🏈 CAN YOU GUYS DISCUSS OUR RETURNING/INCOMING DBs

[DIXIEDARLING]

in my girly opinion, Who can take Rashad's place? I don't think the other two were confident enough to make calls to get themselves in position to make plays. All the Offense has to do is pass deep on whoever is in the backfield and you have your big play resulting in 1st down or touchdown. I would like to hear what you all think or point me to that commentary. Oh, I am not discounting Arenas by far.

 

[TerryP]

This is really going to be a question we'll be able to answer better after spring camp.

Right now, there are a handful of ideas/combination's out there. I don't know if we'll be able to "replace" Rashad in terms of how well he got the defense set. Right now, I'd say we'll see Mark and Justin manning our safety positions though.

FWIW, more often than not, it was Marquis getting beaten on a lot of those big plays you referred to. I bring that up for two reasons.

1) He took Arenas' position at CB and Javy slid to the nickel back position. He played well from that position which has led to a few considering if he could man a safety type of role like Rashad. Just speculation, nothing more.

2) If there is shake-ups with the new guys coming in, the first position I'd look at in the fall would be someone taking over Marquis' position. Dre? Alonzo?

You see why we are still recruiting safeties and DB's when you look at the losses this year. We still need an influx of some great talent back there.

On the bright side of the defense...we are returning what, 20 of our 22 1's and 2's...?

 

[DIXIEDARLING]

DBs

Thanks for the insight on the bright-side with our returning/incoming DBs. I definately will be one in the crowd watching come A Day. Alabama has always been known for having good DBs, just was a pause this season late in the year when experience should have effected the last two games on a more defendable note.

 

[Guest]

After watching some NFL over the weekend I was unfortunately reminded of Kareem Jackson's tackling deficiencies as displayed in the bowl game. At that level a DB, when tackling a bigger WR, either hits, wraps up and if he can't take him down at least holds him until help arrives, or if he goes in with the shoulder without wraooing up, he goes in low (so as to knock the receiver off his feet) and drives through. Kareem has the speed and agility to play at the next level, but he definitely needs to improve his tackling skills.

 

[DIXIEDARLING]

After watching some NFL over the weekend I was unfortunately reminded of Kareem Jackson's tackling deficiencies as displayed in the bowl game. At that level a DB, when tackling a bigger WR, either hits, wraps up and if he can't take him down at least holds him until help arrives, or if he goes in with the shoulder without wraooing up, he goes in low (so as to knock the receiver off his feet) and drives through. Kareem has the speed and agility to play at the next level, but he definitely needs to improve his tackling skills.

and, also, remember to LOOK back at some point after being beat, he was in position to intercept moreso than tackle.

 

[Guest]

I second that. Are the DB's not taught to look back? Opposing teams threw over their heads often in '08. I don't see '09 being different if habits don't change.

 

[Argo]

I second that. Are the DB's not taught to look back? Opposing teams threw over their heads often in '08. I don't see '09 being different if habits don't change.

If our DB's weren't getting beat out of press coverage, it would be much easier for them to look back.

It's hard to look back when you are playing catch-up.

 

[TerryP]

I second that. Are the DB's not taught to look back? Opposing teams threw over their heads often in '08. I don't see '09 being different if habits don't change.

If our DB's weren't getting beat out of press coverage, it would be much easier for them to look back.

It's hard to look back when you are playing catch-up.

:lol: :lol: :lol:

 

[Guest]

So they can't keep up, or it's a physical deficiency in that they can't compete in press coverage? 20 out of 22 starters returning doesn't do much good if they can't compete. Which is it? Not taught, not learned, or they aren't physically capable? Or, were they in poorly called plays?

 

[jdpas29]

as far as the safety position goes, i would expect next years guys to be maybe out of position a little more often especially early in the season. Rashad made a big difference with his field sense and being in the right spot at the right time. that's hard to teach.

BUT... we will likely have Mark Barron and Justin Woodall as starters. both of these guys are good tacklers and they are both headhunters that LOVE TO HIT! i'm excited about watching them play together. i think the CB situation next year might actually be better than this year.

overall... i think the defense may be a hair better next year than this year because of the changes on the line of scrimmage.

