While Corners/Leos are big cogs on the scheme I think the centerpiece is the single high safety...Earl Thomas.
A safety that has that type of range allows the defense to do what it wants to do.
Quote:But what if he's not Kevin Hardy? What if he's Lawrence Taylor?
If he's LT then you take him. But if he's LT, then he won't be there either.
Quote:While Corners/Leos are big cogs on the scheme I think the centerpiece is the single high safety...Earl Thomas.
A safety that has that type of range allows the defense to do what it wants to do.
This. The LEO and the FS are the big points in the scheme. Thankfully though we have good players at the luxury spots like SS. (i personally think Cyp will be better than Chancellor.)
Never thougth I'd miss the days where we won by the score of 9-6 but right now, I say bring it on. Bring the capital U back in Duval
Quote:I've never followed a team, in depth, that has outstanding production from an OLB so I'm biased and have trouble seeing the impact for us. Hopefully they pick the guy who fits the best to their scheme and plans, and if that is Mack let it be. From my understanding Clowney would be quite the LEO and allow for more versatility on the line. He could LEO downs 1 and 2, then move to 3 tech or 5 tech and allow Watson or another speedy linebacker play LEO. Two pass rushers without sacrificing too much run stoppinsg.
Four LBs come to mind...
Derrick Thomas, (Eleven sacks in one game).
Mike Singletary, ("I like this kind of Party").
Lawrence Taylor, ("Hey #??, when I get back in the game I'm gonna Kick Your (Bad word removed)".
Ray Lewis, ("You can't hurt me, I'm A Machine Jerk!!!").
These afformentioned LBs were game changers and I didn't have to follow their perspective teams to know this...
NH3...
As per the OP's question, YES all Ds need an game changing LB to be successful. Just look at our D within the past two/three years. Other than Poz our LBing crew were simply accounted for meaning they ensured the D added up to eleven players...
NH3...
Quote:This. The LEO and the FS are the big points in the scheme. Thankfully though we have good players at the luxury spots like SS. (i personally think Cyp will be better than Chancellor.)
This is something I have thought about and I don't think you really need a top flight FS for the scheme to work. Obviously a below average one won't cut it but I think a decent safety and good corners is what allows this scheme to excel.
Now I believe having Thomas allows you to excel in the scheme but coupled with Sherman I'm not sure I can really give all the credit to Thomas.
The safeties are allowed to roam and help whomever but if the corners are doing their jobs then the safety really gets to shine.
Quote:But what if he's not Kevin Hardy? What if he's Lawrence Taylor?
That's a big if... What if he is Santa Claus?
Quote:This is something I have thought about and I don't think you really need a top flight FS for the scheme to work. Obviously a below average one won't cut it but I think a decent safety and good corners is what allows this scheme to excel.
Now I believe having Thomas allows you to excel in the scheme but coupled with Sherman I'm not sure I can really give all the credit to Thomas.
The safeties are allowed to roam and help whomever but if the corners are doing their jobs then the safety really gets to shine.
Having a safety like Earl opens up what they can do heck in the Seahawk/Jag Defense thread you can see where they funnel 3 WRs that he has to be responsible for.....
Having a Safety that can cover the area usually covered by 2 safeties allow Kam to roam and them to disguise things and most importantly it opens up all of the defensive playbook....without a FS like Thomas im sure a good amount of what they like to do with a single high safety gets thrown out.
Quote:Four LBs come to mind...
Derrick Thomas, (Eleven sacks in one game).
Mike Singletary, ("I like this kind of Party").
Lawrence Taylor, ("Hey #??, when I get back in the game I'm gonna Kick Your (Bad word removed)".
Ray Lewis, ("You can't hurt me, I'm A Machine Jerk!!!").
These afformentioned LBs were game changers and I didn't have to follow their perspective teams to know this...
NH3...
P. Willis
D. Ware
T. Suggs
are 3 current LBs I would say are/were "game changers"
For all of the grief the QB position takes on this board, it amazes me how little is mentioned about this team's LBs. Outside of Poz, the LB corps have absolutely SUCKED for the past few seasons. In my eyes, both OLB spots are upgradable, and with as many picks as the Jags have this draft, likely will be.
Quote:For all of the grief the QB position takes on this board, it amazes me how little is mentioned about this team's LBs. Outside of Poz, the LB corps have absolutely SUCKED for the past few seasons. In my eyes, both OLB spots are upgradable, and with as many picks as the Jags have this draft, likely will be.
They haven't sucked but definitely upgradeable. I think we take a late round LB which might be Lamin Barrow from LSU. Kids a beast and very fast. I remember people specifically pointing out Gus working with him at the senior bowl.
Quote:For all of the grief the QB position takes on this board, it amazes me how little is mentioned about this team's LBs. Outside of Poz, the LB corps have absolutely SUCKED for the past few seasons. In my eyes, both OLB spots are upgradable, and with as many picks as the Jags have this draft, likely will be.
