How will Capers change the secondary/coverage scheme?

[BradyManny]

For those that have more than my pedestrian knowledge of scheme - will we still run the soft zone cover 3 next season? Big cushions on wideouts, preventing anything deep, letting Rodney come up into the box...will that go away? Will we go for something more aggressive?

Anyone with more insight into Capers' coverages in the past, what changes can we expect to the Pats philosophy in the secondary?

 

[MoLewisrocks]

For those that have more than my pedestrian knowledge of scheme - will we still run the soft zone cover 3 next season? Big cushions on wideouts, preventing anything deep, letting Rodney come up into the box...will that go away? Will we go for something more aggressive?

Anyone with more insight into Capers' coverages in the past, what changes can we expect to the Pats philosophy in the secondary?

I doubt they have a plan in place to change coverage pending filling out the roster. Scheme is only as good as and therefore dependent on the players who execute it. And while they may have players identified with an eye toward specific scheme, they have yet to acquire any.

 

[BradyManny]

I doubt they have a plan in place to change coverage pending filling out the roster. Scheme is only as good as and therefore dependent on the players who execute it. And while they may have players identified with an eye toward specific scheme, they have yet to acquire any.

Fair enough. But I think Samuel - most likely - leaving and Hobbs becoming the #1 corner would lend itself to a change in philosophy. Despite his size, we've always said on this board that Hobbs is a more physical DB than Samuel and probably a better man cover than Asante. So change is in order, but Ill agree they may have to wait for the roster to shape up to decide what that change will be.

 

[d.finn.patsfan.]

He gained most of his notority in Pittsburgh with the zone blitz (yes i know he didn't create it, but he used it a lot). Maybe we'll see more of that and more pressure defense, but in all honesty i have no idea what happens to the secondary. Samuel is leaving, Harrison has 1 more year, so we can go any direction (be it zone or man) in the secondary and don't have a real committment to the cover 3. My opinion is that we keep the cover 3 for the most part, but it could entirely depend on who we sign in FA and the draft.

 

[BradyManny]

He gained most of his notority in Pittsburgh with the zone blitz (yes i know he didn't create it, but he used it a lot). Maybe we'll see more of that and more pressure defense, but in all honesty i have no idea what happens to the secondary. Samuel is leaving, Harrison has 1 more year, so we can go any direction (be it zone or man) in the secondary and don't have a real committment to the cover 3. My opinion is that we keep the cover 3 for the most part, but it could entirely depend on who we sign in FA and the draft.

Meriweather seems perfect for cover 3 with his range and speed, but I just don't like how little pressure our CBs put on the receivers, and its a function of scheme. Hobbs is probably a more effective DB when he gets up on the line, and in general, I think - as we found out ourselves based on how other teams play us - a more aggressive secondary is simply more effective.

 

[d.finn.patsfan.]

Meriweather seems perfect for cover 3 with his range and speed, but I just don't like how little pressure our CBs put on the receivers, and its a function of scheme. Hobbs is probably a more effective DB when he gets up on the line, and in general, I think - as we found out ourselves based on how other teams play us - a more aggressive secondary is simply more effective.

yeah Meriweather is a good fit for the cover 3, and i'm with you - we should be more aggressive. As long as the pass rush is good enough you can usually get away with that. A name to watch in the draft is Brandon Flowers. While he has character issues, if BB thinks they're not a problem and drafts him, expect to stick with the cover 3. VT ran a lot of that and he excelled in it. He's also a solid tackler and great in the run defense, which is remarkable (seeing as he's a CB).

 

[BradyManny]

yeah Meriweather is a good fit for the cover 3, and i'm with you - we should be more aggressive. As long as the pass rush is good enough you can usually get away with that. A name to watch in the draft is Brandon Flowers. While he has character issues, if BB thinks they're not a problem and drafts him, expect to stick with the cover 3. VT ran a lot of that and he excelled in it. He's also a solid tackler and great in the run defense, which is remarkable (seeing as he's a CB).

Interesting, I'm not too familiar with him as a prospect, but I saw Mayock had moved him up to his #1 CB. Sounds like a good fit.

