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2019 Packer Roster / Practice Squad Changes
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<blockquote data-quote="HardRightEdge" data-source="post: 850306"><p>True 3-down linebackers are exceptionally rare. We had an illustration in the KC game. While KC runs a 4-3 with Hitchens an WLB, his coverage role is similar to a 3-4 ILB. How many 3-down 3-4 ILBs can flip and run with a RB in isolation as we see at 1:20 in the following clip? You can probably count those guys on one hand after a finger amputation.</p><p></p><p><a href="https://www.packers.com/video/packers-rb-aaron-jones-best-plays-against-chiefs-on-snf-week-8" target="_blank">https://www.packers.com/video/packers-rb-aaron-jones-best-plays-against-chiefs-on-snf-week-8</a></p><p></p><p>Even if you protect that 3-downer from having to run down field, he has to have the play recognition to effectively defend the middle zone. Dropping 5-10 yards, depending on down and distance, sitting down, and spying the QB might be the assigned job with a running QB. But when we look at the first play in that link above, a 1st. and 20 in what looks like a zone coverage, Jones gets that dropping ILB leaning outside and burns him inside on probably the best route Jones has run as a Packer. His progress as a receiver, the one deep ball drop notwithstanding, is pretty stunning. He's the second best route runner on this team.</p><p></p><p>While you won't face a RB every week who presents this kind of problem, there are enough Kamaras, McCaffreys, Joneses or [fill in the blank] in this league, whether 3-down or 3rd. down backs, where an ILB who can handle those coverages are like needles in a haystack. Games are lost in these matchups, and Jones vs. KC illustrates, if you don't have the right personnel.</p><p></p><p>To <a href="https://www.packerforum.com/members/favre-rodgers259.10866/" target="_blank">Favre>Rodgers259</a> point, lets consider one list of 2020 draft ILB prospects:</p><p></p><p><a href="https://www.draftblaster.com/2020-nfl-draft/nfl-mock-draft/2020-nfl-draft-inside-linebacker-rankings/" target="_blank">https://www.draftblaster.com/2020-nfl-draft/nfl-mock-draft/2020-nfl-draft-inside-linebacker-rankings/</a></p><p></p><p>I'm assuming this was written before Moses had ACL surgery but we can set that aside for this discussion.</p><p></p><p>The write-up says, "elite sideline to sideline speed to cover from the middle- an increasing need in today’s NFL." That may be, but a true 3-down ILB has do a lot more than play sideline to sideline as the Jones (Kamaa, McCaffrey, et. al.) clips illustrates. In the past few years I've looked at a lot of college ILB highlight reels and these guys are not covering downfield, or if they are they are not making plays that get to the highlight reels.</p><p></p><p>Moses is no different--run stops and blitzes. [MEDIA=youtube]fC7YRUa23Gg[/MEDIA]</p><p></p><p>There are couple of plays where he is actually downfield in zone coverage making tackles but we get no sense of his coverage ability.</p><p></p><p>Walters Football favors Kenneth Murray. Look at his highlight reel from last year. Same thing.</p><p></p><p>Even the top 10 picks from last year were an open book as far as downfield coverage is concerned. Their college highlights didn't show much past 5 yards from the LOS like all these guys. White is working off an MCL so we don't know where he'll end up. Bush has two picks to his credit and 6.3 yds per attempt against him, while giving up a 76% completion rate which isn't that bad when defending a lot of underneath throws from the ILB spot. He might be one of those guys you can count on one hand, time will tell. Then again, he was the 10th. pick in the draft. Good luck with that.</p><p></p><p>There's a reason why we see in Green Bay (and elsewhere) a parade of SS/hybrid types, guys who were trained in college in downfield coverage who can still make a contribution in the run game.</p><p></p><p>The least risky and most cost effective formula is to pair a two-down thumper with some sideline-to-sideline speed with a SS type. The problem with Martinez is that he is neither.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="HardRightEdge, post: 850306"] True 3-down linebackers are exceptionally rare. We had an illustration in the KC game. While KC runs a 4-3 with Hitchens an WLB, his coverage role is similar to a 3-4 ILB. How many 3-down 3-4 ILBs can flip and run with a RB in isolation as we see at 1:20 in the following clip? You can probably count those guys on one hand after a finger amputation. [URL]https://www.packers.com/video/packers-rb-aaron-jones-best-plays-against-chiefs-on-snf-week-8[/URL] Even if you protect that 3-downer from having to run down field, he has to have the play recognition to effectively defend the middle zone. Dropping 5-10 yards, depending on down and distance, sitting down, and spying the QB might be the assigned job with a running QB. But when we look at the first play in that link above, a 1st. and 20 in what looks like a zone coverage, Jones gets that dropping ILB leaning outside and burns him inside on probably the best route Jones has run as a Packer. His progress as a receiver, the one deep ball drop notwithstanding, is pretty stunning. He's the second best route runner on this team. While you won't face a RB every week who presents this kind of problem, there are enough Kamaras, McCaffreys, Joneses or [fill in the blank] in this league, whether 3-down or 3rd. down backs, where an ILB who can handle those coverages are like needles in a haystack. Games are lost in these matchups, and Jones vs. KC illustrates, if you don't have the right personnel. To [URL='https://www.packerforum.com/members/favre-rodgers259.10866/']Favre>Rodgers259[/URL] point, lets consider one list of 2020 draft ILB prospects: [URL]https://www.draftblaster.com/2020-nfl-draft/nfl-mock-draft/2020-nfl-draft-inside-linebacker-rankings/[/URL] I'm assuming this was written before Moses had ACL surgery but we can set that aside for this discussion. The write-up says, "elite sideline to sideline speed to cover from the middle- an increasing need in today’s NFL." That may be, but a true 3-down ILB has do a lot more than play sideline to sideline as the Jones (Kamaa, McCaffrey, et. al.) clips illustrates. In the past few years I've looked at a lot of college ILB highlight reels and these guys are not covering downfield, or if they are they are not making plays that get to the highlight reels. Moses is no different--run stops and blitzes. [MEDIA=youtube]fC7YRUa23Gg[/MEDIA] There are couple of plays where he is actually downfield in zone coverage making tackles but we get no sense of his coverage ability. Walters Football favors Kenneth Murray. Look at his highlight reel from last year. Same thing. Even the top 10 picks from last year were an open book as far as downfield coverage is concerned. Their college highlights didn't show much past 5 yards from the LOS like all these guys. White is working off an MCL so we don't know where he'll end up. Bush has two picks to his credit and 6.3 yds per attempt against him, while giving up a 76% completion rate which isn't that bad when defending a lot of underneath throws from the ILB spot. He might be one of those guys you can count on one hand, time will tell. Then again, he was the 10th. pick in the draft. Good luck with that. There's a reason why we see in Green Bay (and elsewhere) a parade of SS/hybrid types, guys who were trained in college in downfield coverage who can still make a contribution in the run game. The least risky and most cost effective formula is to pair a two-down thumper with some sideline-to-sideline speed with a SS type. The problem with Martinez is that he is neither. [/QUOTE]
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