37 minutes ago, austinfan said:

Every DC mixes in Cover 1, but without a FS with speed and good instincts, it leaves your outside CBs on an island - so you'd better be careful how you mix it in.

JJ had corners who matched up one on one, so he could use box safeties, even bring his FS up and go Cover 0,  and not worry about matchups. With the change in rule enforcement and the difficulty of finding CBs who can consistently win on an island, that's harder to pull off these days. Al Harris would be a penalty machine in today's NFL.

Asante Samuel is a good example of a "zone' CB, he was average one on one, but if he had deep safety help behind him, was murder on QBs because he was so good at breaking on the ball - but that left him vulnerable to double moves and a QB who could use his eyes to fool him. With a safety behind, you were happy to concede a few intermediate throws as a tradeoff for his interceptions and pass breakups.

Short area quickness and agility are key for "zone" CBs, as long as they can cover underneath and stay with a WR for 20 yards, it buys time for safety help. And you can get these guys in the 2nd and 3rd rounds - but the great athletes who can smother top WRs are a rare commodity.

Which is why you're seeing more Cover 2 and its variants - if you don't have the CBs who can cover big play WRs, you keep your safeties off the LOS to stifle the big play and force a QB to dink and dunk down the field and then tighten up in the red zone where you don't have to worry about WRs getting behind the defense. But now you need more speed at LB, so defenses are smaller, and if you go for an enhanced pass rush with one gap DL, you become vulnerable to a good running game.

Red Queen effect.

 

A big part of the prominence of Cover 2 is that so many CBs come from college with mostly zone experience.  But I truly believe to be successful, a D must be able to vary its defense and disguise it well, especially in reacting to motion. But that requires versatility.  I disagree with your characterization of Asante Sr. as a zone CB.  When he lined up in man, he played off.  He was excellent in his positioning because of his extensive film work and had great instincts to couple with that.  But you are right about the need for speed at S.  That is why I hated the Harris signing.  

6 minutes ago, Sack that QB said:

 

Cool name....😏

1 hour ago, DEagle7 said:

I mean you also have to factor in the massive haul of picks they got here too. 

But yeah, Hill is not someone you can reasonably expect to replace.  They took a big gamble.  

Already have his replacement on the team, Mecole Hardman. Now 4.33 speed compared to 4.29 is pedestrian.  (Sarcasm)

White pickup should make a lot of people happy. If Howie adds Gilmore or Honey Badger, that’ll be a pretty splashy FA period for the defense. 

22 minutes ago, Sack that QB said:

 

So, another S to LB convert.  Slower than Taylor or Stevens, same sized but has performed in the NFL.  Hopefully a lower cost signing.  I just can’t see him on the field at the same time as Taylor.  Of course, that would mean that Taylor actually stayed on the field. Suspect this also reflects on what they think of Stevens.  Not much of an upgrade from Singleton and doesn’t impact the need to draft LB. Be interesting to see the contract structure.  So basically, Howie has filled holes and can focus on BPA and looking out at future years.  

28 minutes ago, Sack that QB said:

 

Dont know much about him but this is the kind of  deals i am looking for. Not stupid barnett

2 hours ago, DEagle7 said:

 

Speaking of mid round EDGE options, what's your insight into Myjai Sanders?  After the weight in at the combine I feel like he got totally written off but seems like his weight is back up after the illness.

More of a 3-4 LB or still a possibility for us later on?

Prior to senior bowl I was thinking 3-4 OLB. But he proved some strength there and Id be ok with him as a situational pass rusher for us. 

I also think since his weight came back up he will be back in to the round 2 range. I was afraid it was some mystery illness, but it doest sound like anyone is particularly concerned. Maybe just had a bad stomach bug. 

31 minutes ago, Sack that QB said:

 

Yep linebacker will be plug and play. They were never using a 1st on an LB when the DL needs to get younger and WR needs more talent 

32 minutes ago, Sack that QB said:

 

Howie! Nice!!

White is exactly the type of low-risk signing that makes sense.

White and Reddick added to the LB corps. 

Sign Mathieu and Nelson.

Draft the other safety, and some DL talent and this defense is legit.

 

 

I wish we could have gotten White on a two-year deal, but this is a really nice signing. Probably our second-best of the offseason. 

I would think he’d break out curse of crappy one-year LBs. 

Not sure where he got the terms from. 

22 minutes ago, lornemalvo4133 said:

White pickup should make a lot of people happy. If Howie adds Gilmore or Honey Badger, that’ll be a pretty splashy FA period for the defense. 

Racist. 

1 minute ago, ManuManu said:

Not sure where he got the terms from. 

 

3 minutes ago, ManuManu said:

I wish we could have gotten White on a two-year deal, but this is a really nice signing. Probably our second-best of the offseason. 

I would think he’d break out curse of crappy one-year LBs. 

Yeah I dont get why just 1 year. Too bad. If they want to re-sign him he will likely be earning more.

On 3/13/2022 at 10:43 PM, HazletonEagle said:

Signing

WR- JuJu

S- Mathieu

LB- Kyzer White

DE- Reddick (listing as DE because he has become more of a DE than an LB these days)

 

re-signing Steven Nelson

Extending Slay 2 years. 

Trading Minshew, and Cox

 

I had a pretty close prediction on this offseason so far.

Juju became Paschal.

Called Reddick and White.

Just need Mathieu and re-sign Nelson.

2 minutes ago, HazletonEagle said:

Yeah I dont get why just 1 year. Too bad. If they want to re-sign him he will likely be earning more.

The one-year deal was probably White’s choosing because he didn’t get the multi-year offers he wanted. 

Howie is having a nice start here to this off-season. Add a couple more budget pieces at safety & CB. Then kill this all important draft and we are looking at a sure-fire playoff team here & ultimate division winner. Good progress here from just 1 year ago.

Id love to see how these LBs are deployed now. I guess you have White and Edwards in the middle. And Reddick roam around?

Get Mathieu and Nelson in here. Trade for Foles and we are ready to compete deep in to the playoffs. 

Just now, HazletonEagle said:

Id love to see how these LBs are deployed now. I guess you have White and Edwards in the middle. And Reddick roam around?

Nickel LBs on passing downs should be Taylor and White. 

Just now, jojodancer said:

Howie is having a nice start here to this off-season. Add a couple more budget pieces at safety & CB. Then kill this all important draft and we are looking at a sure-fire playoff team here & ultimate division winner. Good progress here from just 1 year ago.

Always helps when you also have a winner at QB. Pray folks are healthy this year as this should be one of the best teams in the NFC regardless of the whining that takes place in here.

It’s only a one-year deal, but with White and Taylor at the will, I think we can cross that position off the list with any of our premium picks now.