 

[Patjew]

He's going to implement the Huge Nickel with Vince Wilfork at FS.

 

[signbabybrady]

I would not expect to much change in philosophy and if it does come it will be from BB. IMO Capers was brought because we have some young talent in the secondary and we might be getting more young talent (Hobbs, Sanders, Merriweather, Richardson, and any draft picks this year. Capers was brought in to because he should be real good at coaching up these youngins. This IMO is the maim reason, Yes BB will pick his brain about his 3-4 philosophies and Capers will input some Ideas to how the secondary should be run but teaching is his main chore.

The change in talent would have more to do with any philosophy changes than Caprs.

 

[Ring 6]

Bill Belichick didnt bring Capers in to teach him defense. Capers will do what BB says. That in mind, no doubt Capers will add some perspective and BB will pick his brain.
To suggest that the best defensive mind in the NFL all of a sudden said "Lets go get Dom Capers so we can change what we do because he knows more about defense than me" is foolish.

 

[BradyManny]

Bill Belichick didnt bring Capers in to teach him defense. Capers will do what BB says. That in mind, no doubt Capers will add some perspective and BB will pick his brain.
To suggest that the best defensive mind in the NFL all of a sudden said "Lets go get Dom Capers so we can change what we do because he knows more about defense than me" is foolish.

I wasn't suggesting that at all. But he will certainly have input, and I think his signing signals potential change - he didn't bring Capers in to run the DBs through drills.

He brought Capers in for a reason. That reason was that their season ended with a failure to stop teams in two minute drills each of the last two seasons.

 

[Ring 6]

I wasn't suggesting that at all. But he will certainly have input, and I think his signing signals potential change - he didn't bring Capers in to run the DBs through drills.

He brought Capers in for a reason. That reason was that their season ended with a failure to stop teams in two minute drills each of the last two seasons.

He brought Capers in because he is a good coach.
Who do you expect to run DBs through drills, coach them on technique, teach them how to read an offense? THAT is exactly his job.

 

[d.finn.patsfan.]

Bill Belichick didnt bring Capers in to teach him defense. Capers will do what BB says. That in mind, no doubt Capers will add some perspective and BB will pick his brain.
To suggest that the best defensive mind in the NFL all of a sudden said "Lets go get Dom Capers so we can change what we do because he knows more about defense than me" is foolish.

You're getting the wrong idea of what i'm saying. Belichick probably identified what he wanted to do with the defense, and thought it would be best to bring in a guy who has more experience than Belichick in pressure schemes and the zone blitz. While the pats and steelers run the same formation, there's really nothing else similar about the defenses. It's always good to add a guy that experienced who comes from a different line of thought. It would be more of a modification of the defense than an absolute change.

Does anyone know if a cover 3 and zone blitzes would work well together? I'd imagine you would blitz CB's and have safeties or linebackers fill that gap.

 

[BradyManny]

He brought Capers in because he is a good coach.
Who do you expect to run DBs through drills, coach them on technique, teach them how to read an offense? THAT is exactly his job.

It's PART of his job, but his "special assistant" title there isn't there just to hike up his pay. He has increased responsibility, no doubt.

 

[Ring 6]

You're getting the wrong idea of what i'm saying. Belichick probably identified what he wanted to do with the defense, and thought it would be best to bring in a guy who has more experience than Belichick in pressure schemes and the zone blitz. While the pats and steelers run the same formation, there's really nothing else similar about the defenses. It's always good to add a guy that experienced who comes from a different line of thought. It would be more of a modification of the defense than an absolute change.

Does anyone know if a cover 3 and zone blitzes would work well together? I'd imagine you would blitz CB's and have safeties or linebackers fill that gap.

I think its ridiculous that after 30 years in the NFL BB decides he is going to adopt someone elses defensive philosophy so then he goes and gets a guy to teach it to him.
We are not changing our defensive philosophies to what the DB coach believes over what BB believes.
Do you mean cover 2?
Zone blitz is basically a blitz with zone played behind it. Typically you play man behind a blitz. The basic principle of the zone blitz is to keep the recievers in front of you, get pressure and make them throw it 6 yards on 3rd and 10. There is no greater propensity to blitz corners, the common twist is that you blitz a LB and have a DL drop into his zone, in order to disguise where you are coming from.
Zone blitz is a PIECE of a defense, not a base defesne.

