For the second half of this season, safety T.J. McDonald — ramping up from a half-season suspension — was most often asked to play centerfield, while Pro Bowl safety Reshad Jones played closer to the line of scrimmage. Using McDonald more often in a hybrid safety-linebacker role in 2018 could be considered. “It could be,” Burke said. “(McDonald) has obviously got a skillset that fits like that type of role. Obviously, he’s a bigger safety. Again, the issue you get into is if you have small safeties and you put them down and maybe they’re too small in the run game or if you have linebackers that can’t run with tight ends, that’s just sort of the contrast. He definitely has a skillset that we feel like we can utilize.” ..... We’re a little thin at safety position right now to be honest with you,” Burke said before the season finale. “I try to work some different things. It has been… Again, it’s always a big picture in terms of how you’re utilizing the roster. Again, if you try to move T.J. down into the box or wherever, you’ve got to put somebody else in. As I always say, if you’re taking somebody off the field, you’ve got to put somebody in. We haven’t necessarily had the matchups to be able to do some of those things.” In the last game, Burke tried to use safety/cornerback Walt Aikens in a unique role. Burke has shown a desire to be creative, if he believes in the depth of personnel at a position as well as in the matchups he can create. McDonald is excited about the prospect of playing an entire season alongside Jones. And even though he made many of his most eye-opening plays when featured near the line in 2017, he is open to any role. Read the rest: http://dailydolphin.blog.palmbeachp...-mcdonald-be-a-deceptive-hybrid-weapon-in-18/
I think we could have, all we had to do is lose that game in week 17 to the Pats and we pick 5th instead of Jacksonville.
Xavien Howard may have had a nice go of it the end of this season, but I was so rooting for Myles Jack to be a Fin that draft.
I thought McDonald just looked physically imposing on the field. I thought he had a nose for the ball. I like the idea of using position flexibility with him.
Any good potential free safety's declaring for the draft - this would then allow us to use McDonald in this role?
That articled didn't really sound all that promising of it happening. Burke was pretty much non commitial on his response. "It could, BUT." Some coaches cannot go out of the box like that.
I've been calling for this for a while now. Todays TE's can't be covered by traditional LBs. The new tweener is going to be the safety/LB hybrid. McDonald is perfect. So is Jones. Need a true FS centerfielder to back it up. I would play a D whose base was 3 DL, 3LB and 3 Safety, 2 CB's. CB have to be press man coverage guys with speed. LBs need to be able to play DE and run blitz. DL needs to be space eaters and get a little pressure up the middle. S/LB hybrid types that can blitz, cover and run support. Man up on the perimeter, zone the 9 in the middle with some interchangeable parts and play fast.
I dont agree, neither Jones nor McDonald are hybrids and neither of them are very good at covering tightends. If you want a real safety hybrid that can reliably cover tightends he needs to be 6'3+ and 230+. McDonald and Jones are not hybrids. But then again in my opinion if you have a guy who is 6'3+ and 230+ who can run with and cover tight ends then you may as well play him at linebacker. No need to come up with some exotic alignment for that. Our problem for years is that we haven't had an athletic linebacker who can run and cover in ages. That's why we can never cover tight ends its because our linebackers suck at coverage. Just go get some real coverage linebackers and the problem will be solved.
That's what NE's base D has been since last year and basically has had the #1 scoring defense to show for it. They used a 3-3-5 with a Bear front to combat the run game and a Cover 2 shell w/ a true FS and two SS for pass defense but still had the ability for run support. Problem for us is we don't have a zero NT and two Strong 3 tech DT's to support that alignment as of now, nor a true FS or the OLB's to carry it out on the back end either.
Jordan Hicks, who most consider to be the best coverage LB'er in the league, allowed Kelce to have 8 catches on 10 attempts for 108 yards and a TD this season. Why?
The Eagles had Hicks shadowing Kelce for the entire game? Interesting. I don't believe it, but interesting.
Jordan Hicks is not the best coverage linebacker in the leauge, luke keuchley is, and Jordan was not shadowing Kelce in that game, those catches were not all on him. Fact is we haven't had a good coverage linebacker here in years. That is mainly why we have sucked at covering tight ends for so long. Has nothing to do with this hybrid crap excuse.
so I've been connecting some dots for a while, a couple years now, tons of signs and information to have the suspicion and conclusion. been saying it since last offseason, Reshad jones needs a player that is smart and knows how to communicate to be his best.. I don't think he has the intellect to communicate the defense nor the adjustments to his teammates..The past two guys we had playing there were by all counts good communicators.. once again this year as soon as Nate Allen went down didn't it seem like receivers were running free streaking all over the field.. if we have a good communicator next to him who can take that responsibility and allow him to roam and play free, he seems to excel, when his man goes down, so does the secondary.. on the other hand, didn't we play pretty well in his absence last year?..I believe we did.. I could be wrong, maybe tank and X are so young that their missing assignments.. I just hope TJ is that guy..
Maybe TJ, maybe Raekwon, definitely lacking the leadership somewhere. Agree Rashad plays best when he just gets to go.
I think Jones is certainly capable and intelligent enough, but these issues point out the importance of having a true FS. A FS makes the strength and coverage calls, and is also far enough off the LOS to watch the routes, and/or concepts unfold in front of him, all the while not having an assignment to a certain man in coverage (barring deuce coverages and vertical route pick ups), nor having to be overly-concerned about run defense. On the flip side, Jones has a different set of responsibilities on his plate and his focus is elsewhere. Jones is often within 10-15 yards of the LOS and usually aligns on the strong side of the passing strength (which limits POV), and can have the assignment of a certain player in pass coverage while also being an integral part of the run defense. TJ and Reshad are essentially the same player and we need a prototypical FS to run the defense from the top down.
That's why if I was in charge I'd be picking up the baddest FS in the draft at #11. Fitzpatrick or Edmunds would be my first choices with me leaning Fitz. However, I think Ro Smith could really help out this defense if Burke uses him correctly.
I don't have enough conviction to debate against what you said, its a hunch..I think he's a very good player, its just something that has been giving me pause as to how great.