More Thoughts on AW, the Off-Tackle Play and Wells' TDs

[Mitch]

As it turns out Wilson was not responsible for Carlson's wide-open TD...according to Whiz, BMF had deep responsibility and AW had the flat. In watching the play, however, one would be hard pressed to imagine how in the world BMF could have covered Carlson from where he was lined up on the perimeter...and if indeed this was a zone coverage then the FS, who was nowhere to be seen on the play would have had to cover the deep seam, not BMF. In either case, the coverage scheme was not well suited for the play the Seahawks ran and they took full advantage of it.

What the Cardinals have not learned yet after the Carolina game is how to consistently defend the off-tackle play...which is a popular call versus 3-4 defenses because when the TE blocks down on the DE, he is in effect sealing the 3 int. DL (SDE, NT, WDE) and the backside OLB off...leaving the SOLB and two ILBs to defend the play versus two blockers (the pulling G and the FB) with the idea that the FB kicks out the SOLB and the guard hits the SILB...with the hope that if the RB is quick to the hole he can beat the WILB and be off to the races like DeAngelo Williams and Justin Forsett were on numerous occasions. What's compounding matter for the Cardinals is that the center is having success momentarily helping for the pulling guard and scraping off to block the WILB in pursuit.

What are BD's options as to how to defend the play? Well, he has a few:

(1) Bring the SS up to the box over the TE where he will be sitting in the hole. If the TE blocks down he can fire the gap and disrupt the timing of the play early. The problem has been that when the Cardinals have done this, the RB has been bouncing off the clutter to the outside...which. in this case, the SOLB has to clean up...but, he can't get caught inside, and he has to keep contain (outside arm free of his blocker, the FB).

(2) Close down with the SOLB and scrape the ILBers. When the SOLB sees the TE block down, he moves hard inside and takes on the first blocker. This will cause the play to bounce outside, where the SILB can team with the SS to chase down.

(3) Fire the SILB into the hole (when he sees the TE block down), and have the SOLB keep contain so as to turn the play inside to the SS and WILB.

(4) It's also very important to coach the SDE to swim over the double team once he feels the pressure, and for the NT and WDE to scrape down the line to clean up any cutbacks. At the very worst the SDE has to hold his ground and collapse the double team right where it is initiated (getting pushed hard toward the middle is the first thing to avoid).

Now, teams will vary their blocking schemes on the play as well, so as to disguise it. The TE, for example, will sometimes be assigned to (a) kicking out the SOLB; (b) slipping inside to block the SILB or straight out to block the SS. What this means is the offense is foregoing the TE/T double team...but hoping that the T can "loop" and seal the SDE on his own to the inside. What this play becomes---in the case of the TE going for the SILB, a two blocker isolation (G and FB) on the SS and SOLB respectively---or is the TE blocks out on the SOLB---the two blocker isolation (G and FB) is on the SILB and SS respectively.

Why this play can be very effective versus the Cardinals is that because the Cardinals DEs are aggressive in trying penetrate off the snap, and aren't very bulky, they can get pushed inside pretty well at times...and it's also very effective when BD is moving his SS (AW) into a variety of spots in and outside of the box, which would allow for teams to take advantage of when AW isn't lined up over the TE. Also, the Cardinals' ILBers aren't what one would call classic pluggers...they are scrapers and chasers, which means that they don't impact the play early enough to spoil the timing of it andf they don't blow up the blockers in the holes that would also bottle up the play before it can develop.

This is why, you see BD getting aggressive with Dansby and Hayes on strong side "C Gap" blitzes and weakside "A and B" gap blitzes...for it allows BD to "make" his ILbers aggressive by design and not have to have them rely on reads and instincts. Yet, these blitzes are gambles for sure, onces where BD has to guess right on...which he does by studying the opponent's formations and tendencies out of those formations.