OLB is definitely on the list of needs. I do hold some hope for Reynolds and Watson, however. We may be pleasantly surprised by one (hopefully both) of them this year.
Hayes showed some flashes of good play towards the end of the season last year - but nothing that cemented a starting role, IMO.
Quote:Having a safety like Earl opens up what they can do heck in the Seahawk/Jag Defense thread you can see where they funnel 3 WRs that he has to be responsible for.....
Having a Safety that can cover the area usually covered by 2 safeties allow Kam to roam and them to disguise things and most importantly it opens up all of the defensive playbook....without a FS like Thomas im sure a good amount of what they like to do with a single high safety gets thrown out.
And this is where I disagree. In that article it talks about a lot of inside or outside leverage which gives the corner an advantage underneath and the safety a straight line to attack whoever needs help. It's more of a diagnose then attack.
Thomas is playing a very simplified role so his natural ability is going to allow him to dominate on this scheme but I do think a safety with range can be effective enough for the scheme to work because of the technique used by the corners
Mack is a perfect Leo in Bradley's scheme for all downs. He is not limited to Leo in only 3rd and long situations in this scheme. If they would want him to play LB and then rotate up to Leo, he's versatile in that fashion also. Mack's main strength over Clowney would be a relentless high motor player nearly all plays, whereas Clowney seems to 'turn it on' when he deems it important. I'd take either player.
Quote:This is something I have thought about and I don't think you really need a top flight FS for the scheme to work. Obviously a below average one won't cut it but I think a decent safety and good corners is what allows this scheme to excel.
Now I believe having Thomas allows you to excel in the scheme but coupled with Sherman I'm not sure I can really give all the credit to Thomas.
The safeties are allowed to roam and help whomever but if the corners are doing their jobs then the safety really gets to shine.
Earl Thomas is what makes the Secondary go, don't get caught up in the Sherman hype. Sherman can obviously play, but Thomas is the true difference maker. Sherman and crew are able to gamble as much as they do, because they know Thomas has their back no matter what. His range and instincts are incredible.
Why do you think guys like Browner, Thurmond and Maxwell are able to jump in and have such success? Because the main cog of that Secondary has always been back there at FS. For the last 4 straight seasons, every single game Thomas has held down the fort.
Quote:Earl Thomas is what makes the Secondary go, don't get caught up in the Sherman hype. Sherman can obviously play, but Thomas is the true difference maker. Sherman and crew are able to gamble as much as they do, because they know Thomas has their back no matter what. His range and instincts are incredible.
Why do you think guys like Browner, Thurmond and Maxwell are able to jump in and have such success? Because the main cog of that Secondary has always been back there at FS. For the last 4 straight seasons, every single game Thomas has held down the fort.
I can't believe we took Alualu over Thomas and Pierre-Paul
Quote:Earl Thomas is what makes the Secondary go, don't get caught up in the Sherman hype. Sherman can obviously play, but Thomas is the true difference maker. Sherman and crew are able to gamble as much as they do, because they know Thomas has their back no matter what. His range and instincts are incredible.
Why do you think guys like Browner, Thurmond and Maxwell are able to jump in and have such success? Because the main cog of that Secondary has always been back there at FS. For the last 4 straight seasons, every single game Thomas has held down the fort.
Don't get me wrong I'm not denying how good Thomas is and his impact just speaking in terms of the scheme itself. I don't think a premier FS is needed schematically to make this work that's all I'm saying.
The corners push the wideouts to the safety then safety has the choice of who to eliminate from the play.
Thomas is a top 2-3 safety period. I just don't think he's the main reason the scheme works.
Quote:Don't get me wrong I'm not denying how good Thomas is and his impact just speaking in terms of the scheme itself. I don't think a premier FS is needed schematically to make this work that's all I'm saying.
The corners push the wideouts to the safety then safety has the choice of who to eliminate from the play.
Thomas is a top 2-3 safety period. I just don't think he's the main reason the scheme works.
You're right in my opinion. It's the whole scheme that works. You have to start with a front 4 that can get to the QB without LB help. Then the corners play press man coverage and take away the outside, funneling the receivers to the inside, which means the FS has a lot less space to cover. He doesn't have to go sideline to sideline because the sidelines are the corners' responsibility. I know it's a lot more complicated than that, but that's what I got from the article Bullseye posted.
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2005145-have-the-seahawks-changed-the-way-teams-are-scouting-cornerbacks-safeties#articles/2005145-
But to me the bottom line is, if you're going to play that kind of press, man coverage, then the front 4 better get to the QB or one of those receivers is going to get loose for a long completion.
[ quote name="jaxjags625" post="160689" timestamp="1395873963"]I can't believe we took Alualu over Thomas and Pierre-Paul[/quote]you think that's bad how do you think the 2 guys feel that boarded the Malaysian airplane with fake passports that wrecked.