Adrian Wilson in Coverage

[Urubu Rei]

Despite the notion that he is a liability in pass coverage, Pro Football Focus is ranking Adrian the nr.1 Safety in their coverage ratings with 6.7

How about that?

 

[Cbus cardsfan]

they need to change their rating system then.

 

[Urubu Rei]

By the way, the last one is Antrel Rolle with - 10.0

 

[Russ Smith]

By the way, the last one is Antrel Rolle with - 10.0

So you're saying the rankings at the bottom are fine, but at the top their system sucks?



I just can't imagine any system saying he's good is it a case of him being better than a bunch of guys who can't cover maybe?

They were saying on ESPN last night that NFL teams are starting to put more value on Safeties because teams are finding TE's like Gronkowski and Jimmy Graham and today's LB's playing safety can't cover them.

 

[1DS]

Yup, Wilson is way better than Ed Reed.

 

[Darkside]

And that's really all you need to know about Pro Football Focus' ranking system.

 

[football karma]

I dunno about the rating --

but AW has been wayyyyyyyyyyy better this year than last

an easy bar to clear, yes

but I think he has been pretty solid

 

[Cardiac]

I dunno about the rating --

but AW has been wayyyyyyyyyyy better this year than last

an easy bar to clear, yes

but I think he has been pretty solid

This!

 

[Phrazbit]

Rolle was always absurdly overrated. He constantly gambled for picks and almost never came down with them. He gives up huge plays like they are going out of style.

 

[Darkside]

Honestly, in my opinion Wilson isn't any better in coverage this year than last year. Early on in the season he was getting torched, just torched. Horton learned fast, probably within 4 or 5 games, that the dude can't cover. Since then Wilson has been mostly in the box. He still drops in coverage (no man to man though, it's all zone now if you notice). That is Horton's doing, not Wilson's. When he does drop into coverage, it's almost all zone now, so he can lay wood on people like he used to (see the Philly game). Other than his zone reads though, Wilson is up in the box tackling runners and blitzing like he used to. It's what he's good at, and Horton figured that out. This isn't the resurgence of ADub. It's a coach putting him in spots to make plays, after our last 2 defensive coaches wasted 2 years off his life and playing career.

 

[Chopper0080]

There are lies, there are damn lies, and then there are statistics.

Wilson is, and always has been, average is pass coverage. The key this year is Horton having a scheme and preventing Wilson from being put in situations where he is isolated in coverage.

 

[Chopper0080]

Rolle was always absurdly overrated. He constantly gambled for picks and almost never came down with them. He gives up huge plays like they are going out of style.

This is also true. Rolle was never scheme sound. He failed to grasp the importance of making plays within the scheme like Ed Reed, rather than just trying to make plays. Ed Reed does a great job at picking his moments to freelance and has arguably the best recognition skills by a safety ever. Rolle has become a liability because he doesn't recognize plays well enough, and gets targeted and caught out of position by QBs. The key to making plays at S is building the reputation with QB's that you will be in the position that the defense is designed to have you in, but then breaking out of the scheme when QB's are forced to make plays down the field and naturally avoid your side of the field because of that assumption.

 

[Totally_Red]

A-Dub

Darren Urban has nice article on the Cardinals web site about who PFF thinks is worthy of pro-bowl selection and the Cardinals are Fitz, PP21 as a return specialist, and wait for it, A-Dub at safety. Also says Washington and Campbell are playing very well and would be worthy if the talent wasn't so deep at those positions.

http://blog.azcardinals.com/

 

[CFLredzoned]

This is also true. Rolle was never scheme sound. He failed to grasp the importance of making plays within the scheme like Ed Reed, rather than just trying to make plays. Ed Reed does a great job at picking his moments to freelance and has arguably the best recognition skills by a safety ever. Rolle has become a liability because he doesn't recognize plays well enough, and gets targeted and caught out of position by QBs. The key to making plays at S is building the reputation with QB's that you will be in the position that the defense is designed to have you in, but then breaking out of the scheme when QB's are forced to make plays down the field and naturally avoid your side of the field because of that assumption.

That's good info. I'm learning stuff all the time over here!

So if Horton schemed Adub into the best passing safety stats in the league, does that make Horton an up and coming genius? Or is it just that Adub is never playing anywhere near a pass, so due to nobody ever catching one close to him, he has unblemished passing stats?

 

[Chopper0080]

That's good info. I'm learning stuff all the time over here!

So if Horton schemed Adub into the best passing safety stats in the league, does that make Horton an up and coming genius? Or is it just that Adub is never playing anywhere near a pass, so due to nobody ever catching one close to him, he has unblemished passing stats?

Horton isn't putting Wilson in situations where he has to cover a deep part of the field which is why he isn't getting burned down the field. Horton keeps Wilson close to the line covering hook/curl zones and flats which he can do well. Also, this allows Horton to blitz Wilson without it being too much of a tell if he is close to the LOS. I would have to go back in check, but I am pretty sure that Horton alternates rushing Wilson and Washington.