If you read what AW said about the Seahawks after the game...he gave kudos to the Seahawks for throwing completely different looks at them...ones they hadn't ever seen from them before. This is exactly why the in-game coaching becomes all about adjustments and counter moves.

As for the offense, it is interesting that Beanie Wells' first TD, on 4th and 1 on the 10 yard line was really the exact same play that the Cardinals ran against the Eagles in the NFC Championship game (run then by Tim Hightower and blocked by Reggie Wells and Terrelle Smith) that kept the game winning drive alive. This play is quite similar to the off-tackle play the Cardinals are having trouble defending, because the first option is to try to find a crease off-tackle and if it is closed down to bounce the play to the outside. The Cardinals block it pretty much man on man...they don't have the TE block down...the TE will block his inside gap if that is threatened, but otherwise will block the SS or OLB, whomever is the closest. Wells pulls to take out the "first threat" on any possible penetration and Kreider looks to take out the contain man, either by knocking him wider out or pinching him inside (as he did so well yesterday).

If you recall the Cardinals ran the same play in the first quarter, but it was foiled by DT Brandon Mebane who blew through the hole created by Reggie Wells' pull...which the offense tries to prevent by having Mike Gandy block down on Mebane...if you notice on the 4th and 1 play, Gandy, who missed the block on Mebane previously (which is hard block versus a quick penetrator like Mebane), this time Gandy shortened his split and made the block.

As for Wells' second TD, Stephen Spach and Mike Gandy made very nice seal blocks, giving Wells just enough of a crease to burst through...and as Larry Fitzgerald said, Wells was looking to "break facemasks"...wow...what a super run that was for a big, imposing back with such a fast burst. Wells is starting to get his feet under him and at this point Whiz has brought him along so beautifully...you can see his confidence growing with each game. Plus, how about the slip pass he caught and ran with looking like a runaway freight train? Kudos to the Cardinal coaches and especially to John Lott for bringing Wells into the right condition and frame of mind. Wells is bursting onto the scene at the mid-season the way last year's #1, DRC, did!

 

[Cardiac]

I will need to read this a couple of times to fully understand the incredible insight this post contains. AWESOME stuff Mitch.

In regards to the Off Tackle play do we need to upgrade any players and if so what skills would they need that are current players don't have?

 

[82CardsGrad]

It is next to impossible to think that BMF could have somehow defended Carlson on the TD play. He had no chance. Wilson was perfectly positioned to defend him, yet he let Carlson run right by him - obviously because he must have thought BMF was going to drop back. However, if you watch this play again, it should have been abundantly clear to Wilson that BMF was not going to drop back as, when Adrian was running over to cover the flat, and while Carlson was running right under Wilson's nose, BMF was clearly in the field of vision for Adrian and was also covering the flat! Adrian should have easily recognized this and allowed BMF to cover the flat.
Also, Rolle was nowhere to be found because he was lined up on the complete opposite side of the field.
The was a major screw up in terms of play call and execution... And as I noted in a separate thread, Wilson caught an earful from DD on the sidelines after the play! They had to be separated by other players as it got very, very heated! Clearly, DD called out Adrian...

Regarding Wells - he is simply a BEAST! When he breaks the first level of defense, there isn't a LB or DB in the game that he can't handle... And now, word is getting out about a locomotive breaking loose in the desert and anytime a DB see's Beanie barreling downfield, they will surely crap their pants!!!

 

[Mitch]

I will need to read this a couple of times to fully understand the incredible insight this post contains. AWESOME stuff Mitch.

In regards to the Off Tackle play do we need to upgrade any players and if so what skills would they need that are current players don't have?

The problem as I see it, Cardiac, is that the Cardinals' ILBers, if they are not designed to blitz are too danged slow to react...and once they are engaged in traffic they do not shed blocks and get to the ball. This is why Patrick Willis is so good...he's so smart at sniffing out a play and so quick to react and when he does he cleans everything up.

