Originally posted by IHATELOWELLCOHN:
I feel bad for Mangini because I think he is a very capable and smart DC. Now with the loss of Aldon he's going to have to be even better. I felt this D would have been the most talented he's ever had. Losing Aldon though he is elite and a huge loss to the pass rush. I really hope Lynch and Harold will be able to provide a consistent pass rush from the outside and Tank's progression becomes even more critical from the inside along with Dockett on 3rd down. Basically everybody is going to have to step up production with Aldon now gone because I think he was poised for a monster year. We have to get something pass rush wise out of Lemonier because he now is higher on the depth chart. I will even take what he did his first year. Armstead and Dial will be critical to the OLB tying up blockers but I think they are up for it.
Originally posted by Homer:
Don't feel bad for him, Even without Aldon our defense is a pretty sweet gig IMO.
The more I've been thinking about it the more excited I get about Mangini and the defense. So many young guys I've been waiting to see will finally get their chances. Healthy Dorsey. Bowman back. Been getting pumped up about it all day.
Originally posted by LasVegasWally:
Add to that a real Dline rotation to maintain the attack!
Originally posted by Baldie:
Well I'm looking forward to see what Mangini can do with the D. I just recall the days when he was with the Patriots. Was he with the Patriots during those days that they always had Mannings number? Can't recall. Anyway....the D formations were always the same. Each down, they look the same to present the same look to the QB. But once the ball was snapped, total chaos because if pressure was sent, there was no indication of where it was coming from. This is the defense I'm looking forward to seeing. We have the DL to apply the pressure and still have the LB's to blitz or stay in coverage.
No doubt Aldon is a huge loss on potential alone and specifically, in Mangini's 'attack defensive" mindset. For the first time in his entire career, he was going to be moved around and put in position to attack from all over the place. I'm sure Mangini had all sorts of big plans for him, no doubt.
But, on the bright side, this is a TEAM defense concept. As alluded to by Reid and reiterated by Mangini himself, he's going to throw so many pre and post-snap looks, the QB nor the OC will know what's coming. His goal is to dictate an offense...not sit back and react to it in-play (Fangio). But without Aldon, that just puts added pressure to scheme up pressure when/where needed.
From what Reid said, one of the cool things about this new defense is that positions are interchangeable. He said they can run the exact same play 3 straight downs but the offense won't be able to recognize it b/c Mangini will move the personnel around for confusion. He absolutely LOVES 'flexibility' within the scheme. This means he can move guys all around for added confusion and play chess without losing a skill set...he highlighted Brooks as being one of those players who can play both OLB positions, slide inside to the TED/MIKE in goal line stances, move to the DL as needed, drop back in coverage in zone defense, cover RB's and TE's out of the backfield, seal the edge in run defense and pass rush. When you look at this roster, almost ALL of these guys have that flexibility worked in already for him.
Imagine the possibilities:
Defensive Personnel:
RDE: Quinton Dial; Tank Carradine &
Arik Armstead - Dial can play LDE or NT. Carradine can play both end positions and slide inside in the NICKEL. AA played both NT and DE in college and all three can be stout against the run and pass rush and be active players occupying OL.
NT: Ian Williams; (Glenn Dorsey & Quinton Dial)
- Can play both DE and NT. It stout enough in 2-gap and is an even better 1-gap slasher.
LDE: Glenn Dorsey; Darnell Dockett
- Doth can play DE sand NT and slide inside for added pass rush.
WILL: Ahmad Brooks;
Eli Harold - Brooks is already the most flexible of all our defenders and Harold just needs to learn his pass rushing packages right now and work on his run defense recognition and leverage/angles/tackling technique.
TED: Michael Wilhoite; Nick Moody
- Wilhoite can play either MIKE or SAM and Moody started out as a S (note all the INT's and PD's thus far) and can play either ILB spot or the robber-role (ILB/SS hybrid) in NICKEL like Tartt.
MIKE: Navarro Bowman; Nick Bellore
- Bowman can play either ILB spot and excels at inside pass rushing as well; excellent coverage ILB. He could be a fun piece to move outside from time to time and pass rush from the WILL or SAM spots. Bellore is a ST ace but can also be a real ILB as needed as well.
SAM: Aaron Lynch; Corey Lemonier
- Aaron spent all year mastering the SAM but with his pass rush abilities, you can ensure Mangini is going to work him in at the WILL as well once 100% healthy and build off his knowledge base and maximize his strengths and flexibility.
RCB: Shareece Wright; Dontae Johnson & Kenneth Acker
- Fans forget that Wright started his career working in the slot and then moved outside. We're now seeing Brock slide inside to the slot as well this TC. We all know Johnson plays both outside and inside as well (very well).
SLOT (S/CB): Jimmie Ward; Keith Reaser
- Ward is a hybrid S/CB. More versatility and flexibility here. Reaser, like AA and Harold, will be worked in on one role and be allowed to grow into more packages with knowledge, no doubt.
LCB: Tramaine Brock; (Dontae Johnson)
FS: Eric Reid; L.J. McCray (Jimmie Ward)
- S positions in the 3-4 are interchangeable by design. Reid can play deep or down in the box and has the range to cover sideline to sideline. McCray is a growing S who is also a ST ace and a freak of an athlete according to Reid.
SS: Antoine Bethea; (
Jaquiski Tartt)
- Bethea is an excellent blitzing S, outstanding in the box against the run with his experience and play recognition and can also play deep as needed.
NICKEL/DIME (SS/ILB Robber): Jaquiski Tartt - Tartt is the definition of flexible. Like Ward, he's coming in as a S but will learn the robber role (hybrid SS/ILB) as well when we go with 4 S's on the field in NICKEL.
The bottom line is, most players have already been cross-trained here and provide Mangini with a ton of flexibility to attack, sit back, provide pre and post-snap confusion, be WAY less predictable and he can play vanilla too if needed. I do feel bad for him and the plans he had for Aldon but it doesn't affect how he was going to run this team-attack defense either way (he said that himself). These chess pieces WILL be moved around and he will be looking to now dictate the offense with flexibility and talent. I couldn't be more excited about this defenses potential under Mangini.
[ Edited by NCommand on Aug 10, 2015 at 8:06 AM ]
