AZCrazy
ASFN Lifer
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The addition of Budda Baker and the expense of so many picks to get him virtually guarantees him a starting role as soon as he's ready with the playbook. This set of coaches seems determined to have Bucannon fulfill a roving $Linebacker role independent of the secondary, so here's what we've got in the defensive backfield:
At corner: Patrick Peterson, and
Justin Bethel, and young guys
Brandon Williams
Elie Bouka
Brandon Zamort
Bryan Dixon
and maybe Harlan Miller, who showed some aptitude moreso at safety last year.
Bethel and Williams were given a shot last year and it didn't work out so well, although to be fair they were thrust into the role somewhat unprepared. Perhaps another full offseason of work will improve their awareness and reaction time. Both those guys have the size and speed, but were always a step behind the play just out of youthful inexperience. I thought that CB was the Cards' biggest need by far heading into this draft cycle, but they thought differently. We'll have to see. They'll pick one up today for sure but by this point, who knows what they'll get?
There's a bit more stability at the safety positions, with some experienced players there to give us snaps while adding the new young guys into the mix. We are one of those teams that first started with the now commonplace arrangement of going nickel D more commonly than base D. The presence of Tyrann Mathieu allowed for that with his skill set as a slot cover man.
Antoine Bethea and Tyvon Branch will likely start at SS and FS respectively, at first. Bethea is 32, but has some time left in him. He's been a Pro Bowler, and is usually among his team's leading tacklers although he's not a huge ballhawk. He's just under 6 feet and runs about 206 lbs. Branch is similar in size and speed to Bethea, with the additional history of having been a return man. He's younger, only 30, but was relegated to the IR twice for us last year, with groin injuries. Capable when able to be, he has another year on his contract and will likely hold the spot for Budda until BB is ready. The addition of Baker has long term implications. Baker is a short, aggressive hitter and ballhawk, whose only natural position is FS on a team where Mathieu is still here as slot/nickel man. We also have Harlan Miller and Trevon Hartfield from last year as young guys, (and foolishly lost Marquee Christian in the shuffle)
Safeties: Tyvon Branch and Antoine Bethea
Budda Baker soon to take the FS reins, presumably
and young guys Hartfield, Christian, and Bryant.
Let's look at the base D:
Peterson and Brandon Williams will start at CB
Bethea and Branch at safety, with Baker mixing in.
In Nickel:
The same players plus Mathieu while pulling the SILB.
Injuries will always play a role, but I see our weak spots as depth at SS, and the readiness of CB2.
Teams lined up to feast on CB2 against us last year, just picking on the young guys while Mathieu was out and avoiding Peterson.
At corner: Patrick Peterson, and
Justin Bethel, and young guys
Brandon Williams
Elie Bouka
Brandon Zamort
Bryan Dixon
and maybe Harlan Miller, who showed some aptitude moreso at safety last year.
Bethel and Williams were given a shot last year and it didn't work out so well, although to be fair they were thrust into the role somewhat unprepared. Perhaps another full offseason of work will improve their awareness and reaction time. Both those guys have the size and speed, but were always a step behind the play just out of youthful inexperience. I thought that CB was the Cards' biggest need by far heading into this draft cycle, but they thought differently. We'll have to see. They'll pick one up today for sure but by this point, who knows what they'll get?
There's a bit more stability at the safety positions, with some experienced players there to give us snaps while adding the new young guys into the mix. We are one of those teams that first started with the now commonplace arrangement of going nickel D more commonly than base D. The presence of Tyrann Mathieu allowed for that with his skill set as a slot cover man.
Antoine Bethea and Tyvon Branch will likely start at SS and FS respectively, at first. Bethea is 32, but has some time left in him. He's been a Pro Bowler, and is usually among his team's leading tacklers although he's not a huge ballhawk. He's just under 6 feet and runs about 206 lbs. Branch is similar in size and speed to Bethea, with the additional history of having been a return man. He's younger, only 30, but was relegated to the IR twice for us last year, with groin injuries. Capable when able to be, he has another year on his contract and will likely hold the spot for Budda until BB is ready. The addition of Baker has long term implications. Baker is a short, aggressive hitter and ballhawk, whose only natural position is FS on a team where Mathieu is still here as slot/nickel man. We also have Harlan Miller and Trevon Hartfield from last year as young guys, (and foolishly lost Marquee Christian in the shuffle)
Safeties: Tyvon Branch and Antoine Bethea
Budda Baker soon to take the FS reins, presumably
and young guys Hartfield, Christian, and Bryant.
Let's look at the base D:
Peterson and Brandon Williams will start at CB
Bethea and Branch at safety, with Baker mixing in.
In Nickel:
The same players plus Mathieu while pulling the SILB.
Injuries will always play a role, but I see our weak spots as depth at SS, and the readiness of CB2.
Teams lined up to feast on CB2 against us last year, just picking on the young guys while Mathieu was out and avoiding Peterson.
