McLeod starting?

This is a post from the herd board by CoachO. I edited it a bit just to fit the context here.

CoachO:

If McLeod is starting again at once of the safety positions, does it somehow indicate a failure in this years draft class? One major thing is McLeod didn’t play the safety position a good % of the time last year. Once Finnegan went down, and that was fairly early in the season, McLeod was pressed into the Nickel CB role. More often than not, the second Safety spot was manned by either Giordano or Stewart.

At training camp, McLeod, and Cody Davis, showed to be the two best safeties in training camp in reading and anticipating plays as they developed. My biggest issue with McLeod has more to do with his inconsistent tackling, than his coverage skills on the backend. Most of his coverage problems occurred when he was asked to cover quick and elusive slot receivers, a role that Joyner is supposed to assume this year.

They did try to upgrade that position by drafting no less than 3 players (4 if you consider Gaines as an option to play safety, not that I do). But you can’t expect ROOKIES to step in and be an instant upgrade over what is there. For me, a draft like this one, shows how this regime is drafting for the long haul. Players like Alexander and Chritian Bryant have that sort of thing written all over them. While neither might be the immediate solution, they BOTH have the attributes to develop into something special given a year or two to develop.

For all he showed last year as a 2nd year player, McDonald still struggled at times, and to thrust a rookie into that sort of position, playing along side a 2nd year player is a lot to ask. There are so many presnap adjustments and calls that have to be made, and I don’t think they want to ask that of such young players. If McLeod can focus solely on the Safety position, who’s to say he isn’t the BEST option there?

I think they are a better team with McLeod being a depth guy, and being a core ST player. I like the idea of having someone like a Cody Davis get a longer look than expecting one of the rookies to step in and be that guy. As for the draft picks, I think any one of them could and should develop into a better option. But not THIS YEAR. I think the guy no one has said a lot about, mainly due to his injury, is Christian Bryant. He may end up being the best of the bunch as a playmaking safety. But again, might be a year away from being considered a ligitimate option. Alexander is just too raw, IMO, and if Joyner is “the guy” they are counting on as the Nickel, I really think that stunts his potential to focus on the S spot. Much in the same way it took away from McCleod last year, having to play BOTH.

That they had TWO 1st year starters last year back there (even though McLeod was a 2nd year player), IMO, had as much to do with the limitations that Walton was playing with as it did with his “scheme”. IMO they played some of the most basic “vanilla” coverages BECAUSE they were so young back there.

You may be able to find other teams with young db’s, but to say they had FOUR starters all with less than TWO years experience would be difficult to find. Once Finnegan went down, they were playing FOUR DBs who were in their 1st or 2nd season. It absolutely played a major factor in what they could be asked to absorb.

It’s not simply about the talent, but the lack of experience. Williams will be better prepared to utilize the skillsets of the young players. But that being said, IF McLeod ends up starting again, he will have a year under his belt, as will Jenkins, Johnson, and McDonald.

• This topic was modified 9 years, 10 months ago by zn.
• This topic was modified 9 years, 10 months ago by zn.