Honestly, this is why I am one of the few on the board who is not enamored with Dansby as an ILB. He's a good chaser, but he plays east west, not north south, and as a 3-4 ILB you need to be able to do both. Heck, the Niners have a 2nd stringer Eric Wilhelm (starting now that Takeo Spikes it out), who is blowing up runs left and right, showing exemplary instincts and fundamentals. Wilhelm is very good at both chasing and plugging. That's the kind of ILB we need.

On the outside, Haggans has been solid...and Okeafor is far better versus the run than Berry, but Okeafor has the bad habit of closing down inside on plays where he should be containing.

 

[Duckjake]

The problem as I see it, Cardiac, is that the Cardinals' ILBers, if they are not designed to blitz are too danged slow to react...and once they are engaged in traffic they do not shed blocks and get to the ball. This is why Patrick Willis is so good...he's so smart at sniffing out a play and so quick to react and when he does he cleans everything up.

Honestly, this is why I am one of the few on the board who is not enamored with Dansby as an ILB. He's a good chaser, but he plays east west, not north south, and as a 3-4 ILB you need to be able to do both. Heck, the Niners have a 2nd stringer Eric Wilhelm (starting now that Takeo Spikes it out), who is blowing up runs left and right, showing exemplary instincts and fundamentals. Wilhelm is very good at both chasing and plugging. That's the kind of ILB we need.

On the outside, Haggans has been solid...and Okeafor is far better versus the run than Berry, but Okeafor has the bad habit of closing down inside on plays where he should be containing.

I wouldn't be surprised at all if Dansby ends up on another team as an outside LB in a 4-3 next season.

 

[Cardiac]

The problem as I see it, Cardiac, is that the Cardinals' ILBers, if they are not designed to blitz are too danged slow to react...and once they are engaged in traffic they do not shed blocks and get to the ball. This is why Patrick Willis is so good...he's so smart at sniffing out a play and so quick to react and when he does he cleans everything up.

Honestly, this is why I am one of the few on the board who is not enamored with Dansby as an ILB. He's a good chaser, but he plays east west, not north south, and as a 3-4 ILB you need to be able to do both. Heck, the Niners have a 2nd stringer Eric Wilhelm (starting now that Takeo Spikes it out), who is blowing up runs left and right, showing exemplary instincts and fundamentals. Wilhelm is very good at both chasing and plugging. That's the kind of ILB we need.

On the outside, Haggans has been solid...and Okeafor is far better versus the run than Berry, but Okeafor has the bad habit of closing down inside on plays where he should be containing.

So basically we are set at DE and need to upgrade most of our LB's. Not horrible news since we still have Reggie Williams, Will Davis and Cody Brown that may grow into their positions.

 

[Mitch]

I wouldn't be surprised at all if Dansby ends up on another team as an outside LB in a 4-3 next season.

No other team in the NFL would play Dansby at ILB. Only the Cardinals.

 

[Mitch]

So basically we are set at DE and need to upgrade most of our LB's. Not horrible news since we still have Reggie Williams, Will Davis and Cody Brown that may grow into their positions.

If it were up to me, Cardiac, I would switch Dansby to WOLB right now (to see his value there and to get an upgrade there) and I would start Reggie Walker (if you recall, this kid plays north south...remember the two goal-line stand stops he had in the pre-season?)...or I would move Wilson to WILB, now that would be a thrill!

But, if the Cardinals don't ever find out for themselves what kind of impact Dansby would have as a WOLB...they will let him go and find out the hard way the way they did with Leonard Davis, who was clearly playing out of position because of Denny "Pie Chart" Green and his theory that high paid o-linemen should be LTs...even when they jump off-side and hold a combination of four to five times a game.

 

[Early]

Great writeup Mitch..awsome...I'll shear some of my toughts tommorow , just a quck answer

But everything comes to our DEs on the outside plays you mention, they tend to play penetration and the speed step too much, especially Dockett, not Campbell as much. Instead of that speedstep, a power step with read and react technique is much much more effective against the run and beating combo blocks and pulls to second level.

