Fencer
Pro Bowl Player
- Joined
- Oct 2, 2006
- Messages
- 14,293
- Reaction score
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http://www.bostonherald.com/sports/...wn_seizing_control_of_starting_cornerback_job
The article is actually about Tarell Brown, but other points get made as well.
I think the signs are in favor of a 3-safety nickel, simply because that's where the healthy talent is concentrated. I mean this in the sense of a classic nickel, with 6 "Front 7" players and 5 DBs on a passing down. McCourty has lined up in a kind of CB role on passing downs frequently in recent seasons anyway, so as to more easily fit him and Harmon onto the field at the same time.
I wouldn't necessarily suggest that there will be much Big Nickel in the sense of a SS playing LB on what is otherwise a base defense, just because we have three highly paid LBs who, if healthy -- not that durability is their long suit -- should all be on the field whenever it makes sense for them to be. To look at it another way, the top hybrid SS/LB these days is Collins, not a DB.
The article is actually about Tarell Brown, but other points get made as well.
I think the signs are in favor of a 3-safety nickel, simply because that's where the healthy talent is concentrated. I mean this in the sense of a classic nickel, with 6 "Front 7" players and 5 DBs on a passing down. McCourty has lined up in a kind of CB role on passing downs frequently in recent seasons anyway, so as to more easily fit him and Harmon onto the field at the same time.
I wouldn't necessarily suggest that there will be much Big Nickel in the sense of a SS playing LB on what is otherwise a base defense, just because we have three highly paid LBs who, if healthy -- not that durability is their long suit -- should all be on the field whenever it makes sense for them to be. To look at it another way, the top hybrid SS/LB these days is Collins, not a DB.
