You Still Don't Get it: Mingo

A lot of people are ignoring what the coaches say about Barkevious Mingo, and calling him a disappointment this season.  

Statistically, he looks pretty bad compared to Jabaal Sheard.

This is more in-the-box thinking and analysis.  Anybody who reads this blog (haha) already knows what's wrong here, because I first talked about this when he was drafted:

What separated Mingo from all but one other 3-4 OLB candidate in his draft class was his ability to C O V E R.

I suggested two drafts ago that Mingo (with some work/practice) had all the physical tools to match up with scary tight ends and even bigger wide recievers in coverage.

People tend to scoff at this notion--even as they admit that it's true--because the parrots all say passrush sacks sacks passrush outside linebacker sacks blahblah and never learned to say "coverage".

It's true that a 3-4 defense uses the two outside 'backers to rush the passer a lot, and that this is their primary role.  That's the box.

The differences here are several.  One, this is a flexible hybrid defense, and based on the personnel Pettine inherited and acquired, the logical base is actually a 4-3 more than a 3-4.  Two, Mingo is the only 3-4 type OLB on this roster who could also excel as a 4-3 outside linebacker.

Mingo can run with the fastest tight ends and some big wide recievers.  Despite his height, he can change directions quickly without losing much speed.  Kruger, Sheard, etc. can't do this.  Ideally, they're either kept out of coverage, or else they drop into a zone.

As the coaches have TOLD YOU more than once, Mingo isn't USED the same way as the other guys, for those very reasons.  As the coaches have TOLD you  several times, they are HAPPY with how well Mingo has done, and is progressing in this defense.

What doesn't show up in the stat sheet is the number of times opposing quarterbacks haven't thrown the ball to a given reciever because Mingo was in the way.

This is why, when asked about Mingo's weight, Pettine and company keep telling you it's not an issue!  He is NOT a conventional 3-4 OLB!

Sheard and Kruger are.  They're DE/LB hybrids.  The problem here is that most analysts know that Mingo played defensive end in college, and got their box and magic marker out for him right then.

Forget what he did in college, ok?  In the NFL he's a linebacker period.  If there's a hybrid element to him, you can call him a 3-4/4-3 OLB.  Strong side or weak side, for that matter.

As Pettine mentioned, as the season progresses, he'll probably be sent after the quarterback more often.  

No doubt, Mingo is reading this crap, thinking about his next contract, and chafing about this himself.  

I suspect that the coaches wanted him to focus on coverage more, because he'd had little experience doing it prior to this season.  The passrush part of his game has been subdued so far, but he'll be doing it more down the road.

He might never be used quite like Sheard or Kruger, though.  He would probably come from farther outside, even when he loops across the tackle's face to come inside.  He's faster but lighter than the other guys, and they'll try not to make him engage and shed blockers...

You know--like a 4-3 outside blitzing linebacker?  Is any of this sinking in?