Kevin Minter

[BullheadCardFan]

Minter, however, is not the pass defender Dansby is. Not many inside linebackers are. Playing the pass didn't appear to be a strength for Minter in training camp last season.

"He can stop the run; he is working on being a three-down linebacker," Caldwell said. "The run game comes naturally to him."

Playing the pass doesn't, but Caldwell and the Cardinals think Minter has the athletic ability to grow into the role.

Until then, it's possible Minter might come out in obvious passing situations.

"I feel like I have a huge opportunity," Minter said. "We're two totally different players. "He (Dansby) did a lot of things, but I feel like I bring a lot to the table, too. It's definitely going to be a challenge. I'm not going to lie about that."

Link.

 

[RugbyMuffin]

Pass Coverage is a big concern for the Cardinals at the ILB position.

Not many can cover players like Washington and Dansby. Minter is not made to do it, that isn't his game. Which is OK, it wasn't Gerald Hayes' game and he did pretty well at the position.

But, Larry Foote is not helping in that area, and I doubt Lorenzo Alexander is going to be much help in coverage either.

Caleb Lavey, whom I don't think got drafted or signed (which is a HUGE red flag, I understand that) was pretty darn good in coverage in college.

Why he wasn't brought in, I don't know, but if I was a ILB who was very good in pass coverage I would try to get my butt to AZ because there is a role that needs to be filled on this roster, and that is one of, if not the most glaring.

That all being said, I would assume the Cardinals have a plan, thus it will be interesting to find out whom is playing ILB with Daryl Washington in the Nickel package.

 

[GimmedaBall]

Cards have some question marks in the middle of their D. We are down a NT with Ta'amda recovering from ACL surgery. Dansby gone, DW facing possible suspension. Our ILB may well be Minter and Foote to begin the season. HB is out---hope one of the other DBs on the roster can fill in to cover the slot and FS spots.

We'll be stout against the run but the interior of the D has a big ? Look for teams to attack our middle with their slot receivers, RB out of the backfield, and TEs with mid-range routes in the center of the field. Once the passing game opens up the middle, our ILB will be backpeddling to stop the pass which will open the middle for runs.

Something to work on in pre-season.

 

[52brandon]

I was under the impression Bucannon addresses the coverage of tEs in the middle. Johnson will fill in for Mathieu. He's improved a lot since Horton/Bowles joined. ILB will be interesting

 

[cardpa]

On obvious passing situations you probably won't see any ILBs on defense save for DWash and will see several safeties instead. Buchannon may play a quasi role at ILB/S on passing downs being responsible for TE or RB coverage. Jefferson will probably play a role here too.

 

[52brandon]

On obvious passing situations you probably won't see any ILBs on defense save for DWash and will see several safeties instead. Buchannon may play a quasi role at ILB/S on passing downs being responsible for TE or RB coverage. Jefferson will probably play a role here too.

That quasi S/ILB position is what I thought we should have had AW at in his last couple seasons here. He just didn't do well in coverage at SS. He would have done much better moved up in a more ILB type role. Bucannon os a similar type that can cover much better though. I'm still so excited about the pick. And I think you're probably right having multiple safeties out for that. Johnson can play starter well IMO. Mathieu is our guy at FS. We have a hole at ILB and an extra S, so playing to our strengths makes great sense

 

[juza76]

That quasi S/ILB position is what I thought we should have had AW at in his last couple seasons here. He just didn't do well in coverage at SS. He would have done much better moved up in a more ILB type role. Bucannon os a similar type that can cover much better though. I'm still so excited about the pick. And I think you're probably right having multiple safeties out for that. Johnson can play starter well IMO. Mathieu is our guy at FS. We have a hole at ILB and an extra S, so playing to our strengths makes great sense

quasi,are u italian?

 

[52brandon]

quasi,are u italian?

lol, nah. I was just using his term

 

[GimmedaBall]

quasi,are u italian?

You forgot the ' -moto.'

 

[BigRedRage]

You must be registered for see images attach

 

[GimmedaBall]

That quasi S/ILB position is what I thought we should have had AW at in his last couple seasons here. He just didn't do well in coverage at SS. He would have done much better moved up in a more ILB type role. Bucannon os a similar type that can cover much better though. I'm still so excited about the pick. And I think you're probably right having multiple safeties out for that. Johnson can play starter well IMO. Mathieu is our guy at FS. We have a hole at ILB and an extra S, so playing to our strengths makes great sense

Yes on AW. Would have like to have seen him in the Joey Porter role of pass rushing OLB or rush from the ILB position. AW needed to be moving forward, needed to be explosive and violent in the direction of the RBs and QB---not trying to keep up with TEs and WR especially with the 'hands-off' approach vs the D trying to defend the pass.

