(06-17-2023, 12:42 PM)TheDuke007 Wrote: I won't quote the message because it is so long, so I'll just repeat the question and give my answer.
1. Coaching
Question: How would you grade Caldwell's performance as defensive coordinator thus far?
My Answer: I'll give him a C, but I feel like I'm being generous. I'm giving him a break because he was a first time defensive coordinator on a new team with a lot of new players including many rookies and other young players. I saw his actual performance as not being good. It didn't look like players always knew what they were doing. He didn't always put players in roles that played to their strengths. Some players seemed to underperform. He also wasn't good at making mid-game adjustments. I'm hoping he pulls a "My Cousin Vinny" and does much better once he figures things out.
2. Defensive Line
Question: Does anyone along the DL develop into a Pro Bowl caliber player?
My answer: I hope I'm wrong, but my honest answer is no. I don't see any of them as having Pro Bowl potential.
3. Linebackers
Question: What do you expect out of the LB corps this year?
My answer: It's a good question. I expect improvement. How much improvement will be one of the biggest questions going into this season.
Question: Which of last year's rookie LBs will make the biggest leap in performance?
My answer: Travon Walker. His competition is Lloyd who has the potential to take a big leap, but I'm not sure that he will. I feel more confident that Walker will take a step forward and has the potential to take a big step forward.
Sub question: What do you think of Abdullah so far?
My answer: I've learned to be skeptical of the speed pass rushers who lack size. They always look great on college tape, but it often doesn't translate well to the NFL. I also don't put much into mini camp performance. There's generally a speed versus size trade-off with players. When practicing without pads, I think it gives the advantage to speed players. It's not until the pads are worn that the small speedy player's weaknesses get exposed. It's the off-season, so I like to be optimistic. Some small speedy guys do make an impact so hopefully Abdullah is one of them. I see him as a "boom or bust" prospect.
Sub question: If you are a Gator fan, what are your thoughts on Ventrell Miller?
My answer: I'm not a Gator fan.
4. Secondary
Question: Do you anticipate the team signing a player to strengthen the secondary?
My answer: No. I'm not sure that the Jaguars are going to sign anyone significant at this point other than maybe Smoot. I think if they were going to sign a player of significance from another team, they would already have done it. If they did sign someone, a pass rusher would be the most likely position.
Sub question: Who will be the surprise contributor in the secondary?
My answer: Cisco. He played minimally his rookie year, so in some ways last year was effectively a rookie year to him. I think he can take a step forward. That being said, I think having Williams full time on the outside will be a major plus for the secondary. I know it may be unconventional with his size, but he just plays better there. I saw one rankings that had him as the 9th best cornerback. While I think that's high, I do think he played well on the outside. I'm also hoping one of our rookies surprises, but that's more wishful thinking than a prediction.
1. I am inclined to agree with your overall assessment of Caldwell. I don't know if you are being generous with your C grade, but I was less than impressed with the overall defensive performance underr him. Now that he has a year's experience as the defensive coordinator, and the players now have a year within that scheme, there should be improvement this year, especially given the division's three (3) likely rookie tarting QBs. But the sense I have early on is we still may be wanting more out of the defense. I hope he proves me wrong though. I'll gladly eat crow if he does.
2. Again we are largely on the same page. I was initially bullish on Devon Hamilton. Thus far he has not been what I would consider to be a dominant guy, but the team HAS thought enough of his play to give him a new contract.
3. I think this represents our first disagreement on this thread. I predict Lloyd shows the most improvement out of the LBs. Lloyd showed the most potential and athleticism out of the LBs last year. Asied from having to learn the defense, he had to learn an entirely new position-one for which he may not be particularly well suited. He started playing better later in the year, but I'm not sold he makes the biggest leap.
As for Abdullah, I've seen some nice clips of him, but I share your skepticism. A his success will depend on how he is utilized. He seems to be a talented all around LB who could be a relatively rare 3-4 OLB who could drop in zone coverage and possibly play decently in man, but I'm unsure how effective he would be as a rusher. Best case scenario is he could provide the pass rush equivalent of Elvis Dumerville or former Steeler Harrison. Neither of whom had the height teams typically look for in a 3-4 OLB but still wound up being effective rushing off the edge. My initial impression of Abdullah is he would be a better fit as a 4-3 OLB. We'll see how he translates. It'll be one of the things I will be watching most closely in training camp.
BTW, my fault for being so restrictive in soliciting opinions on Miller. I guess initially I limited it to Gator fans, figuring they have seen him the most and would be in the best position to provide insight regarding his ability to fit within the defense. But Duke's reply showed how unjustly limiting my question was. My apologies, Duke and to any others who may have been careless;y/unwittingly silenced by the phrasing of the question. Please feel free to chime in on this point if you have a Miller take.
4. As for adding a player to the secondary, I can't guarantee they will, but I think if the right person is cut, they could add someone to the secpndary. In retrospect, I should have posed this question in the Linebacker paragraph above, because a lot of the discussion thus far centered around possibly adding a guy like Danielle Hunter or bringing back Ngakoue as an edge rusher. But as to the question of adding a player in the secondary, I think they probably will. As for the surprise contributor, I am excited about Johnson out of Texas A&M. I think if Caldwell utilizes him in the scheme properly, he can improve our defense.
(06-17-2023, 12:49 PM)cland Wrote: I'm very interested in how Travon Walker turns out, as pass rush is key to all NFL defenses. Most agreed that he was a project at #1, relying on Bill Parcells 'Planet Theory' draft approach. This is just my opinion, but my concern is that Walker's natural position seems to be a 4-3 DE, but he's stuck in a 3-4ish defense. I think gaining weight and putting him as a 2-gap 3-4 DE wastes his elite speed, and 3-4 OLB and occasionally dropping into coverage wastes his size.
(emphasis added)
I don't think I ever saw him as having elite speed/burst for an edge rusher, which is what dampened my enthusiasm for the pick. Though I remain skeptical, I think a best case scenario for us is he develops into our version of Green Bay's Rashaan Gary.
Worst to 1st. Curse Reversed!
