The Plan at S/CB Harrison/Wilson

[groundgame]

A looming 2006 X factor in the secondary is James Sanders. If the "anti-smurf" Sanders can continue to improve and emerge as an integral component in the young New England defensive backfield, long will be forgotten the need to add over-rated free agents to this team.

 

[PatsFan37]

Put me in the Geno at CB crowd. That's a lot of reps in TC out of his FS slot, though part of the logic might have been to get Hawkins and Sanders more first team reps than they would have gotten with Geno at FS.

I see the lineup as Hawkins FS, Harrison/Sanders SS. I think they'll be managing Rodney's time on the field, which will piss him off, I'm sure. We all like a pissed-off Harrison and frankly, is there any other kind?

The weakness this year is at corner rather than safety and Geno will help shore that up. With Hawkins at FS and Geno at corner, it's a bit of mix and match, which is the point.

 

[PlattsFan]

Wilson took S reps in the spring when the system is taught and is taking CB reps in TC when skill sets are developed.

In September, BB will be able to put his four (five & six) best DBs on the field for the given situation.
- 1st & 10 on the offense's 20: 3 CB/1 SS look with Geno at FS.
- 2nd & 8 from the 22: 4 CB look with Hawkins at SS.
- 3rd and 1 from the 29: Heavy look with Sanders and Harrison at S/Geno at CB.
Situational football, the Belichick mantra. You have to wonder if we might have seen more of this the past two years without the injuries...

Another factor to consider: Defensive Coordinator. We now have an old defensive fox raised in the BB defensive family. This is an "experienced" second generation BB working for the real deal, unlike last year with the rookie DC. Ochmed reported his observation that the defense has been very aggressive in camp, setting the tone for the season we hope. That's confidence in themselves and what they're learning to do, and a chunk of that is coming from the teacher.

The only caution flag I have to wave is the communications between the DBs and their ability to get inside each other's skull. Still, it seems there has been a lot of mix and match in camp thus far, and I believe Isaac reported on their on-field chatter - in Pees we trust.

Since that was pretty much exactly what I was gonna say, even down to the point about Pees ... I'll just quote it so y'all can read it again :cool3:

 

[Isaac]

I heard Geno in a radio interview and he spoke about being moved to CB as if it was a fairly done deal. I was surprised, there was no hesitation. It was just a brief bit, he could have just been giving the easy answer to the question, but I came away thinking for the first time that he really may be primarily a CB this year.

Ultimately, the mix-and-match situational method is the most likely. We'll all probably be debating in week 6 about who our starting DBs actually are and which positions they play!

 

[PatsFan37]

I think the plan always was to move Geno to CB, but they couldn't find the safeties to make it happen. Guss got injured twice, Reid was a minor bust, Sanders was a rookie and then Harrison got injured. This year, everything is in place for the move. It will make the secondary much stronger.

Geno is the kind of tough, physical CB who can press the bigger receivers at the line, but have the speed and moves to cover them as well.

 

[Brownfan80]

I heard Geno in a radio interview and he spoke about being moved to CB as if it was a fairly done deal. I was surprised, there was no hesitation. It was just a brief bit, he could have just been giving the easy answer to the question, but I came away thinking for the first time that he really may be primarily a CB this year.

Ultimately, the mix-and-match situational method is the most likely. We'll all probably be debating in week 6 about who our starting DBs actually are and which positions they play!

I'm starting to think the same thing. Especially when the Injury-bug starts to play it's role in the whole process.

Very good notes by Box-O-Rocks too, I appreciate that commentary on the situation.

 

[Brownfan80]

I heard Geno in a radio interview and he spoke about being moved to CB as if it was a fairly done deal. I was surprised, there was no hesitation. It was just a brief bit, he could have just been giving the easy answer to the question, but I came away thinking for the first time that he really may be primarily a CB this year.

Ultimately, the mix-and-match situational method is the most likely. We'll all probably be debating in week 6 about who our starting DBs actually are and which positions they play!

I think with the encouraging reports of Sanders' play, and Harrison getting back, along with Hawkins play at S last season, and Jones being depth for the pinch situation... I've sort of come to think that these are the main reasons we're seeing Wilson at CB. I do like that our CBs can play S, and that a couple of our Ss are former CBs. Good stuff.

 

[TruthSeeker]

Any thought to the idea that James Sanders' very good training camp is forcing the "Gino at CB" idea ? I still like the idea of Gino at safety, he is one of the best young safeties out there, but with CB-like coverablity. He's like a center fielder out there, kinda reminded me of 2003 when sometimes you saw Law deep and Harrison up closer. I think a lot of our guys can switch between safety & corner (Wilson, Scott, Hawkins, Warfield). I really love our depth in the secondary, though the injury bug already got one of our safties Mel Mitchell, though his importance was to the special teams.

 

[Kdo5]

Wilson reportedly played safety and some CB today.

SS Harrison
FS Wilson
CB Samuel
CB Hobbs
NB Gay