What's interesting about the Bucannon pick---his player profile pre-draft reads like a description of AW---even to the point of being 'stiff' in the hips and turning with receivers.

TE's and RBs releasing at the line after making a block will cause the problems for our run-stopping ILB.

 

[52brandon]

You forgot the ' -moto.'

Wasn't he French?

 

[GuernseyCard]

You forgot the ' -moto.'

"modo" as in Quasimodo.

 

[SissyBoyFloyd]

Charles Laughton - The Hunchback of Notre Dame. A truly great movie. I saw it in the theater as a young kid. It was mesmorizing to me back then.

 

[GimmedaBall]

"modo" as in Quasimodo.

You say tomamodo, I say tomamoto.

 

[GimmedaBall]

You must be registered for see images attach

That would make a good avatar. Wonder if he can play NT? He can ring somebody's bell.

 

[Snakester]

I think most are under rating Minter's coverage ability. When I was watching game film of him I was pretty impressed with his coverage skills. Especially in zone. He doesn't have D-Wash speed but he is smart in coverage. I thought his coverage skills were just as good as his attacking the run skills. I don't see him as a great thumper per say but a solid all-around inside linebacker. He plays very smart. To me he is more of a Zach Thomas type of player.

 

[GimmedaBall]

I think most are under rating Minter's coverage ability. When I was watching game film of him I was pretty impressed with his coverage skills. Especially in zone. He doesn't have D-Wash speed but he is smart in coverage. I thought his coverage skills were just as good as his attacking the run skills. I don't see him as a great thumper per say but a solid all-around inside linebacker. He plays very smart. To me he is more of a Zach Thomas type of player.

Pretty good evaluation that echoes the pre-draft writeups on Minter. Since he had only 4 tackles last year in 13 games, he is essentially another rookie (along with Cooper) as last year's first and second round picks. Some 2013 pre-draft writeups:

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1609897-kevin-minter-scouting-report-nfl-outlook-for-lsu-ilb

http://www.fftoolbox.com/nfl_draft/profile_display.cfm?prospect_id=3456

http://walterfootball.com/scoutingreport2013kminter.php

http://www.draftace.com/2013/03/10/kevin-minter-scouting-report/

http://www.footballnation.com/content/2013-nfl-draft-lb-kevin-minter-scouting-report/21866/

I thought he was a great pick last year and, with a year in the system, fully expect him to be a great addition to the D.

 

[BullheadCardFan]

http://walterfootball.com/scoutingreport2013kminter.php

In pass coverage, Minter is improving. He gets good depth in his drops and shows the potential to play some man coverage. Minter can pick up backs out of the backfield and run with them. He is going to need to work on his ability to cover receiving tight ends given the passing-obsessed state of the NFL. Minter has the speed, but will need to work on his technique in running with them downfield. He is a good blitzer who can contribute to the pass rush.

Thanks for the link GB

 

[juza76]

http://walterfootball.com/scoutingreport2013kminter.php


Thanks for the link GB

so he has a chance to be a london fletcher type of player

 

[SECTION 11]

Never heard of him

 

[HotSauce]

so he has a chance to be a london fletcher type of player

Minus Fletcher's 4.5/40 speed.

 

[Jetstream Green]

I think most are under rating Minter's coverage ability. When I was watching game film of him I was pretty impressed with his coverage skills. Especially in zone. He doesn't have D-Wash speed but he is smart in coverage. I thought his coverage skills were just as good as his attacking the run skills. I don't see him as a great thumper per say but a solid all-around inside linebacker. He plays very smart. To me he is more of a Zach Thomas type of player.

Exactly, it is the speed difference in the NFL that will limit his coverage ability. You play to player's strengths and adjust. Dansby allowed Bowles more flexibility but really he could not cover a TE either all that well... look at what TEs did to us lol

 

[BigRedRage]

http://espn.go.com/blog/nfcwest/post/_/id/113930/in-new-role-minter-has-work-cut-out-for-him

Minter's professional career has started eerily similar to his collegiate one.

He was lost his first year at LSU, trying to grasp the changes from high school football to college -- similar to his rookie NFL season. As a sophomore, Minter was given responsibility on defense and he blossomed.

Cardinals coach Bruce Arians said he talked to coaches at LSU and hopes Minter's second year in the NFL ends up like his sophomore year at LSU.

 

[52brandon]

Exactly, it is the speed difference in the NFL that will limit his coverage ability. You play to player's strengths and adjust. Dansby allowed Bowles more flexibility but really he could not cover a TE either all that well... look at what TEs did to us lol

aint that the truth...

I really hope to see Bucannon remedy that