- This topic has 2 replies, 2 voices, and was last updated 10 years, 5 months ago by
.
-
=================================================
Coach ORodney McLeod seized the opportunity presented last year in training camp, when yet another UDFA Safety couldn’t stay healthy during training camp. It was Darian Stewart’s job to lose, and lose it he did. McLeod showed more instincts in terms of reading routes, and anticipating plays than anyone else at the position in camp last year with the possible exception of Cody Davis. Given the overall inexperience in the secondary, IMO, they weren’t gonna consider starting TWO ROOKIES.
With that being said, when pressed into the dual role of playing Safety AND nickel CB, I think his overall development was affected. Given he is most likely to focus on Safety, I look for him to improve over last year’s performance. He does a decent enough job in coverage, although he was exposed as a Nickel trying to match up with the quicker slot receivers. His biggest area of improvement, needs to be in his inconsistent tackling. Guilty all too often of trying to deliver the big hit, he ends up missing way too many tackles. IF, he can improve that part of his game, he could develop into the best option at this point.
I have said this a few times in previous threads, it wouldn’t surprise me at all to see Cody Davis given a shot to win the job. He has many of the same instincts, but is bigger, faster, and a much better tackler than McLeod.
Matt Daniels, is a “down hill” in the box type player. He has some major problems with reading the ball in the air. Watching the DBs do the agility drills, he is very stiff, and mechanical in his movements. IMO, he will face an uphill battle to make this roster this year.
Alexander is raw at best, and while they may love the prospects of having him along side McDonald, I don’t see it happening much if at all THIS YEAR. The best one of the group, may end up being Christian Bryant, but I look for him to start camp on the PUP list, and may in fact get the proverbial “red-shirt” year to recover and develop.
Several things here are True. Though we don’t know yet how they will add up.
It’s true that McLeod played both safety and nickel. Now he plays safety only. Maybe getting rid of Stewart and Giodorno and putting McLeod at safety only will help, as CoachO suggests.
It’s true that he’s the most likely starter for 2014.
It’s true that this is an absurdly young secondary. These are the years on J, J & the Macs:
Jenkins: 3rd year in 2014
Johnson: 3rd year in 2014
McDonald: 2nd year in 2014
McLeod: 3rd year in 2014, 2nd as a starterKeeping with the Rams tradition of starting either a J or a Mac in the secondary, the candidates for the nickel are either McGee (2nd year) or Joyner (rookie).
Personally I don’t see Davis supplanting McLeod.
So anyway it’s true they are young.
It’s also true that Williams is often credited with improving secondaries.
So maybe some coaching and some experience combined will make them a better unit. Scheme too.
It’s not an impossible hope.
.
- You must be logged in to reply to this topic.
