OTAs, Minicamps, & Training Camp Thread...

[Chocolate Lab]

You know, it's just a little OTA video and nothing too big should be read into that either way, but I have to say that Loofa looks like he moves really well at LB. Not as a rusher, but in his drops and general LB drills.

We talked about how maybe he looks a little smaller than you'd like, but if he moves that well maybe that makes up for it.

 

[Cowboysrock55]

You know, it's just a little OTA video and nothing too big should be read into that either way, but I have to say that Loofa looks like he moves really well at LB. Not as a rusher, but in his drops and general LB drills.

We talked about how maybe he looks a little smaller than you'd like, but if he moves that well maybe that makes up for it.

All reports are that they guy is really smart on the field. He moves great.

What we don't know is how his instincts are when the game starts. That's where I have the biggest question. Everything else is great. But if he overreacts to shit and gets out of position it's a problem.

 

[Simpleton]

All reports are that they guy is really smart on the field. He moves great.

What we don't know is how his instincts are when the game starts. That's where I have the biggest question. Everything else is great. But if he overreacts to shit and gets out of position it's a problem.

Yea I watched a few games of his and he definitely moves well in space, he's explosive coming downhill and he looks solid in coverage with his ability to drop, his feel for pattern matching in zones, etc.

The biggest issue with him is that he misdiagnoses in the run game and overcommits, opening up big running lanes.

If Zimmer and the coaches can position him properly and keep him from having significant responsibilities to diagnose he could be a really solid roleplayer even as a rookie. Basically they need to give him narrow lanes of responsibility without overloading him, which shouldn't be an issue considering he's at best our 4th LB.

 

[Chocolate Lab]

Yeah, he may never be a Zach Thomas or Dat Nguyen, but I think better coaching can help some of those issues. A lot of college position coaches really aren't that good on all the nuances of the game.

 

[Simpleton]

Yeah, he may never be a Zach Thomas or Dat Nguyen, but I think better coaching can help some of those issues. A lot of college position coaches really aren't that good on all the nuances of the game.

And with that said, he was the lead LB on one of the best defenses in the country, so that's something.

I don't think he'll ever be a star but like many players, if in the right system I think he can be a solid complementary player/average starter.

 

[boozeman]

Yeah, he may never be a Zach Thomas or Dat Nguyen, but I think better coaching can help some of those issues. A lot of college position coaches really aren't that good on all the nuances of the game.

I have a feeling that they are downplaying how he was used as a rusher. He was even listed as an edge at times. Zimmer will have him on a few A gap blitzes for certain. If he is the right pick and Kendricks is still at a solid level, the group could be okay. A lot depends on the interior DL, otherwise it does not matter.

 

[Chocolate Lab]

. A lot depends on the interior DL, otherwise it does not matter.

And I don't see how that's any good. Biggest story that nobody talks about (not here so much) is how weak we are there. We have one pretty decent three-tech and nothing else. We're going to have to get super lucky at final cuts... or something.

 

[boozeman]

And I don't see how that's any good. Biggest story that nobody talks about (not here so much) is how weak we are there. We have one pretty decent three-tech and nothing else. We're going to have to get super lucky at final cuts... or something.

Feh. Apparently you have not been keeping track of Taco Mazi’s remarkable progress.

 

[Simpleton]

And I don't see how that's any good. Biggest story that nobody talks about (not here so much) is how weak we are there. We have one pretty decent three-tech and nothing else. We're going to have to get super lucky at final cuts... or something.

If Mazi can somehow morph into an average starter we'll be about equivalent to where we were last year, but that might take a minor miracle.

 

[son of deadrise]

Yeah they want to force the defense to play nickle or fear Deuce against a LBer in the slot.

Problem is, how do you even see a 5'5" receiver once he's off the LOS?

 

[boozeman]

Problem is, how do you even see a 5'5" receiver once he's off the LOS?

It is much easier to hide him behind linemen than have him on an island against a guy that may have nearly a foot in height advantage.

 

[Cowboysrock55]

Problem is, how do you even see a 5'5" receiver once he's off the LOS?

I mean you can see him but man does it create difficult throwing angles and lanes for a QB. To get the ball over a lineman but than hit a dude who is 5'5" can't be easy. So you suddenly eliminate most of the stuff over the middle.

 

[p1_]

 

[boozeman]

I mean you can see him but man does it create difficult throwing angles and lanes for a QB. To get the ball over a lineman but than hit a dude who is 5'5" can't be easy. So you suddenly eliminate most of the stuff over the middle.

The only way Vaughn makes it as a slot is if he is an extremely gifted route runner and we just have never seen it.

 

[Chocolate Lab]

Kind of sad that Jane had to revert to kissing ass, but she did drop a pretty big info bomb at around the 7 minute mark when she talked about Micah being terrible in the classroom. So he actually gets up and walks out of the LB room and wanders around to the WR or other position rooms during the week? WTF?

And that one coach or player said one reason he rushes so much is he won't stay in the classroom and learn the more complicated LB position. It's easier to just rush.

That's pretty damning IMO. Surely that can't be very common around the league.

 

[ravidubey]

Kind of sad that Jane had to revert to kissing ass, but she did drop a pretty big info bomb at around the 7 minute mark when she talked about Micah being terrible in the classroom. So he actually gets up and walks out of the LB room and wanders around to the WR or other position rooms during the week? WTF?

And that one coach or player said one reason he rushes so much is he won't stay in the classroom and learn the more complicated LB position. It's easier to just rush.

That's pretty damning IMO. Surely that can't be very common around the league.

Lawrence Taylor was similar

Guess it works while you have superhuman skill.

Taylor’s knowledge of the game though helped him in his later years, though, so he was able to make the transition

 

[p1_]

Kind of sad that Jane had to revert to kissing ass, but she did drop a pretty big info bomb at around the 7 minute mark when she talked about Micah being terrible in the classroom. So he actually gets up and walks out of the LB room and wanders around to the WR or other position rooms during the week? WTF?

And that one coach or player said one reason he rushes so much is he won't stay in the classroom and learn the more complicated LB position. It's easier to just rush.

That's pretty damning IMO. Surely that can't be very common around the league.

Not known as a student of the game I suppose. Or being very cerebral.

 

[Cowboysrock55]

Kind of sad that Jane had to revert to kissing ass, but she did drop a pretty big info bomb at around the 7 minute mark when she talked about Micah being terrible in the classroom. So he actually gets up and walks out of the LB room and wanders around to the WR or other position rooms during the week? WTF?

And that one coach or player said one reason he rushes so much is he won't stay in the classroom and learn the more complicated LB position. It's easier to just rush.

That's pretty damning IMO. Surely that can't be very common around the league.

I think it all depends on the coach. But I think Quinn was letting players run the show and Parsons has become what he has become in part because of that.

 

[p1_]

Micah may need some deprogramming.

 

[son of deadrise]

I mean you can see him but man does it create difficult throwing angles and lanes for a QB. To get the ball over a lineman but than hit a dude who is 5'5" can't be easy. So you suddenly eliminate most of the stuff over the middle.

He'd always have to start from the backfield or in motion. If he lined up from a fixed spot wide, the smallest DB in the league would stuff him. Be lucky if ever got off the LOS.