What are you looking to see Vs the Rams in the joint practice?

[shabazz]

Our first time to go against someone else not wearing blue and grey, I know these players have waited for this moment. What things will you be watching out for? 1. No injuries, 2. How the D will look against the Rams offense, 3. Who will be a player that is a backup that steps things up, and catches the coaches eyes??


Your turn, please give your input

For me its number 2.

Doesn't prove anything but at least let's see assignments understood and the beginning of real team defense.

CP and the boys should get a decent honeymoon period until we either crown them or have them drawn & quartered


......and of course watching Anthony Smith make strides in becoming WR 3

 

[BlindFaith]

4 at S are Downs, Thompson, Hooker, Locke. They will probably go 5 with Bell or Clark.
Unless as you said, Moore can play S as well. Then go long at CB.

Hooker is the wild card. We save a mil by cutting him. Not much. But the roster spot is important.

Do you keep Hooker over Barron, Clark, Williams, a 6th CB, a 6th WR, a 10th OL?

 

[reddyuta]

4 at S are Downs, Thompson, Hooker, Locke. They will probably go 5 with Bell or Clark.
Unless as you said, Moore can play S as well. Then go long at CB.

Jullius Wood is another Safety to keep a watch,i think he covers better than Bell.

 

[Rockport]

 

[BlindFaith]

I think we go heavier at safety and lighter at corner since Downs will be the nickel and Thompson can play there, too. I could see carrying four true corners (Bland, Durant, Revel and ... probably Moore since we just spend a fourth-round pick on him).

Not with Revel and Bland with some recent injury concerns. 5 minimum.

Not having Goodwin on this team helps a lot. We can use that spot on someone who can actually do more than run down the field kinda fast.

 

[gimmesix]

Hooker is the wild card. We save a mil by cutting him. Not much. But the roster spot is important.

Do you keep Hooker over Barron, Clark, Williams, a 6th CB, a 6th WR, a 10th OL?

Hooker is one of the starting safeties when we have Downs in the nickel. I haven't seen anything that changes that. I'd love to improve that spot, but I don't think he's the wild card.

 

[BlindFaith]

Wow who is this Justin Barron? Rookie?

Second year guy. Only activated a couple games last year.

 

[gimmesix]

Jullius Wood is another Safety to keep a watch,i think he covers better than Bell.

Not sure on that. The main thing I've read from practices is that he stepped in and brought the thunder. He's not the fastest guy, so I don't know if coverage is going to be his strong suit.

 

[BlindFaith]

I feel he's kind of a given since we just spent a draft pick on him last year. I think he'd have to look bad to lose out and probably will stick for special teams no matter.

Could be. Not down on James.

It just says a lot for the roster rebuild on defense that he wont be given a spot. And that there is competion.

 

[gimmesix]

Not with Revel and Bland with some recent injury concerns. 5 minimum.

Not having Goodwin on this team helps a lot. We can use that spot on someone who can actually do more than run down the field kimda fast.

Well, normally we'd carry six, but with Parker preferring safeties in the slot, I don't think we need more than four even with the injury concerns. Plus, I'm not sure the talent we have there warrants it. Should be able to stash players like Reddy Steward and Ahmeer Speed on the practice squad.

 

[gimmesix]

Could be. Not down on James.

It just says a lot for the roster rebuild on defense that he wont be given a spot. And that there is competion.

I didn't really feel there was competition ... beyond the first three (Overshown, Winters and Barham) until Barron showed out in this joint practice. I kind of felt the fourth spot was James' by default.

 

[Coogiguy03]

For me its number 2.

Doesn't prove anything but at least let's see assignments understood and the beginning of real team defense.

CP and the boys should get a decent honeymoon period until we either crown them or have them drawn & quartered


......and of course watching Anthony Smith make strides in becoming WR 3

I totally agree, at anytime things could be the same

 

[Bamx]

 

[BlindFaith]

Hooker is one of the starting safeties when we have Downs in the nickel. I haven't seen anything that changes that. I'd love to improve that spot, but I don't think he's the wild card.

Dont speculate. Having Thompson at center field, Durrant in the slot and Downs moving all over is part of the plan.

And at this point, I see Locke over Hooker. Unless Hooker plays harder and shows he wants to be out there. Hooker was one of the lowest rated Safties in the league last year. And hes always hurt.

Pretty much his MO and why he was let go by the Colts. Hes looked ok here because we've had nothing at Saftey for a looong time.

 

[gimmesix]

Good play by Locke, too, coming around the outside of the tight end and forcing the throw back to the inside. Stafford had a small window to complete that.

 

[BlindFaith]

Not sure on that. The main thing I've read from practices is that he stepped in and brought the thunder. He's not the fastest guy, so I don't know if coverage is going to be his strong suit.

Hes also only 193lbs. Slow and small for a safety doesnt usually end well.

 

[gimmesix]

Dont speculate. Having Thompson at center field, Durrant in the slot and Downs moving all over is part of the plan.

And at this point, I see Locke over Hooker. Unless Hooker plays harder and shows he wants to be out there. Hooker was one of the lowest rated Safties in the league last year. And hes always hurt.

Pretty much his MO and why he was let go by the Colts. Hes looked ok here because we've had nothing at Saftey for a looong time.

Don't think I'm speculating. Hooker is one of the starting safeties in the nickel until we're told or shown differently. Besides all this stuff is just speculation right now. He was let go by the Colts because he couldn't stay healthy.

 

[BlindFaith]

Well, normally we'd carry six, but with Parker preferring safeties in the slot, I don't think we need more than four even with the injury concerns. Plus, I'm not sure the talent we have there warrants it. Should be able to stash players like Reddy Steward and Ahmeer Speed on the practice squad.

CP prefers players who can play.

Bland, Revel, Durrant and Moore are givens. We will have a 5th CB. Butler, Bridges or Carson are my best guess. And who can play st will determine if its close.

Guys like Speed and Reddy, who is now playing safety, are basically irrelevant.

There will be a lot of guys fighting for those last three or four spots. And the best talent/future players will get those.

Could be we go long at WR. Maybe OL. Maybe DL.

 

[gimmesix]

Hes also only 193lbs. Slow and small for a safety doesnt usually end well.

True. Clark isn't much bigger, though, but he is a little faster. Should be a good battle for what would be a sixth safety spot, with Thompson, Downs, Hooker, Bell and Locke probably ahead of both of the depth chart. If both show out, that's why I believe we could go with six safeties and four corners ... since Downs is the nickel and I don't have much confidence in the corners beyond the first three. I mean, do Carson, Steward, Speed, Kendrick, Butler, Bridges or Childress move the needle? I did have hopes for Childress as a slot corner, though, but haven't heard much about him in camp. Steward and Speed seem to be getting the most press among the backup corners.

 

[John813]

Wow who is this Justin Barron? Rookie?

Former Safety/LB at Syracuse. Went undrafted last year.

Saw on his NFL profile he's now 235lb. Up from 22x last year.