 

[Argo]

So they can't keep up, or it's a physical deficiency in that they can't compete in press coverage? 20 out of 22 starters returning doesn't do much good if they can't compete. Which is it? Not taught, not learned, or they aren't physically capable? Or, were they in poorly called plays?

20 of 22 is referring to the entire defense, not just the db's. The fact that we were 12-2 speaks for itself.

With that said, Saban ask his cornerbacks to play on an island. IF they get beat one time out of 10 and give up a huge pass play, it shows. Our DB's didn't do bad this year.

Take the LSU game for instance. Javy was burned badly by Brandon LeFell on LSU's only play in overtime. Luckily for us, Shad was playing over top and recognized the play. Otherwise, LaFell would have had a great shot of catching that pass in the corner of the endzone. You get beat one time in man coverage, everyone in the stadium will know it.

 

[Argo]

overall... i think the defense may be a hair better next year than this year because of the changes on the line of scrimmage.

One thing is for sure. If we can get a better rush off the ends, it will help the DB's out a ton.

 

[alagator]

One thing is for sure. If we can get a better rush off the ends, it will help the DB's out a ton.

A-friggin-men!

As an ex-DB, I can tell you my man coverage skills were a WHOLE lot better when the opposing QB had to throw my way with a 300-pound DLman in his grill. Or for that matter a 230-pound LBer with a full head of steam on an unimpeded line to the passer.

This year, we had FAR too few of those instances.

 

[gumboman]

After watching some NFL over the weekend I was unfortunately reminded of Kareem Jackson's tackling deficiencies as displayed in the bowl game. At that level a DB, when tackling a bigger WR, either hits, wraps up and if he can't take him down at least holds him until help arrives, or if he goes in with the shoulder without wraooing up, he goes in low (so as to knock the receiver off his feet) and drives through. Kareem has the speed and agility to play at the next level, but he definitely needs to improve his tackling skills.

and, also, remember to LOOK back at some point after being beat, he was in position to intercept moreso than tackle.

I've often wondered about how the DB's are coached today. We were always taught to line up on the outside shoulder of the receiver and shove them back to the middle, which is where your help is. I heard a coach this year telling a DB to line up on the inside shoulder, to take the crossing route/ middle of the field away. Correct me if I'm wrong, but how in the hell can see what's going on with your back to the QB?
I think they are also told to play the receiver's eyes and replace his hands with yours when he tries to catch the ball. What ever happened to not letting the receiver behind you? If the receiver is in front of you, you can see the receiver as well as the ball and the QB....and you don't get burned deep. I'm sure there is a reason for this style of DB play, but to me it sounds like someone over-analyzed and came up with a different "style" of defending the pass. I dunno..

 

[Guest]

After watching some NFL over the weekend I was unfortunately reminded of Kareem Jackson's tackling deficiencies as displayed in the bowl game. At that level a DB, when tackling a bigger WR, either hits, wraps up and if he can't take him down at least holds him until help arrives, or if he goes in with the shoulder without wraooing up, he goes in low (so as to knock the receiver off his feet) and drives through. Kareem has the speed and agility to play at the next level, but he definitely needs to improve his tackling skills.

and, also, remember to LOOK back at some point after being beat, he was in position to intercept moreso than tackle.

I've often wondered about how the DB's are coached today. We were always taught to line up on the outside shoulder of the receiver and shove them back to the middle, which is where your help is. I heard a coach this year telling a DB to line up on the inside shoulder, to take the crossing route/ middle of the field away. Correct me if I'm wrong, but how in the hell can see what's going on with your back to the QB?
I think they are also told to play the receiver's eyes and replace his hands with yours when he tries to catch the ball. What ever happened to not letting the receiver behind you? If the receiver is in front of you, you can see the receiver as well as the ball and the QB....and you don't get burned deep. I'm sure there is a reason for this style of DB play, but to me it sounds like someone over-analyzed and came up with a different "style" of defending the pass. I dunno..

That is the problem with playing "press man" coverage and then not getting pressure on the quarterback.

 

[UAgrad93]

Their lining up on the inside shoulder as opposed to the outside shoulder is determined by the coverage called. As a former linebacker coach at the high school level, we taught our DBs to play the inside shoulder when we were in cover 2( 2 safeties) and play on the outside in cover 3( single safety in the middle). Different approaches are taught when you get in to man free and straight man, or even press man coverages.