The side where Dockett is, is always alot vulnerable to the run. I never see him excecute a two gap technique well. All his good plays in his entire career come of speed step and quick penetration without any read and react involved. He can handle one gap but never more. Robinson and Campbell do better job at that.

Now that speed step, that's great if it is a pass, but rarely good against the run. He is so vulnerable against angle blocks and is rarely double teamed when the other team runs the ball.

I think we have contained the lanes completely against the panthers. What we forgot was backside contain without OLBs, they were way to agressive trying help inside

 

[Early]

Ohh and i have been saying for years now how overrated Dansby is so im glad there are others out there that agree. He never shed blocks. He missed a tackle in many games and in every game he does allow some unnecessary yards after contact. He is really good in dropping back and talking alot on the field, and that's it really. Nothing impressive. He is not intimidating at all.... Not the slightest...

Now both him and Dockett are so valuable against the pass and that's where they are really worth and would be hard to replace.

But top notch money? Only guys that can play both the run and pass at pro bowl level deserve that. And Dockett deserves them much more than Dansby does, it's not even close. I have no worries at all with Dansby leaving but i would have my worries with no Dockett especially the intensity on the line.

 

[Mitch]

Ohh and i have been saying for years now how overrated Dansby is so im glad there are others out there that agree. He never shed blocks. He missed a tackle in many games and in every game he does allow some unnecessary yards after contact. He is really good in dropping back and talking alot on the field, and that's it really. Nothing impressive. He is not intimidating at all.... Not the slightest...

Now both him and Dockett are so valuable against the pass and that's where they are really worth and would be hard to replace.

But top notch money? Only guys that can play both the run and pass at pro bowl level deserve that. And Dockett deserves them much more than Dansby does, it's not even close. I have no worries at all with Dansby leaving but i would have my worries with no Dockett especially the intensity on the line.

I think your comments are spot on, Early.

I was just think about efficiency/production fro what's expected from each defensive position and this is how I would rate the Cardinals' defenders thus far this season:

1. FS Antrel Rolle. This guy has been so incredibly dependable game after game. He makes virtually every open field stop...and there have been many as of recent weeks, and how about the speed and determination he showed when he tracked down Steve Smith on a successful bomb up the sidelines, where Rolle looked even faster than the 4.3 DRC? Rolle has shown he can play fats when he has to and he has an uncanny knack for sniffing out plays. His instincts are now as ripe as a summer watermelon.

2. DE Darnell Dockett. He's such a disruptive force at his position. Yes, at times he's undisciplined, but he's good for several jaw-dropping plays a game and quite frankly few interior d-linemen can do that today.

3. CB DRC. Look at what he did yesterday, he absolutlely took the best Seahawks' WR out of the game for an O-fer. He's still a little raw, but man his skills are off the charts.

4. OLB Clark Haggans. What a nifty surprise he has been this year...he is playing with a passion and a burst that we didn't see as consistently last year. For a team that desperately needs pressure pass rushers and rugged defenders, Haggans is bringing it.

5. DE Calais Campbell. Has been quiet recently, but not for lack of effort or skill. This kid is such a good athletic defender that he is just scratching the surface of what his vast potential is.

The rest are hard to sort through...there are just so many glaring weaknesses to consider. The players that I wish would be used more are CB Michael Adams, CB Greg Toler, OLB Will Davis. LB Reggie Walker and DE Alan Branch...as I think, if I were BD, I would try to find ways to play thse guys in place of some of the aging and floundering veterans.

 

[CardLogic]

...and Okeafor is far better versus the run than Berry, but Okeafor has the bad habit of closing down inside on plays where he should be containing.

I agree, but Berry is even worse at holding the edge. Seems that he I always pinching in and losing contain.

