long distance
Pro Bowl Player
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Some new JR discussions are rising in different threads so i thought we could open a new Jordan Richards thread.. another reason is thinking about position that is known as STAR position in college and is connected to BB.
Let's start with a couple of interesting quotes from another thread:
(hope @unoriginal doesn't mind)
Here some of my thoughts on discussions why keeping Richards..
1. 2016 was a regression to a not too impressive rookie campaign for Richards. The last meaningful snaps he saw (exclusively on ST) was SEA game. As we know after this game the last BB shake up followed and Richards slowly disappeared from the active roster. Chung and McCourty were core STers in playoffs which is not ideal id guess and can probably happen only under BB.
2. FF to 2107, first reports were that he had a promising start of the season with some PBUs and contested coverages of Gronk although it seemed he is mostly that one crucial step behind. Preseason games unfortunately showed the usual liabilities despite playing vs 2nd stringers. They were playing him at FS a lot at the beginning but it was ugly many times. It proved once more that he is still a liability in open space and its not just about the speed.
BTW - All this time he was playing core ST role and even took some leadership duties there (as far as I could see) and he did really well.
Later they moved him closer to LOS and it was better. @DET he saw snaps with 1st D as 3rd or even 4th S in what seemed like STAR position (hybrid LB/S) “invented“ by Saban and BB in CLE. (By the way I also thought he looks a bit bigger this year so this will be interesting to monitor.)
here great Saban's explanation of the STAR position etc. - starting at 5:30
I felt this is the position BB is thinking about a lot last yrs trying to bring somebody that would fit. I thought KGH f.e. was an attempt in that direction. Chung plays it sometimes of course but he lacks some quickness for the position so he can be exposed there. Richards' measurements mirror Chung's with two differences: Chung is/was much stronger (BP), Richards much quicker (3-cone). One problem w Richards is that he looks slow and I don't think that is just about speed.
Saban describes what is important for STAR position: “good tackler, good blitzer, good cover guy on the slot player“. I guess also IQ and instincts are very important.
When Richards was drafted a lot was said about his leadership, maturity and IQ. IQ is important but instincts might be even more important to succeed on the field and I wonder if this is part of the problem with Jordan because I didn't think he had good instincts watching his college tape. Maybe he can read the play well but maybe he also thinks about it too much and that adds to the slowness..
TBC..
Let's start with a couple of interesting quotes from another thread:
(hope @unoriginal doesn't mind)
Here some of my thoughts on discussions why keeping Richards..
1. 2016 was a regression to a not too impressive rookie campaign for Richards. The last meaningful snaps he saw (exclusively on ST) was SEA game. As we know after this game the last BB shake up followed and Richards slowly disappeared from the active roster. Chung and McCourty were core STers in playoffs which is not ideal id guess and can probably happen only under BB.
2. FF to 2107, first reports were that he had a promising start of the season with some PBUs and contested coverages of Gronk although it seemed he is mostly that one crucial step behind. Preseason games unfortunately showed the usual liabilities despite playing vs 2nd stringers. They were playing him at FS a lot at the beginning but it was ugly many times. It proved once more that he is still a liability in open space and its not just about the speed.
BTW - All this time he was playing core ST role and even took some leadership duties there (as far as I could see) and he did really well.
Later they moved him closer to LOS and it was better. @DET he saw snaps with 1st D as 3rd or even 4th S in what seemed like STAR position (hybrid LB/S) “invented“ by Saban and BB in CLE. (By the way I also thought he looks a bit bigger this year so this will be interesting to monitor.)
here great Saban's explanation of the STAR position etc. - starting at 5:30
I felt this is the position BB is thinking about a lot last yrs trying to bring somebody that would fit. I thought KGH f.e. was an attempt in that direction. Chung plays it sometimes of course but he lacks some quickness for the position so he can be exposed there. Richards' measurements mirror Chung's with two differences: Chung is/was much stronger (BP), Richards much quicker (3-cone). One problem w Richards is that he looks slow and I don't think that is just about speed.
Saban describes what is important for STAR position: “good tackler, good blitzer, good cover guy on the slot player“. I guess also IQ and instincts are very important.
When Richards was drafted a lot was said about his leadership, maturity and IQ. IQ is important but instincts might be even more important to succeed on the field and I wonder if this is part of the problem with Jordan because I didn't think he had good instincts watching his college tape. Maybe he can read the play well but maybe he also thinks about it too much and that adds to the slowness..
TBC..
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