Pretty thorough breakdown. That'll be a shame if Harris is less noticeable out there for a changed role but if it makes the D better as a unit so be it. Interesting that Harris is apparently pushing 260.
Great post! I hate Thomas and have a gut feeling if Gholston doesn't show more that Ellis may be rotated to the OLB position in passing situations.
Now that would be interesting to see. Probably can be done too now that Pace seems to be a force on the line if tonight is any indication.
First of all, he mixed up RILB and LILB when calling them Strong and Weak. Second of all, I've never heard the term 'Ted'. I've always known that linebacker as 'Zip', but that's just terminology. Third of all, in your standard 2-gapping 3-4, there should be no difference between the ILBs. The time they change into different player builds is in a 1-gapping, penetrating 3-4 like what the Chargers and Cowboys run.
Thomas has looked pretty good this preseason, IMO. Don't forget the year he had 2 years ago, as well. We'd all like to see Gholston eventually beat him out for starter...but even than BT has a role for this team.
Iunno about all this...it's true that the weak-side guy is the best pass rusher but the real roles of 3-4 LB are to do everything. This is a defense based on disguising it's coverages and hiding the blitz. All 3-4 LBs basically should be able to drop back, blitz, stuff the run, and all the little inctricate things that comes with being a LBer. All of them. Part of what makes this defense so sick when it's all said and done is that the LBers can move inside and out...it makes the defense so much more confusing that way. It's not just that the best pass rusher goes on the blind side...like we all (should) know that. This defense works because the linebackers are intelligent, athletic, and can handle way more than whats typically asked of other players in simpler systems. Look at what BB has done with his LB corps over the years...Vrabel has played ILB and OLB...Thomas played ILB/OLB....Bruschi has played ILB/OLB...I mean the number one reason we signed Pace is because he did EVERYTHING in his D...NOT just got sacks. This is not a D designed to have one dominant pass rusher. This ia a D that fucks with the passing game. Look at what this D has done to Peyton Manning...he's stilll yet to have a dominant performance against it...and he's played *us* in our first season using it...like it's a fuckin coooooooooomplicated D. Think complex. The more guys able to do more things in this D the more possibilities for the coaches....Parcells and BB both ask more of their weak side linebacker than just to rush the passer...remembr what Parcells said when he drafted Ware? He wasn't trying to make him a great pass rusher he was trying to make him a great *linebacker.* ALL 3-4 LBers should: - Know the playbook like the back of their hand. - Know how to read an offense. - Be able to shed blocks. - Be good tacklers. - Be able to drop back. - Be able to blitz. - Must play the run well. Think about how much harder it makes for the offense to handle the D if everyone can do everything...theres a reason makeup is so important in this D you know...
When they chased Eli down for that 16 yard sack, you should get a load of who was pushing his man (a RT) all the way back on top of Eli....that's right, it was surprisingly enough ole no. 56. The rook was given a simple task for a change. Never mind, Son, just sic' em!
Most of the accolade went to his team mate in Michigan, Lamar Woodley. He went one pick above Harris to the Pittsburgh Steelers. A lot of people didn't like the fact that the Jets gave away so many picks to pick up Revis and Harris. Glad to see they are eating crows right now. Now lets just wait for Gholston to get it going. If I'm not mistaking, he started slow last year as a Buckeye as well.
And thats what I'd like to see more of. The CS needs to tell this kid "hey, on this play, your job is to sack the QB" - he has had too many assignments where he isn't on a pure rush. I'd like for Gholston to establish some credentials, even in preseason, before he is dropping back into coverage and doing all the other nuances of the position.
Well let's not go crazy here. We're talking about TC/Preseason in a guy's rookie year(an early entry rookie no less). This is essetially his senior year of college. It's crucial for his long term development that he gets a good idea of how the defense works, and the TEAM gets a good idea of long term, what he can and can't do. This is the time for him to make strides through trial and error. Once the regular season starts...hell yeah...put him in on 3rd down w/ the simple instruction of beating Light and getting to Brady. But in the next couple years he WILL have a larger role than that...so it's iomportant that he has a good foundation. That's what TC is all about.
good point. I'm watching the replay now, and Gholston was sent to the QB more this time around. He is pushing Diehl back with power alone, and Diehl is one hell of a LT. Gholston has it, and its fun to watch him progress, but he is a raw talent and needs good coaching to be great. The potential is insane, and even he is beginning to get it. He is also really understanding his assignments more. He was being honest in saying that he needed time to learn everything and he'll be fine. He's learning, and its showing. I think he makes his impact late in the season, but next year - I feel bad for QBs.
Someone made the point that he needed to get his "legs back"..from the big layoff between his brief minicap stint and TC. I thought that was a good point...his first step seems alot better now than it did throughout TC and even the first preseason game!
I just got done documenting each play that he did. He is making strides. Not huge strides, but very noticeable strides. He just needs that 1st sack to get the confidence up. I'll post my play by play in a minute.