Hopefully Cody Brown and Will Davis will be of significant value next season. But it won't be enough; the Cardinals simply must fill the void at OLB with a major FA acquisition.

 

[82CardsGrad]

No other team in the NFL would play Dansby at ILB. Only the Cardinals.

Agreed...

 

[LoyaltyisaCurse]

No other team in the NFL would play Dansby at ILB. Only the Cardinals.

This is why I am still lamenting the team passing on Malaluga in the draft

 

[Russ Smith]

This is why I am still lamenting the team passing on Malaluga in the draft

Me too but to be fair, Rey went 38th overall in the 2nd round to cincy, we took Beanie at the 31 and Cody Brown at 63. So we'd either have had to pass on Beanie, or trade way up to get Rey. But I was watching some of their game with Pittsburgh yesterday on regular tv while watching us on the internet, the guy is playing very well already, in the pregame they said the DC specifically called out Maualuga as one reason their defense is so good.

On Beanie, if I read correctly only Knowshon Moreno and Donald Brown went ahead of him, they're both having nice rookie years too but I wonder if a bunch of other NFL teams who passed on Beanie wish they hadn't now?

 

[ajcardfan]

On Beanie, if I read correctly only Knowshon Moreno and Donald Brown went ahead of him, they're both having nice rookie years too but I wonder if a bunch of other NFL teams who passed on Beanie wish they hadn't now?

I wonder how true the predraft rumors were that we rated Brown as the top back? And, if given the chance, would we have taken Brown over Wells? I think Brown is going to be a nice NFL RB, but Wells has more potential to be special than either Moreno or Brown. IMO. I love watching this kid run.

To me, getting Wells, DRC, etc are the types of draft luck we seem to be getting now that we never did before. We either A) wanted the wrong guy and took him or B) wanted the right guy but saw him go off the board before our pick.

 

[Duckjake]

Ohh and i have been saying for years now how overrated Dansby is so im glad there are others out there that agree. He never shed blocks. He missed a tackle in many games and in every game he does allow some unnecessary yards after contact. He is really good in dropping back and talking alot on the field, and that's it really. Nothing impressive. He is not intimidating at all.... Not the slightest...

Now both him and Dockett are so valuable against the pass and that's where they are really worth and would be hard to replace.

But top notch money? Only guys that can play both the run and pass at pro bowl level deserve that. And Dockett deserves them much more than Dansby does, it's not even close. I have no worries at all with Dansby leaving but i would have my worries with no Dockett especially the intensity on the line.

I don't agree at all about Dansby. I just ran through the first 12 minutes of the first quarter from yesterday and Dansby is in on almost every play and made 3 key plays that don't show up in the stat sheet. All of them relating to quickly reading what the offense is doing and making a move to help stop it.

First he read a pass route to Hzmnzda and dropped into the area in front cutting off Hbeck's throwing lane.
Then he smells out a screen and dumps the RB on his rear so Hbeck has nowhere to throw and so just bounces the ball off Haggans chest and third sees Hbeck rolling out from the pocket and comes up to apply pressure forcing an incompletion.

If you are looking for a guy who stuffs running backs in the hole he's not your guy but if you want a smart, tough guy who makes plays that's Dansby. Which is why Mitch is correct is saying KD needs to be on the outside in a 4-3 to be a truly dominating LB.

 

[ajcardfan]

I think what you guys are missing about Dansby is that we need him in the middle as long as AW is at SS. Dansby might be the best ILB in the league at getting depth in coverage and also getting out to the flat. We need those skills in him because Wilson spends so much time at the LOS on runs and blitzing. If we had a more traditional safety, then we could use a more traditional ILB and move Dansby to the outside. But, with the commitment we've made to AW, we almost HAVE to re-sign Dansby. God forbid, you watch how bad our defense gets without Dansby doing what he does.

