(01-04-2023, 11:14 AM)Bullseye Wrote:

(01-03-2023, 03:12 PM)NYC4jags Wrote: Th optimism is great. Nothing wrong with it. 

But gambling on not adding an upgrade at nickel corner would be a very unwise move. 

The position has been picked apart by every quality QB we have faced this season - but recency bias is precluding you from that perspective. Because we have recently played back up QBs and linemen. 
 And the AFC is currently LOADED with QBs who would pick on the Herndon-types we attempt to field there. There is no path through the post season with that weakness left unattended by a quality defender. 

I have some faith that Caldwell is making progress too, but I think we need a real NB and stud interior pass rusher to man the spot when you aren't rotating Walker or Key.  Walker was always intended to float between 3 tech and OLB and I'm sure he will next year, but that doesn't fill the rotation enough and doesn't give you enough options. 
We don't know which journeyman will be back and we there are two 3 tech spots to man opposite the Nose Tackle in 3-4 looks.
Gotta have the bodies, and gotta have one that blows up pockets more than the current guys have done vs healthy O-Lines.

Not disagreeing with anything you said...but I've been wrestling with the CB/NB issue.

If we draft a CB high (1st or 2nd rounds), who becomes the NB? 

Let's say we took Porter in the first round. 

Williams works best outside, but I think he's a bit undersized and might be at a disadvantage going up against  a prototype X.

Campbell has developed nicely at RCB.

Do you draft a Nickel in the first?  I was open to the possibility a few years back (2017) but the circumstances are a little different now.

Furthermore, most slot WRs are smaller guys.  Can a guy like Porter turn and go with them especially when they have the ability to play off the LOS and avoid the jam?

I think the NB position is evolving right along with the slot receiver position. You and I have agreed on the slot WR position evolving in past convo. Most recent and obvious example for us was CeeDee Lamb taking 60% of his snaps from the slot a few weeks ago. Tre Herndon gave up a 94% completion rate to him in that game. (180 yards) 

We will see that type of strategy more and more moving forward. 

Your modern slot DB needs to be able to cover on that level. 
The primary difference to me isn't about body type or the traditional traits of slot corners as we've known them, but simply a gifted cover corner whose skill set is not largely titled toward playing boundary technique on the outside. He must be smart and diverse. 

The staff has to identify a DB who is physical enough to disrupt a TE route at the LOS and come up in run support, but smart enough to study an opponent's option routes and anticipate them, as well as know when to not be handsy - since the field judge is often right behind him.

Now - Caldwell has shown a willingness to run big nickel packages quite a bit, so they may seek a more finesse cover guy to man the spot and switch personnel when they want to focus on defending the run or even bumping a TE off of routes.
So there are different traits they may address when filling this position  - instead of trying to find a magic unicorn that's half honey-badger/half Deion Sanders. 

 We don't yet know what the mistake of putting Williams in the slot this year has done to this staff's outlook on how they'll address it next year. They may radically change course, they may not. 

Will be very interesting to watch what they do here.

I have not studied this year's prospects yet, so I can't yet comment which may be better suited to the position.

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