05-23-2022, 10:17 AM
Seems like the biggest buzzwords with NFL defenses are "multiple" and "versatile". The line is blurring between CB and FS. Strong Safeties are lining up as LBs. LBs are lining up as DEs. DEs are sliding down to DT. So lets look at some of the "moving pieces" Lou has to work with on defense.
First round pick Dax hall is a perfect example. He is a slot corner/nickel corner/free safety. Despite the fact that he is not very big he is very effective when blitzing. He can play anywhere from tight on the line to deep centerfield.
Second round pick Cam Taylor-Britt is an outside corner who also played safety in college.
Third round pick Zach Carter played both DE and 3T in college. Similar to last year's 4th round pick Cam Sample. Sample quietly played almost a third of the defensive snaps last year (310) with decent production. I think he played almost exclusively DE last year, but we are thinner at 3T this year. Both of these guys can play multiple positions.
Last year's third round pick Joseph Ossai has LB size 6'4" 250, freakish athletic ability (4.6 forty, 41 vertical), and was listed as a LB in college. However we will mostly see him at DE. But if you want to run a zone blitz it is nice to have a DE with 4.6 speed to drop into coverage.
LB Akeem Davis-Gaither has the size (6'2", 215) and speed (4.6) of a big safety but plays LB. The difference in the way he was used in 2020 and 2021 demonstrates exactly what teams are looking for in defensive players. His rookie year he was used a lot as a blitzer (once every 10.1 snaps) and not much in coverage situations (targeted once every 17.4 snaps), but last year he did not blitz near as much (once every 20.7) and was in coverage a lot more (targeted once every 10.3 snaps). I think Davis-Gaither will play a bigger role than many people think in our defense this year. Last year he played over 50% of the snaps in 3 of the 7 games before he was injured and they were three of our best defensive efforts (Pitt 10 points, Det 11 points, Bal 17 points). He was very productive 28 tkls, and 3 PD in only 207 defensive snaps.
First round pick Dax hall is a perfect example. He is a slot corner/nickel corner/free safety. Despite the fact that he is not very big he is very effective when blitzing. He can play anywhere from tight on the line to deep centerfield.
Second round pick Cam Taylor-Britt is an outside corner who also played safety in college.
Third round pick Zach Carter played both DE and 3T in college. Similar to last year's 4th round pick Cam Sample. Sample quietly played almost a third of the defensive snaps last year (310) with decent production. I think he played almost exclusively DE last year, but we are thinner at 3T this year. Both of these guys can play multiple positions.
Last year's third round pick Joseph Ossai has LB size 6'4" 250, freakish athletic ability (4.6 forty, 41 vertical), and was listed as a LB in college. However we will mostly see him at DE. But if you want to run a zone blitz it is nice to have a DE with 4.6 speed to drop into coverage.
LB Akeem Davis-Gaither has the size (6'2", 215) and speed (4.6) of a big safety but plays LB. The difference in the way he was used in 2020 and 2021 demonstrates exactly what teams are looking for in defensive players. His rookie year he was used a lot as a blitzer (once every 10.1 snaps) and not much in coverage situations (targeted once every 17.4 snaps), but last year he did not blitz near as much (once every 20.7) and was in coverage a lot more (targeted once every 10.3 snaps). I think Davis-Gaither will play a bigger role than many people think in our defense this year. Last year he played over 50% of the snaps in 3 of the 7 games before he was injured and they were three of our best defensive efforts (Pitt 10 points, Det 11 points, Bal 17 points). He was very productive 28 tkls, and 3 PD in only 207 defensive snaps.
