Dan Labbe wrote a couple good articles on the second OTA which was open to the media (just click this and keep scrolling.)
Face it: I'm reaching (and so is Dan) because there's not much to write about, and it's just OTAs. They don't mean that much. You look for positive flashes, or impressive rookies, but you can't take anything to the bank.
Nobody should be surprised that Denzel Ward looks really good. He's a man-corner, and that's not nearly as complicated as some people seem to think. He's doing exactly what he did at Ohio State.
He did break up a fade to Stretch Gordon, who is four inches taller and 30 lbs bigger, and that's impressive.
This can happen more often than not vs skyscrapers, as it did with Shorty Haden in his prime, but there's an asterisk:
If Tyrod had thrown a perfect pass, Ward couldn't have prevented the reception.
It's just that most quarterbacks, including even some in the top five, can't consistently hit that dime that deep. I mean, your pinky could twitch, and cause the ball to drop two feet shorter than you intend.
Tyrod Taylor has decent touch and accuracy, but is by no means a sharpshooter. He represents the vast majority of quarterbacks in a league that seems to prioritize arm-strength over accuracy.
Ward will win many of these battles, because perfect placement (deep/vertical) is the exception, and not the rule.
Called digression: Popgun Sipe to Stretch Logan was different: Sam Rutigliano allowed Brian Sipe to throw a "punt" (very high, arcing pass) in the general direction of basketball star Dave Logan, and Logan either drew a flag or out-jumped however many defensive backs flocked around him.
No kidding, youngsters: I called it a punt because it had similar hang-time. Vs many defenses, Haley could do that with Njoku or Gordon, even today.
End of digression: On the flip side, Denzel Wards don't grow on trees, and even with so-so quarterback accuracy, Gordon will catch the majority of these fades.
Ward (and company) vs Gordon and Landry is just great training; you can't find better sparring partners to tune up with:
Landry and Gordon are each elite players, but very different from eachother. These cornerbacks have to try to stifle both, and will be prepared for both these types.
And so far, so good (per Dan): The defense in general "won" this public session. Dan says none of the quarterbacks did much, and there were a bunch of breakups and a couple interceptions...
Demarius Randall picked one off on a deflection off Landry's hands. Don't expect that to happen much, because Landry has exceptional hands (and coordination).
I haven't seen the play, but guess that Tyrod was a little "off", and Jarvis didn't quite "salvage" it. More reps will help with this, but on the other side:
Randall was in position to make this play. That means he diagnosed the pass, and was moving to stop Landry (or blow him up). A lot of free safeties get easy picks this way, especially when quarterbacks have to rush their throws, or throw off-balance.
The very best free safeties see the ball in the air, and instantly know how to play it. If the receiver can catch it in-stride, he goes for the pick or big hit. If he'll have to dive or break stride, he slows down a little, since the receiver is a sitting duck anyway.
It's too early to compare Demarius Randall to Ed Reed just yet, but he's certainly a big upgrade over the 2017 Jabrill Peppers at free safety (and an upgrade is an upgrade).
But Peppers is more than a "strong safety". It amazes me that everybody but me seems to have forgotten Gregg Williams' patented safety/linebacker hybrid player already, especially since Rodney Kindredfield filled that role (admirably) in 2017...
And especially since, for Harbaugh in his last college season, Peppers was mainly a weakside linebacker! Jabrill Peppers was a Gregg Williams pick (trust me).
Despite how well Kindred performed as the safetybacker in 2017, Peppers does look like an upgrade. He's quicker and faster, and a little better in coverage; just a better athlete.
Everybody assumes that the defensive line has been upgraded, based exclusively on Dorsey vs Sashi Brown. That's questionable. The young players will of course improve, but that's built in.
Incredibly, some pundits still hallucinate a "lack of depth" at linebacker, but the addition of one player: Denard Avery--has upgraded linebacker depth dramatically (not that this was neccessary), along with team speed.
But the secondary? This was an overhaul, man! Upgrades across the board (except at nickel, but Boddy-Calhoun is only entering his third season, so he might be even better (if that's possible).
And they're sparring with Gordon and Landry? Oh, just look tf out for this crew in 2018! They were in the bottom five in 2017, but could be in the top five this season!
Competition is good. Competition works. (Hey, I bet I could have said that about "greed" too! Gotta write that down)...
No comments:
Post a Comment