I'm much more concerned about the scheme than those players.
- Crawford played at DT in the Packers game.
- It appeared to be Quinn as the starting RDE and Armstrong as the backup.
- Hyder was the backup LDE.
They have been using a 3-man DL on obvious passing downs with Jaylon replacing a DT.
- They actually replace Jaylon's normal position with Lee or Thomas.
- You'll see 3 LBs but it's still Nickel because Jaylon is replacing a DT.
- This allows Jaylon to rush the passer from anywhere.
- They normally have Collins lined up over the Center but they sometimes move him over to one side in a 3-tech or 2-tech alignment.
- They can also have Jaylon and LVE flip responsibilities with LVE rushing and Jaylon in coverage.
- Sometimes they rush both Jaylon and LVE.
Strong Safety
- I review a lot of game footage.
- Strong Safety has not been my focus this season; however...
- Heath rarely seems to be the problem on plays I review.
- Woods is not a good option at SS either. He is not that good at getting off blocks and his tackling is just OK.
- Thompson was good when he started at FS but he also does not appear to be a good option at SS.
- Hopefully rookie Donovan Wilson will get some snaps soon. His injury set him back. He is getting snaps on Special Teams.
On Heath, when he does break down in coverage near the LOS, it leads to big plays. He falls or doesn't flip his hips and leaves a free runner short heading up the field.
Thompson has good size, and seems like he can tackle. I'd trust him to not get beat quickly over Heath. He doesn't have the speed to take guys too far upfield, though.
Wilson might be the best option to cover Heath's weakness near the lOS. He's listed as playing "nickel", presumably slot, in college, so his near LOS man coverage skills are probably a strength for a S.
I like Heath a lot as an over the top zone safety. I like him blitzing. Don't like him in coverage bear the LOS where he has to flip his hips to go upfield.
I don't like Jaylon playing as a DT, even a roaming DT. I like him swapping off with LVE for coverage/blitz a little better, though rarely. I'd rather have a 4 man line and leave it to Jaylon to option blitz or drop in coverage.
Or if we got another stand up rush LB not name LVE, let's play 3-4 on passing downs, always blitzing one or both of that guy with Jaylon. Lee isn't that guy. I wonder if Thomas can do it. Maybe that rookie? Seems like a stretch.
Going into the season, I wanted Jaylon to play like an in the box SS sometimes, where in Big Nickel, we take out our SS, bring in a CB, but put Jaylon in the box to blitz or man cover a TE. His agility doesn't look as good as I expected, though, so now I'm not sure about him being able to take a TE in man. Before his injury in college, that would have been a lock.