Vontae Davis..with a maniacal kinda of laugh behind it, he was asked what kind of defense are we gonna be, he said were gonna be a pressure defense with Sean and himself playing on an island most of the time, we're not gonna let the Qb get comfortable". That suits me just fine, one of the most frustrating things from last year with Nolan's scheme was the lack of one on one coverage from our talented man to man corners, I think being put on an island suits their skillset, Sean can play a physical style at the line with his size and octopus arms, and VD is built for man to man. This was good to hear, because How he said it was not a joke, he meant it. Vontae mentioned Rashad jones in a matter of fact way like he was pretty entrenched as the starter. Anthony Fasano...Was asked who has been impressive on offense, first thing he said was " our new rookie tight end looks good, 2nd, our rookie qb. You can't teach size and speed, and Egnew has both, with room to grow into the position, he's used to working in the spread offense, so I feel like he will be comfortable in our uptempo style, and productive as a rookie..I really like the versatility and harmonizing skillsets of Fasano, Egnew, and Clay, their all completely different. Not to much but I thought it was worth posting, really like that man to man stuff I'm hearing.
Hopefully Sean Smith uses some of that size and becomes more physical than he has up to now.As a matter of fact I hope all of our DBs become more physical. We need more Hard Knocks from them.
Last yr Nolan blitzed a lot, but then ran zone behind it and the blitzes rarely got to the Qb. That was when it became clear to me we had to upgrade the athleticism on Defense or continue to watch a track meet in our secondary..adios YBell!
Been saying that about Bell for several years...he's played as well as he can for us until last half of 2010 and thru last year, but at that point he became a liability back there, even moreso than the myriad of players we had at fs... Just can't wait to see how the S positions shake out... Jones was out of position, no doubt last year, perhaps moving to SS will suit him better. We still don't know what happened to Chris Clemons or whether he is salvageable after looking ok for a while at FS (in 2010). Marshall is going to be interesting too... I think the best of things sees someone grab the FS spot with a vengeance...then we're looking at Marshall as a #3 and that's not a bad bit of depth there...
He's usually very physical at the Los Crunch, just can't tackle for sh&$, that's why I like this scheme for them better.
To my knowledge, Reshad Jones hasn't moved anywhere. It's Chris Clemons who has moved to the position most commonly thought to be strong safety (I think Miami will play more of a left/right system than a strong/free).
As far as the safety position goes...I'm not getting my hopes up for any guys other than Jimmy Wilson and Richard Marshall. Reshad Jones and Chris Clemons can be OK players but nothing special, IMO. I think they're both more suited for nickel/dime safety roles. Jimmy Wilson could be something now that they're moving him back there full time. I'm interested. I like him. Richard Marshall isn't a guy I thought they should be playing as a slot/nickel corner...I thought they should have moved him right in at safety. They didn't and that could prove a mistake, IMO. Nonetheless I'm looking toward the Draft. If they need a free safety and/or ball hawk type, I have my eye on David Amerson whose stock is flying SUPER high after is ludicrous 11 interceptions in 2011. Everyone is convinced he's a corner just because that's the position that got him 11 interceptions this year...but he's always been a hybrid type and I believe was recruited as a safety, may lack the pure speed to be a corner at the next level, and I'd love to see if we have the next Ed Reed in him. After him, I'd have my eye on Nickoe Whitley, Kenny Vaccaro, Shamarko Thomas and Vaughn Telemaque. Interesting players.
I find it difficult to imagine Clemons being successful in a position where he's got to play some more man coverage like that. I dunno. Not sure I like it. Like I said I don't have much hope for either player proving to be worthy of more than nickel/dime safety roles. I think Jimmy Wilson is a guy that deserves some development and a shot to see if he's got more in him, and I thought Richard Marshall was a guy that should've been moved to safety immediately upon arrival. Outside of them, I'm looking toward the Draft. Shamarko Thomas...one of the best kept secrets in the Big East. Made a big impression on me a few years ago when USF played Syracuse. Been watching him and tracking him since. Superb athlete. Wrecking ball. Gym rat. Ridiculous closing speed.
Vontae should only ever play man coverage. I can see why he'd be thrilled. One would think Jones had more deep coverage responsibility with bell on the opposite side. He can fill the roles bell assumed much better. Clemons and Wilson are my favs of the rest. Different styles though. Wilson is more like jones, where clemons is super rangy and i prefer that in atleast 1 safety. Culver is usually solid. Johnson is a wild card. I don't think jones is a lock to start just yet, he has plenty of competition. We really do have variety with our backs and tight ends. Good to hear nice things about egnew, we are going to use tight ends more than ever.
Telemaque. Interesting. As a guy who had one INT all year, you think he's good enough? He's been at UM since '08.