 

[Catfish]

The problem as I see it, Cardiac, is that the Cardinals' ILBers, if they are not designed to blitz are too danged slow to react...and once they are engaged in traffic they do not shed blocks and get to the ball. This is why Patrick Willis is so good...he's so smart at sniffing out a play and so quick to react and when he does he cleans everything up.

Honestly, this is why I am one of the few on the board who is not enamored with Dansby as an ILB. He's a good chaser, but he plays east west, not north south, and as a 3-4 ILB you need to be able to do both. Heck, the Niners have a 2nd stringer Eric Wilhelm (starting now that Takeo Spikes it out), who is blowing up runs left and right, showing exemplary instincts and fundamentals. Wilhelm is very good at both chasing and plugging. That's the kind of ILB we need.

On the outside, Haggans has been solid...and Okeafor is far better versus the run than Berry, but Okeafor has the bad habit of closing down inside on plays where he should be containing.

Mitch, you hit it dead on-----Dansby's one and (only) real good play was when he ran to the sideline and stopped the receiver from; 1 getting to the first down marker, and 2 preventing the man from getting out of bounds to stop the clock. This play fits him perfectly, but like you said, he is NOT a N/S guy.

 

[Catfish]

Mitch,-----Your original post on this thread was WAAAAYYYY beyond good !!!!!!!

Concerning the comment about Dansby playing sideline to sideline instead of N/S was spot on. His one and only real good play in this game was the one where he moved to his right and chased the screen receiver to the sideline, preventing a 1st down, and stopping him short of getting out of bounds to stop the clock. It was a great play at a critical time in the game, but it personifies what you said about him being an E/W guy and not a N/S penetrator.

Like you, I would like to see more of Will Davis. I also like your thoughts on moving Dansby to WOLB, and playing Wilson at WILB. but two position changes at this juncture will not happen. Maybe after the season ??????

 

[Doug]

I agree with DuckJake on this one.I just think Dansby ever since playing at AUBURN has been super special for this team and he and Gerald Hayes had some serious MOJO to start the season off with and they ended the year last year playing lights out too.

I like the unique role that Dansby plays for us and we can us A-Dub in a super special role due to the fact Dansby can get back like a cover-2 MLB needs to do.

It takes a special body type to play the role Dansby is playing for us and normally its not the bigger guys that can do it.Look who did it for 15+ year for the Bucs and since he was cut no one has called his phone number due to the role he filled in that one system.

Dansby might play better as an outside guy but I like him where he is.He's gonna be a great player no matter where he is on the field.He's a four down guy and he normally leads the team in tackles and they are not ankle drag downs either.He makes em' from all over the place.I love the new twists that Davis has the defense running.I especially loved the night we played the giants in New York and the incredible attacking style defense we ran.We seem to do that in spurts every now and then since then.

I have one other comment to make.On our fouth and one play Krieder missed his block on Mebane from seattle.Just a pure whiff.He had another big miss on a Beanie run and one play that I'm sure had the coach's scratching their heads where he hit no one but just stood in the hole with two free players on both sides of him that made the tackle.

I took notes the whole first half and saw 3 major misses by Kreider.He played MUCH better in the second half.Could'nt play worse.We know already he can't catch as he's shown already this year.Has hands like the rusted tin man.So you almost know its a run when Krieder is in the game.

I'd rather see Rugby muffin as our fullback after seeing his picture posted on the board the other day.Dude looks like he could play fullback like Alstott.A lil' time with coach Lott and we could have an ASFN'er playing for us.

 

[Cbus cardsfan]

The Cards obviously think highly of Dansby.Otherwise, they wouldn't be franchising him. He'll also make a ton on the open market next year. That'll pretty much blow your theories of him being overrated out of the water. I don't really get the overrated comment anyway. He's our best defensive player,even though DRC is quickly closing the gap, and plays on the inside yet you think he would be dominant on the outside. That sounds like a pretty studly,versatile LB to me. The guy does a ton for this defense and he will be sorely missed when gone. I 'm waiting for his durability issues to be brought up again since that was totally false as well.

