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- May 25, 2013
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This opinion is based on film study, I won't be able to attend camp til a week from Thursday.
Let me start by saying I believe Mo Alexander has a bright future but this is a redshirt year. The same goes for Christian Bryant, Greg Reid, and Marcus Roberson to lesser degrees. Beside the learning curve all three rookies face, health issues are also a factor this year. Think Barrett Jones...
The starting outside corners, JJ and TJ will flourish under Williams. Both will give up a handful of big plays by bad gambles but those will be exceeded by big plays that will impact games much more. Think of how the GSOT didn't worry about turnovers because they knew their aggressiveness would greatly outweigh the losses. Bottom line, rather than safe, soft cushions...QBs will have to gamble their receivers will win those battles outside.
LJoyner is our second best offseason get. While Donald will likely get DROY accolades, Joyner's development/success is the essential key to an effective secondary. Should he lock down the nickel role, JJ and TJ get to stay outside. If LJ is injured, JJ will need to go inside and we will have to hope Gaines is ready for the outside and he will be limited to zone coverage because he's maybe a couple years away from competently handling press duty. Sorry, I never want to see McGee or McLeod playing more than spot CB duty. Furthermore, when we have three linebackers on the field, I want Joyner in the FS role. While McGee or Daniels will be our best FS options in the nickel, neither have Joyner's juice in the base set.
Matt Daniels and Cody Davis both represent depth potential behind McDonald and Joyner. If they stay healthy, both could push McLeod. Their presence is important because they allow the redshirt guys to develop in practice rather than be forced to be liabilities this year.
I purposely saved McDonald for last. He is the one player with the pedigree, physicality, and intelligence GWill can trust for the big play role in the secondary. Face it, this will be a balls to the wall defense that will live or die by the big play. The aggressive mindset will make them feared but more than occasionally die by the same sword. TJ goes for kill shots and this leads to missed tackles. While he might improve by experience and film study...do you really think Cecil, Williams, and Fisher will EVER tell him to dial back his aggressive nature? Nickel, please... We have a budding Pro Bowler in our midst.
Let me start by saying I believe Mo Alexander has a bright future but this is a redshirt year. The same goes for Christian Bryant, Greg Reid, and Marcus Roberson to lesser degrees. Beside the learning curve all three rookies face, health issues are also a factor this year. Think Barrett Jones...
The starting outside corners, JJ and TJ will flourish under Williams. Both will give up a handful of big plays by bad gambles but those will be exceeded by big plays that will impact games much more. Think of how the GSOT didn't worry about turnovers because they knew their aggressiveness would greatly outweigh the losses. Bottom line, rather than safe, soft cushions...QBs will have to gamble their receivers will win those battles outside.
LJoyner is our second best offseason get. While Donald will likely get DROY accolades, Joyner's development/success is the essential key to an effective secondary. Should he lock down the nickel role, JJ and TJ get to stay outside. If LJ is injured, JJ will need to go inside and we will have to hope Gaines is ready for the outside and he will be limited to zone coverage because he's maybe a couple years away from competently handling press duty. Sorry, I never want to see McGee or McLeod playing more than spot CB duty. Furthermore, when we have three linebackers on the field, I want Joyner in the FS role. While McGee or Daniels will be our best FS options in the nickel, neither have Joyner's juice in the base set.
Matt Daniels and Cody Davis both represent depth potential behind McDonald and Joyner. If they stay healthy, both could push McLeod. Their presence is important because they allow the redshirt guys to develop in practice rather than be forced to be liabilities this year.
I purposely saved McDonald for last. He is the one player with the pedigree, physicality, and intelligence GWill can trust for the big play role in the secondary. Face it, this will be a balls to the wall defense that will live or die by the big play. The aggressive mindset will make them feared but more than occasionally die by the same sword. TJ goes for kill shots and this leads to missed tackles. While he might improve by experience and film study...do you really think Cecil, Williams, and Fisher will EVER tell him to dial back his aggressive nature? Nickel, please... We have a budding Pro Bowler in our midst.
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