One of my concerns after two weeks is our lack or press coverage by our CBs. If you have looked across the league penalties are being called by the bushels. The emphases on illegal contact is going to change the way DB's can cover and what they can get away with. We have not played a lot of press coverage with our 1st teamers and my concern now is how are they going to know what is a penalty and what is not if we are playing off the ball to begin with. Unless the plan is to never play press coverage, I don't understand why we are not lined up that way more so they can learn in the preseason how the illegal contacts are going to be called.
Maybe you guys have heard things on the radio that I don't get to hear. I know they don't want to show too much but at the same time you have to use these games as teaching tools also.
Thoughts?
I saw our outside corners play some press, but the TV angles aren't good to show that. In nickel, you don't really want to play tight press that often, because your coverage/responsibilities may change with motion, which you have to be able to see. It appears to me that we are working on responsibilities, trying to diagnose plays, and then break to meet the play.
You are right on the emphasis, and if we play 5 yds off, instead of 10, we can still make the bump, and read the quick one's in front of us. We don't want to give up home runs, but don't mind if they nickel and dime us in the time being. I expect to see more press in situations where we will actually use it, like when we blitz.
On my last thought, we have a lot of small corners, who are quick, and can run, but won't be able to win a long distance race without holding on long legged striders, who have a faster top end. Without pressure on the QB, we'd be giving up huge chunks...still gave some up, but it was because of missed responsibilities in some basic (easy to read) coverage for a top 5 QB who can see the whole field, and throw the entire field. I'll chalk those up to inexperience.
It will be interesting to see how the rules play out, and whether they are enforced against heavy handed teams like the Pats, and the Seahawks.
