I recall Hammer being even less positive than you last offseason about Ray so I expected little of him though several others seemed more attracted to the attitudinal hype so common in today's sports world popularity. Hammer was similarly unimpressed with Stacy, Bailey, and Mathieu of the Cards. The two of you have spent a few camps together and have interesting views that differ sometimes. Where Hammer focuses on athletic potential and college productivity, you seem to be more of a guy who pays attention to whether a guy fulfills the role of his designed assignments.
Given this, it doesn't surprise me you don't look for Armstrong to see much field time. To me, it all depends on how he responds to Gregg Williams' leadership. If he adapts to the expected assignment accountability, I believe he has the athleticism, skills, and attitude Williams promotes.
Another factor I believe favors Ray is based on Williams' use of Dunbar in New Orleans and that frankly is my greatest concern about our defense in general. Dunbar actually improved his first year here because the more conservative approach had him out of position less frequently. This was my frustration with Jim Haslett. Because Ray is more explosive and better in coverage than Dunbar, he will flash big plays quite a bit but just as frequently blow assignments that cost big gains. I suspect Gregg will use him more on second and long or third and short when we see two tight end packages. For this reason, I see something closer to 10-15 snaps a game. It's not ideal but a product of us not getting CJ Mosley to fill that role and to back up JLau.
Hammer and I didn't always agree, and that was a good thing IMO. He invests so much of his time into the draft evaluations, and sometimes, it seems he backs himself into a corner with his opinions on players, and is very unlikely to back off from those.
I do tend to focus on how a player fits, and how they intend on using said player. I try to understand the "why" they are doing something, not that I always agree with it.
As far as Armstrong, my biggest issue is he just hasn't shown to be disciplined enough, in either his assignment responsibility, or in the ability to just "play the game". I am the first to admit, much of my issue is "style over substance" and that is MY issue. But unless and until he demonstrates the ability to just do his job, and let the play come to him, I feel he will go out of his way to try to "make a play" (go for the kill shot), which usually results in being out of position.
As far as defensive snaps, I just don't see there being as many as you (or most on here) seem to think. Given the overall usage of the Base 4-3, compared to the number of snaps in the "sub packages", I don't see it approaching the 10-15 range that you do.
Where I do see him having a role, is in the "30 Nickel" sub package, that they like to use in 3rd and short situations. They go to a Nickel (5 DBs) but take out one of the D-Linemen, and still have 3 LBs on the field. How much they utilize this package will change from game to game. But that is the one situation i can see him being used in.
The other thing that gets overlooked constantly, they did indeed sign a couple of FA LBs in the off season. No one mentions this. They are both unknown commodities, but they are part of the mix. McSurdy was added to the PS last year, and Sabino is a FA signed and released by the Giants last year from Ohio State. Sammy Brown is still "around" and has been used more as an OLB this year, with the signing of Westbrooks and Sam at DE.
Regardless, it will be just one more interesting thing to keep an eye on when training camp get underway.
