Al Golden demanding versatility from DBs

[SunsetBengal]

He's asking every CB on the roster to play both slot and boundary, which is great for every CB to be completely familiar with the responsibilities of every role in a coverage scheme and understanding how they all work together as a unit.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/nfl/how-bengals-dc-al-golden-is-shaking-up-practices-already/ar-AA1F55Zb?ocid=msedgntp&pc=U531&cvid=a5f291cbb2274b818312d18d835a00c1&ei=31

Quote:New Cincinnati Bengals defensive coordinator Al Golden is adding a new wrinkle to the secondary this offseason.

That's already showing up at spring workouts, too, as cornerbacks coach Charles Burks puts Golden's overarching plan into action.

According to Geoff Hobson of Bengals.com, every cornerback able to participate so far is working both the boundary positions and the slot.

"With a new scheme, you want those guys to understand the big picture of what and why it's being coached," Burks said, per Hobson. "Everybody in that room is going to have experience playing multiple positions. It's about building a defensive back, not a position."

That means guys like DJ Turner will get reps at both spots and even someone such as sophomore Josh Newton will get outside reps while projecting as a possible long-term replacement for Dax Hill.

Hill is the most notable, even though he's working back slower than most due to last year's injury. There's been some debate and speculation about where he might ultimately line up in the secondary, but he certainly has the versatility for both.

This time of year, though, helping players get more reps in a way that helps them be more versatile on the field can, if nothing else, prove useful in emergency situations.

[*Synric*]

That...and he probably hasn't decided who is playing where lol. Someone is going to start taking the majority of the slot reps on 1st team. Newton, Hill, or CTB.

[SunsetBengal]

(Yesterday, 12:15 PM)Synric Wrote: That...and he probably hasn't decided who is playing where lol. Someone is going to start taking the majority of the slot reps on 1st team. Newton, Hill, or CTB.

It would be nice to see Newton carve out a role for himself as a starter. I ultimately see CTB remaining a boundary CB. Not only for his better speed, but because I don't view him as physical enough to thrive in the slot role. Hill will be interesting to see where he lands in Golden's secondary. Obviously we'd like him on the boundary, but I would also not mind seeing him playing deep Safety. Communications should be much more simplified under Golden than Anarumo, and I'd much rather see Hill with his 4.38 speed back there over Geno Stone with his 4.62..

[*PhilHos*]

Didn't Paul Guenther have a similar philosophy but with the whole defense?

[SunsetBengal]

(Yesterday, 01:13 PM)PhilHos Wrote: Didn't Paul Guenther have a similar philosophy but with the whole defense?

Idk, Phil. Paulley G took over a strong, veteran defense where the roles were all pretty well clearly defined. There wasn't a whole lotta needing to see who fits best where, or any of that type of stuff.

[*Nate (formerly eliminate08)*]

(Yesterday, 08:45 AM)SunsetBengal Wrote: He's asking every CB on the roster to play both slot and boundary, which is great for every CB to be completely familiar with the responsibilities of every role in a coverage scheme and understanding how they all work together as a unit.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/nfl/how-bengals-dc-al-golden-is-shaking-up-practices-already/ar-AA1F55Zb?ocid=msedgntp&pc=U531&cvid=a5f291cbb2274b818312d18d835a00c1&ei=31

The thing about Mike Hilton was he was purely a Slot Corner so that would kind of hamper guys playing there so this does make sense and
you do want versatility from your Secondary. I like both DJ Turner and Fig Newton as young players at DB. Sounds like Dax isn't coming back
from the injury as fast as hoped which is a bit of a downer. I thought he would flourish in the Slot.

[Luvnit2]

It is a great idea. It also creates competition for every CB position, the best in camps becomes the starters. Who knows Newton may beat out out others at the slot?

[SunsetBengal]

(Yesterday, 01:29 PM)Nate (formerly eliminate08) Wrote: The thing about Mike Hilton was he was purely a Slot Corner so that would kind of hamper guys playing there so this does make sense and
you do want versatility from your Secondary. I like both DJ Turner and Fig Newton as young players at DB. Sounds like Dax isn't coming back
from the injury as fast as hoped which is a bit of a downer. I thought he would flourish in the Slot.

Sure, Dax could play slot. However, I kinda feel like that would be a bit of a waste of his talents and physical traits. If they put him anywhere else than boundary corner, I'd like to see him be the FS, covering the deep middle. Dax' 4.38 speed can cover a hell of a lot more ground than Geno Stone and is 4.62.

[jj22]

I don’t know where Hill will end up. Coming off injury he may lose ground to CTB and Turner.

What I hope is Golden remembers we were at our best when Flowers could erase a TE. Keep an eye on Ivy in that role.