I know I'd rather have Clemons than Jones as my deep center field last line of defense type of safety.
I think that's pretty on the money based on what Cincinnati did with Reggie Nelson and Chris Crocker last year. Nelson played close to the LOS an awful lot for someone tabbed as a "free safety". I think I saw Jimmy Wilson say in an interview with John Congemi the other day that he's capable of playing three positions in this defense - outside corner, slot corner, and safety. Should be interesting to see how they use him. Any thoughts on T.J. McDonald from USC?
I like Clemons more than most, and I think Jimmy's on the upside, Rj I haven't seen too much to get excited about, I'm happy with our corners if their gonna allow Sean to play man to man, and Marshall at the nickel is comfortng,I think R Jones has to come thru, we need to see some of these draft picks play at a high level, or like Ck said, safety will be a priority in next years draft.
If anyone gets a chance that Vontae interview was good..I really think all this aggressive talk is not just talk..his reactions we're priceless..Vontae says that Coyles has been on his *** for every little thing, as he says that he just sits there shaking his head while laughing.I really feel like if Vontae continues to refine his technique, he could be a top 5 corner, he's such an explosive athlete, it really is quite scary.
And he's been a solid player for most of those years. There's more to just intercepting the ball. He did intercept 3 in a previous season, as I recall.
My thought on McDonald is right now, overrated. Need to see more than just big time closing speed. Markelle Martin had closing speed and he fell to the late rounds.
Part of me wonders if I overrated him just because I appreciate how he's different from Ray Ray Armstrong (smarter). But when I look at it, he's 6'2" and 200 lbs, very good size, he seems like he's got really good speed maybe around the 4.52 range, and I find he's always playing smart. Intercepting the ball is pretty important but like 98% of your job at that position won't involve intercepting a pass...and like I said I think he's had 3 in a season before so it's not like he's incapable. I think Ray Ray is more of the specimen looking 'wow' guy but he's just never wisened up the way I hoped he would have. But Telemaque is just constantly there for the team, in the spots he needs to be, making tackles and stops, getting to the ball in coverage. Certainly not perfect but just very solid and the kind of guy I'd like to have on my team. I'll be interested to see how he does this year. There are rumors he's being demoted and I think that would be a mistake.
I think I prefer Clemons laying the wood more than I'm scared of Jones in space. The play that I keep coming back to is the fumble which wasn't actually a fumble but was actually a fumble but nobody recovered it where he laid out Ben Roethlisberger.
big C and I have been having this discussion and we just can't seem to come to a conclusion, my thoughts are I know that Chris Clemons can be an in the box safety, his range, speed, and disposition while tackling make him a playmaker in that range, we know he's not the best tracker of the football and that he has stone hands, I've seen this kid dominate a football game before ( two years ago, first game against buffalo, on the road, he was outstanding), I've seen a more aggressive style with Clemons in the box than I do with RJ, so I'm hoping that Rj has a bit more ball skills in the deep range, then of course the wild card is Jimmy, he just might come out of nowhere and blow this sh&& up, instincts seem to be very good, speed is there, he's not tall, but he's agreessive so we'll see come preseason.
Maybe he can improve, but after last year, IMO, anybody but Jones playing the deep center. Whatever has to be done to make that happen is ok by me.
i remember that buffalo game too, there was a pass in the flat to spiller or whoever it was that looked like a big gainer, but then in no time clemons came flying into the picture and nailed him pretty good.
Maybe we fans too often focus on one or a small handful of memorable plays to form the basis of our opinions on players. DJ or someone else maybe mentioned the hit on big Ben at the goal line that forced the fumble that should have won the 2010 Steelers game for us as a testament to why Clemons should be the strong safety. For me, when it comes to Jones, I still think first of that terrible angle he took on that 99 yd TD pass to Welker last season. He was the last line of defense and he sure seemed to totally disregard that responsibility. IMO, Sapp was cut mainly due to this play, and while his technique stunk on that play, Jones deserved the same fate then as Sapp. 50% of the reason to me that Sapp was made a scapegoat was because of Jones. Also, when it comes to the in the box role for a safety, I think Jones can handle that about as well as Clemons. But, Chris is also our fastest DB, and seems to understand the concept of no one should get behind him much better. In the the vein of not allowing long TD passes or big plays, I want the speedy and more heady Clemons on the back end if it is up to me.
you make a good point, if he could catch, we might not even be having this conversation.. I like watching the kid play ball, he's got some nastiness in him, and some nice athletic ability, I want to see one more solid chance before I go into next years draft, I think he'll surprise. Is this his third system?
I don't know if we really have all the right players to fill the positions, but Coyle should know better than any of us who he wants at pure CB, FS, SS, and Nickel Back. Agree the DB's will be high priority next year's draft. Along with a major pass rusher to compliment Cam Wake.