 

[ajcardfan]

The Cards obviously think highly of Dansby.Otherwise, they wouldn't be franchising him. He'll also make a ton on the open market next year. That'll pretty much blow your theories of him being overrated out of the water. I don't really get the overrated comment anyway. He's our best defensive player,even though DRC is quickly closing the gap, and plays on the inside yet you think he would be dominant on the outside. That sounds like a pretty studly,versatile LB to me. The guy does a ton for this defense and he will be sorely missed when gone. I 'm waiting for his durability issues to be brought up again since that was totally false as well.

It helps to remember Cbus that some of these same people relentlessly nitpicked Fitzgerald until, literally, just about a year ago. Even though he was obviously a great player from day 1.

 

[Duckjake]

Mitch,-----Your original post on this thread was WAAAAYYYY beyond good !!!!!!!

Concerning the comment about Dansby playing sideline to sideline instead of N/S was spot on. His one and only real good play in this game was the one where he moved to his right and chased the screen receiver to the sideline, preventing a 1st down, and stopping him short of getting out of bounds to stop the clock. It was a great play at a critical time in the game, but it personifies what you said about him being an E/W guy and not a N/S penetrator.

Like you, I would like to see more of Patrick Willis. I also like your thoughts on moving Dansby to WOLB, and playing Wilson at WILB. but two position changes at this juncture will not happen. Maybe after the season ??????

Catfish watch the replay if you can. Dansby makes a ton of plays that don't show up on the stat sheet or the highlight reel. He stuffs the hole many times by engaging the blocker in the gap forcing the RB to bounce outside. Haggans cleaned up several of these Sunday. An excellent coordination between the ILB and the OLB. He blocks passing routes by dropping into the right spot in the zone. He runs down plays to the outside as you pointed out.

He sees backs trying to slip out of the backfield and sprints out to cover them when no one else on the D has noticed.

The one negative I've seen with Dansby this season is that he seems a step slow this year and doesn't charge after the ballcarrier on plays that have gone past him like he used to but seems to jog instead.

Dansby is no longer in a position to make the big plays he did as an outside backer in a 4-3. He is doing what the team needs him to do. This is why the Cards are paying him millions. Not for the Highlight reel crushing of a rb but for playing smart, heads up football.

 

[Catfish]

Catfish watch the replay if you can. Dansby makes a ton of plays that don't show up on the stat sheet or the highlight reel. He stuffs the hole many times by engaging the blocker in the gap forcing the RB to bounce outside. Haggans cleaned up several of these Sunday. An excellent coordination between the ILB and the OLB. He blocks passing routes by dropping into the right spot in the zone. He runs down plays to the outside as you pointed out.

He sees backs trying to slip out of the backfield and sprints out to cover them when no one else on the D has noticed.

The one negative I've seen with Dansby this season is that he seems a step slow this year and doesn't charge after the ballcarrier on plays that have gone past him like he used to but seems to jog instead.

Dansby is no longer in a position to make the big plays he did as an outside backer in a 4-3. He is doing what the team needs him to do. This is why the Cards are paying him millions. Not for the Highlight reel crushing of a rb but for playing smart, heads up football.

Thanks Jake-----I checked like you said, and you're right. He does stuff the hole and force the run outside a lot with Haggans on cleanup duty. Could be you're right about being a step slow too, although he seemed fast enough on the one play that I pointed out, (third down pass where he got to the sideline, stopped the guy short, then tackled him inbounds to stop the clock). That was still a good play. THat is the only one that stands out to me though. Like you say, he stuffs well and maybe is just getting lost in all the mass of bodies inside while turning the play to guys like Haggans to clean up. I will be watching for this more in the future. I am still unsure if I would committ the team to pay his asking price next year. You guys have any thoughts on that??????