The door was slammed shut on a Hilton reunion. If only for his run/pass blitz packages. Hopefully the young guns took great notes  

[J24]

(Yesterday, 01:29 PM)Nate (formerly eliminate08) Wrote: The thing about Mike Hilton was he was purely a Slot Corner so that would kind of hamper guys playing there so this does make sense and
you do want versatility from your Secondary. I like both DJ Turner and Fig Newton as young players at DB. Sounds like Dax isn't coming back
from the injury as fast as hoped which is a bit of a downer. I thought he would flourish in the Slot.

Ideal secondary imo- 
BCB- CBT, Turner
NB- Newton+ Hill in passing situations 
SS- Hill
FS- FA + Stone in nickle situations

(10 hours ago)SunsetBengal Wrote: Sure, Dax could play slot. However, I kinda feel like that would be a bit of a waste of his talents and physical traits. If they put him anywhere else than boundary corner, I'd like to see him be the FS, covering the deep middle. Dax' 4.38 speed can cover a hell of a lot more ground than Geno Stone and is 4.62.

The FS Experiment had mixed results; He would be a better candidate for SS/NB similar to how the Ravens use Hamilton and how the lions use Branch. His ability to defend the run, blitz, and man coverage ability is best suited near the line of scrimmage.
I think you do have an argument that he is the best candidate  for the FS position on the team and perhaps even Boundary CB but those are not his best positions.

[Joelist]

I expect a good part of this is avoiding confusion in the secondary. If all the players out there understand every role in a given coverage set then the odds of broken coverages arising from players not knowing where to be are less.

[SunsetBengal]

(8 hours ago)J24 Wrote: Ideal secondary imo- 
BCB- CBT, Turner
NB- Newton+ Hill in passing situations 
SS- Hill
FS- FA + Stone in nickle situations


The FS Experiment had mixed results; He would be a better candidate for SS/NB similar to how the Ravens use Hamilton and how the lions use Branch. His ability to defend the run, blitz, and man coverage ability is best suited near the line of scrimmage.
I think you do have an argument that he is the best candidate  for the FS position on the team and perhaps even Boundary CB but those are not his best positions.

Was the FS experiment jaded, due to Anarumo's complicated schemes that obviously required seasoned veterans to execute properly, or because Dax was too dim to run and defend? I'm going with the former. Why? Because the entire defense, even the patchwork of backups in the secondary played remarkably better after everything was "simplified". As we saw with the Bill Lazor experiment at OC that year, a brilliant coach can come up with the best laid plans and schemes, but it means nothing if it can't be easily communicated to the people executing said plan.

In other words, I'm fully on board with Golden's approach of having all DBs play all of the positions, in order to fully know and have tactile executed the responsibilities for each and every role in his coverage schemes.

[J24]

(8 hours ago)SunsetBengal Wrote: Was the FS experiment jaded, due to Anarumo's complicated schemes that obviously required seasoned veterans to execute properly, or because Dax was too dim to run and defend? I'm going with the former. Why? Because the entire defense, even the patchwork of backups in the secondary played remarkably better after everything was "simplified". As we saw with the Bill Lazor experiment at OC that year, a brilliant coach can come up with the best laid plans and schemes, but it means nothing if it can't be easily communicated to the people executing said plan.

In other words, I'm fully on board with Golden's approach of having all DBs play all of the positions, in order to fully know and have tactile executed the responsibilities for each and every role in his coverage schemes.

It was probably a multitude of reasons why he wasn't successful at that position.  I would say that he was primarily a SS/NB in college and moving to FS is a he'll of an adjustment for a player to make. 

In college he played 1,214 snaps at SS/NB vs 311 at FS vs 68 at CB/DL. So he roughly played 20% of the snaps at FS. (According to PFF)

[*TheLeonardLeap*]

(Yesterday, 01:29 PM)Nate (formerly eliminate08) Wrote: The thing about Mike Hilton was he was purely a Slot Corner so that would kind of hamper guys playing there so this does make sense and
you do want versatility from your Secondary. I like both DJ Turner and Fig Newton as young players at DB. Sounds like Dax isn't coming back
from the injury as fast as hoped which is a bit of a downer. I thought he would flourish in the Slot.

Personally I just want guys who can play at least 1 position in the secondary well. I'd worry about versatility well after that. If I have Richard Sherman who plays outside only, and one side of the field only, but plays it very well, I don't see that as a problem. Just let him be great there. Same if I had a Chris Harris Jr in the slot, don't be like "but can you also play safety?".

Versatility in my mind is for backups. Cody Ford as a backup LT/LG/RG/RT is valuable. I don't need Anthony Munoz to learn to also play C and RT.