 

[BradyManny]

I think its ridiculous that after 30 years in the NFL BB decides he is going to adopt someone elses defensive philosophy so then he goes and gets a guy to teach it to him.
We are not changing our defensive philosophies to what the DB coach believes over what BB believes.

This isn't a monarchy, BB will take input. I view BB + Pees + Capers as a Brain Trust. BB is not afraid of change, and change is needed, both in personnel and in scheme.

You're viewing Pees and Capers as blunt instruments to carry out BB's will - I don't think that's the case, it wasn't the case with Romeo either.

 

[d.finn.patsfan.]

I think its ridiculous that after 30 years in the NFL BB decides he is going to adopt someone elses defensive philosophy so then he goes and gets a guy to teach it to him.
We are not changing our defensive philosophies to what the DB coach believes over what BB believes.
Do you mean cover 2?
Zone blitz is basically a blitz with zone played behind it. Typically you play man behind a blitz. The basic principle of the zone blitz is to keep the recievers in front of you, get pressure and make them throw it 6 yards on 3rd and 10. There is no greater propensity to blitz corners, the common twist is that you blitz a LB and have a DL drop into his zone, in order to disguise where you are coming from.
Zone blitz is a PIECE of a defense, not a base defesne.

so why would you make such a big deal about it? It wouldn't be a change in philosophy, it would be an extra element to an already successful scheme.

 

[fgssand]

He brought Capers in because he is a good coach.
Who do you expect to run DBs through drills, coach them on technique, teach them how to read an offense? THAT is exactly his job.

Zactly - he is a coach and a damn good one....he has tons of experience and will be just what BB needs to help teach the young secondary their responsibilities.

With Hobbs, Richardson, Meriwether and most likely lots of new faces - be they rookies or FA's - lots of teaching will be needed during training camp and throughout the first half of the season. Dom Capers gives BB that much needed help installing what they want to do, they way they want it done.

Other than keeping Rodney (the only experinced guy) - letting Zant and maybe Gay & Scott move on is a good thing. Fresh faces and talent is what they need. By the way...who is Tim Mixon DB NEP?

We need to make plays and stop these seemingly easy first down conversions on 3rd down, through the air from happening. It seemed like there was an inordinate amount of convserions at the worst possible moments over the past few seasons. That may be from a lack of pressure, poor coverage from our LB's (that will change this year as well - look for good cover guys coming in at LB) or just bad DB's - or a combination of all three.

 

[Ring 6]

It's PART of his job, but his "special assistant" title there isn't there just to hike up his pay. He has increased responsibility, no doubt.

He has a ton of knowledge and experience. It doesnt mean that BB has decided after 30 years that what he believes about defense is now all wrong, and he is abandoning his concepts for Dom Capers'.
The fact that the guy has a different viewpoint, means that BB will consider that different viewpoint WITHIN what he does. Many of these posts are suggesting that since BB and Capers have different philosophies, the Patriots are going to play Capers style of defense, implying that BB has decided Capers knows more about defense that him. Ridiculous.

 

[BradyManny]

He has a ton of knowledge and experience. It doesnt mean that BB has decided after 30 years that what he believes about defense is now all wrong, and he is abandoning his concepts for Dom Capers'.
The fact that the guy has a different viewpoint, means that BB will consider that different viewpoint WITHIN what he does. Many of these posts are suggesting that since BB and Capers have different philosophies, the Patriots are going to play Capers style of defense, implying that BB has decided Capers knows more about defense that him. Ridiculous.

Who implied that? I implied that Capers was brought in to fulfill a job, the job of making the secondary more effective, and that includes perhaps a change from their current coverage scheme, and that Capers has enough experience and a long enough resume to be given input into that change.

Nobody is saying that Capers knows more about defense than Belichick, but by your logic, it wouldn't be a stretch to say that BB would have to do everything himself and there'd be no room for coordinators and assistants. I'm not implying anything more than what I have stated above and I am most certainly not trying to say anything negative about BB.