I was at Training Camp Kris Richard yelled at "Wardy" fairly often and it was usually positive. Could definitely be a Practice Squad guy.

 

[jazzcat22]

Good stuff, enjoy this type of reports. Don’t need a lot of words or detail. Just enough to know what is up with so,e,of the players.

 

[speedkilz88]

Good stuff but McKay is not a rook, he's bounced around since 2016. Cowboys are his 5th team. (ourlads)

 

[xwalker]

Good stuff but McKay is not a rook, he's bounced around since 2016. Cowboys are his 5th team. (ourlads)

I just copied the Roster from the Internet. Only the Notes column is my input; although, I did change the positions on some (i.e. Changed Woods from NT to DT, etc..).

 

[beware_d-ware]

Great breakdown!

I'm reading what you said about D-Law, and just got done watching some camp film with him. Some people are saying "ohh, he's a flash in the pan", "he padded his sack total early on", "don't pay him, he's a one-year wonder". That dude was flat-out embarassing our non-All Pro OLs in camp. He's the real deal, folks.

Also, I'm not sure what to think about Byron Jones. He seems to be adapting well to Richard's aggressive cover scheme as a CB, whereas he always looked lost or a step late at FS. But even when he's all over his receiver, it still seems like he gives up too many receptions.

 

[Corso]

I've made some notes about players after watching as many videos as I could find of training camp.

Keep in mind a few things:
1: Media reports/comments in this time period between the start of training camp and the 1st game are often very misleading. Most media comments are from watching live, not from watching video. Every year there are a few media favorites to start camp that do nothing in PS games and vice-versa.

2: Veterans should be ahead of rookies at this point.

3: Veterans don't tend to go all-out when the play is away from them. Many practice reps are for the purpose of installing plays or teaching technique. Not every rep is an all-out compete period.

4: They practice a large number of reps. Players are at varying levels of exhaustion at any time. All players will look good on occasion and most will look bad on occasion. It's about consistency and being good a high percentage of the time.

5: Don't fall for stupid narratives. Brian Price losing his footing at the same time Fred shoved him was a meaningless issue. It was not a "pancake" block. Fred has dominated some DLinemen, but that 1 snap against Price was not really proof of anything.

You should be able to zoom in on the spreadsheet below:

Great work. Mucho appreciatado mi amigo!

 

[Corso]

Great breakdown!

I'm reading what you said about D-Law, and just got done watching some camp film with him. Some people are saying "ohh, he's a flash in the pan", "he padded his sack total early on", "don't pay him, he's a one-year wonder". That dude was flat-out embarassing our non-All Pro OLs in camp. He's the real deal, folks.

Also, I'm not sure what to think about Byron Jones. He seems to be adapting well to Richard's aggressive cover scheme as a CB, whereas he always looked lost or a step late at FS. But even when he's all over his receiver, it still seems like he gives up too many receptions.

He's too technically sound to flame out. He's not getting by purely on athleticism, but with amazing hand technique, balance and footwork.
I was calling that out all last year. He's an extremely good player that only injury can stop.

 

[xwalker]

Great breakdown!

I'm reading what you said about D-Law, and just got done watching some camp film with him. Some people are saying "ohh, he's a flash in the pan", "he padded his sack total early on", "don't pay him, he's a one-year wonder". That dude was flat-out embarassing our non-All Pro OLs in camp. He's the real deal, folks.

Also, I'm not sure what to think about Byron Jones. He seems to be adapting well to Richard's aggressive cover scheme as a CB, whereas he always looked lost or a step late at FS. But even when he's all over his receiver, it still seems like he gives up too many receptions.

Yes, I don't think the team has any doubt about DLaw's ability. It's his 2 back surgeries that will make them apprehensive about giving him a big contract. The long term results for players with 2 back surgeries is not great on average.

It's difficult to completely evaluate CBs vs WRs in practice because they coach them not to bang into each other on routine plays which means the CBs often back off right at the end of the play on simple in or out routes by the WRs. You'll see more aggressive play by the CBs on deep routes/throws in practice.

The simple explanation on the Kris Richard version of press vs normal press cover is similar to run vs pass blocking by OLinemen.

Normal press coverage is more like run blocking where the CB drives forward into the WR and the CB initiates contact. In the KR scheme, the CB looks more like an OL pass blocking and forces the WR to run into him (initiate contact). The WR can run around him but that forces him way wide of his intended route which is OK with KR.

The key is that KR wants the WR to have to commit to inside or outside immediately. Richard Sherman most often played inside-leverage which most often resulted in the WR going to his outside where the sideline is the help-defender.

The CBs transition immediately after contact is called a kick-step by KR and Richard Sherman. If the CB (Jones) still has reasonably tight coverage a few steps after the contact, then he is usually in good shape. I don't think anybody is worried about Bryon Jones playing the route after that point because his speed/length and past demonstrated ability has shown he is good in that part of coverage.

The technique is counter-intuitive to what most CBs have learned.

A big side benefit of the technique from what I've seen in studying Richard Sherman in Seattle, is that it makes the "read" by the FS easier. There is no guessing in regards to what type of route the WR will be running because of the early commit at the point of contact.. It also tends to slow the WR by a step relative to the FS.