Ernie Sims, Philadelphia Eagle

Eagaholic · January 15, 2011, 11:14:07 PM

Quote from: MURP on January 15, 2011, 08:29:45 PM
the SAM usually has more pass coverage responsibility than the MIKE, which is what Stewie sucks at.

This is often true, but not in a cover 2, especially the Tampa 2 version which McDermott started using a lot of where the MLB can get burned on the deeper routes which hurt. Hopefully it will be managed better with the new DC.

ice grillin you · January 15, 2011, 11:35:33 PM

there is no defense in the history of football where the mike has more coverage responsibility than the sam...there are some schemes that call for more coverage than a mike is normally used to but never more than an outside backer...by definition the mlb is not supposed to run with people in the open field...if you have one that is decent at it then great but if any mike was that proficient at it he wouldnt be playing inside

Eagaholic · January 15, 2011, 11:50:24 PM

Quote from: ice grillin you on January 15, 2011, 11:35:33 PM
there is no defense in the history of football where the mike has more coverage responsibility than the sam...there are some schemes that call for more coverage than a mike is normally used to but never more than an outside backer...by definition the mlb is not supposed to run with people in the open field...if you have one that is decent at it then great but if any mike was that proficient at it he wouldnt be playing inside

wrong. In a Tampa-2 the MLB has responsibility of covering the TE or sometimes a back in the middle, especially on a deep seem route if he plays it man. Otherwise, as soon as he reads pass he drops back making the 2 deep into 3 across. This was the innovation Kiffin brought to the cover-2 with Dungy, using an athletic MLB like Shelton Quarles that can both cover and tackle. Not a lot are really good at it, Urlacher is probably the best. The Sam may or may not take a receiver released from the CB in an underneath zone or may or may not take a rb if he releases or rarely blitz if it's a base cover-2. At best he has as much responsibility and probably more than a sam.

SD · January 16, 2011, 05:40:27 AM

Eagleholic is spot on. The old cover 2 (Bud Carson style) relied on the SAM dropping into coverage. The new cover 2 (which is more like a cover 3) has the MIKE dropping back to fill the holes in the zone. Guys like Dungy and Lovie Smith added the innovation of dropping the MIKE back in coverage to fill gaps because they could get away with it since they had faster more athletic MIKE's at their disposal like Shelton Quarles and Urlacherzzzz. Basically I'm repeating what Eagleholic said but he knows his shtein. The cover 2 is mostly a zone defense as it is. You can call it whatever you'd like but McDermott was living and dying by the zone this season. There was a brief instance during the Packers game where he blitzed and played man and that was effective, then he dropped that and it was back to zone with no pressure.

Munson · January 16, 2011, 06:58:35 AM

In man coverage, yes, the SAM will be responsible to play pass coverage more often as his guy (the TE) will go out on a pattern more often than the MIKE's guy (either the RB or the FB).

But as ^^^^^^^^ just pointed out, in zone coverage, especially cover 2, it's pretty much the same/if not more geared towards the MIKE.

Diomedes · January 16, 2011, 08:29:47 AM

I'm not in love with Stewart at any position. If his supposed strength is plugging holes, then he's not terribly strong because I did not see enough of that to justify the glaring liability his coverage skills present to the opponent. He ought to be a backup and the Eagles ought to get some real linebackers.

Did any of you watch Steelers Ravens last night? There's some f'n linebackers.

ice grillin you · January 16, 2011, 08:30:40 AM

Quote from: Eagaholic on January 15, 2011, 11:50:24 PM
Quote from: ice grillin you on January 15, 2011, 11:35:33 PM
there is no defense in the history of football where the mike has more coverage responsibility than the sam...there are some schemes that call for more coverage than a mike is normally used to but never more than an outside backer...by definition the mlb is not supposed to run with people in the open field...if you have one that is decent at it then great but if any mike was that proficient at it he wouldnt be playing inside

wrong. In a Tampa-2 the MLB has responsibility of covering the TE or sometimes a back in the middle, especially on a deep seem route if he plays it man. Otherwise, as soon as he reads pass he drops back making the 2 deep into 3 across. This was the innovation Kiffin brought to the cover-2 with Dungy, using an athletic MLB like Shelton Quarles that can both cover and tackle. Not a lot are really good at it, Urlacher is probably the best. The Sam may or may not take a receiver released from the CB in an underneath zone or may or may not take a rb if he releases or rarely blitz if it's a base cover-2. At best he has as much responsibility and probably more than a sam.

bottom line is no mlb's are going to primarily cover te's...theres a reason they are middle linebackers and putting stewie outside would be a terrible mistake

rjs246 · January 16, 2011, 09:01:03 AM

Really guys? Enough.

Stewart Bradley isn't going anywhere and the LB core is going to be under-talented for at least another year. Arguing about who covers tight ends and who plugs holes probably belongs in the How Many Would You Hit? thread.

Sgt PSN · January 16, 2011, 09:11:07 AM

Quote from: rjs246 on January 16, 2011, 09:01:03 AM
the LB core is going to be under-talented for at least another year.

This. Getting rid of McDermott is step 1. But it's going to take more than 1 offseason to get the right players on the field.

Diomedes · January 16, 2011, 09:21:52 AM

Nah, man. We've got the players, just need some good coaching.

Sgt PSN · January 16, 2011, 09:57:48 AM

I respect the fact that you're high and/or loaded this early in the morning.

Diomedes · January 16, 2011, 10:03:16 AM

It is the Lord's day afterall.

LORD SATAN!

Sgt PSN · January 16, 2011, 10:19:01 AM

You get a hold of some angel dust or something?

SD · January 16, 2011, 11:01:31 AM

Quote from: Diomedes on January 16, 2011, 08:29:47 AM
I'm not in love with Stewart at any position. If his supposed strength is plugging holes, then he's not terribly strong because I did not see enough of that to justify the glaring liability his coverage skills present to the opponent. He ought to be a backup and the Eagles ought to get some real linebackers.

Did any of you watch Steelers Ravens last night? There's some f'n linebackers.

Damn straight and I wish the Eagles would draft LBs like that instead of these quick undersized guys. I want stout rangy mean motherfargers. Their draft philosophy defensively is horrid. I'm not saying Bradley is a pro bowler, but he was good vs. the pass and the run before he was injured. To me you go with your best guys and Chaney is suited for the middle and Bradley is better than Fokou.

Diomedes · January 16, 2011, 11:04:40 AM

I don't know how I feel about Chaney because I never played linebacker (or football for that matter) and I don't watch Eagles games, but he's the only LB on this team who shows anything like a mean streak, so me likey.