UDFA LB Azeez Al-Shaair, Florida Atlantic

Originally posted by dj43:

Originally posted by LottDMontanaO:

Originally posted by dj43:

Originally posted by StubbyNBY:

Originally posted by Luckycharms:

I agree. If Greenlaw struggles I hope we don't hesitate to put in Azeez. I really think he could be like an E Man, diamond in the ruff, unknown backup who has to play and ends up being surprisingly good.

I think Azeez will be better in pass pro than Greenlaw who is short and a bit slow. I do like Dre on early abs running downs. Good, sure tackler.

We're going to be starting two rookies and a second year guy at LB.....

One of those "rookies" is currently leading the conversation for DPOY. Warner is the communication head for the defense and has the absolute trust of Saleh. He knows the defense thoroughly and has been getting guys in the right place all year. As to Dre Greenlaw, he is going to be a solid player. Bet on it.

I could be wrong but I think Stubby was referring just to the LB position...in base, starting two rookies, Greenlaw at WILL & Al-Shaair at SAM, along with Warner at MIKE. One of the Matts mentioned Al-Shaair was the first one in at SAM with Greenlaw sliding over to WILL after Kwon went down last game.

OK. I missed that part. However, the SAM is not in the game very much. Could be even less as we face better passing teams where the nickel will become the base.

Good point about the SAM.

Originally posted by PopeyeJonesing:

Originally posted by StubbyNBY:

Originally posted by Luckycharms:

I agree. If Greenlaw struggles I hope we don't hesitate to put in Azeez. I really think he could be like an E Man, diamond in the ruff, unknown backup who has to play and ends up being surprisingly good.

I think Azeez will be better in pass pro than Greenlaw who is short and a bit slow. I do like Dre on early abs running downs. Good, sure tackler.


We're going to be starting two rookies and a second year guy at LB.....

Greenlaw is a few things, but slow ain't one of them. He's regularly top five in speed tracking for the 9ers and he's an LB

This! Greenlaw maybe the fastest LB on the whole team. He's all about speed .

Originally posted by dj43:

Originally posted by LottDMontanaO:

Originally posted by dj43:

Originally posted by StubbyNBY:

Originally posted by Luckycharms:

I agree. If Greenlaw struggles I hope we don't hesitate to put in Azeez. I really think he could be like an E Man, diamond in the ruff, unknown backup who has to play and ends up being surprisingly good.

I think Azeez will be better in pass pro than Greenlaw who is short and a bit slow. I do like Dre on early abs running downs. Good, sure tackler.

We're going to be starting two rookies and a second year guy at LB.....

One of those "rookies" is currently leading the conversation for DPOY. Warner is the communication head for the defense and has the absolute trust of Saleh. He knows the defense thoroughly and has been getting guys in the right place all year. As to Dre Greenlaw, he is going to be a solid player. Bet on it.

I could be wrong but I think Stubby was referring just to the LB position...in base, starting two rookies, Greenlaw at WILL & Al-Shaair at SAM, along with Warner at MIKE. One of the Matts mentioned Al-Shaair was the first one in at SAM with Greenlaw sliding over to WILL after Kwon went down last game.

OK. I missed that part. However, the SAM is not in the game very much. Could be even less as we face better passing teams where the nickel will become the base.

I'm worried more about the run defense game than the passing defense game. In the pass defense, as long as you put heat on the QB, it makes the guys covering the pass catchers job easier. Bosa, Ford, and Buckner pretty much have that in loads. My worry is if the 49ers fall behind, and have to play run defense - the wide 9 will have to be modified to be stouter against the run, and Greenlaw and Azeeze will have to worry about play action pass, which is what I think most rookie LB's always have a problem with.

Isn't it nice to be worried about the backup LB instead of the entire offense or defense or the entire team for a change. Last year we were hoping to get the #1 draft pick. This year we're hoping for the #1 seed in the playoffs.

Originally posted by CatchMaster80:
Isn't it nice to be worried about the backup LB instead of the entire offense or defense or the entire team for a change. Last year we were hoping to get the #1 draft pick. This year we're hoping for the #1 seed in the playoffs.

Good post - putting it into perspective

Let's hope Dre and/or Azeez came come thru

Originally posted by Mertonschickendance:

Originally posted by CatchMaster80:
Isn't it nice to be worried about the backup LB instead of the entire offense or defense or the entire team for a change. Last year we were hoping to get the #1 draft pick. This year we're hoping for the #1 seed in the playoffs.

Good post - putting it into perspective

Let's hope Dre and/or Azeez came come thru

Ditto!

Originally posted by Giedi:

Originally posted by dj43:

Originally posted by LottDMontanaO:

Originally posted by dj43:

Originally posted by StubbyNBY:

Originally posted by Luckycharms:
I agree. If Greenlaw struggles I hope we don't hesitate to put in Azeez. I really think he could be like an E Man, diamond in the ruff, unknown backup who has to play and ends up being surprisingly good.

I think Azeez will be better in pass pro than Greenlaw who is short and a bit slow. I do like Dre on early abs running downs. Good, sure tackler.

We're going to be starting two rookies and a second year guy at LB.....

One of those "rookies" is currently leading the conversation for DPOY. Warner is the communication head for the defense and has the absolute trust of Saleh. He knows the defense thoroughly and has been getting guys in the right place all year. As to Dre Greenlaw, he is going to be a solid player. Bet on it.

I could be wrong but I think Stubby was referring just to the LB position...in base, starting two rookies, Greenlaw at WILL & Al-Shaair at SAM, along with Warner at MIKE. One of the Matts mentioned Al-Shaair was the first one in at SAM with Greenlaw sliding over to WILL after Kwon went down last game.

OK. I missed that part. However, the SAM is not in the game very much. Could be even less as we face better passing teams where the nickel will become the base.

I'm worried more about the run defense game than the passing defense game. In the pass defense, as long as you put heat on the QB, it makes the guys covering the pass catchers job easier. Bosa, Ford, and Buckner pretty much have that in loads. My worry is if the 49ers fall behind, and have to play run defense - the wide 9 will have to be modified to be stouter against the run, and Greenlaw and Azeeze will have to worry about play action pass, which is what I think most rookie LB's always have a problem with.

Just the opposite with me. Greenlaw has been much better against the run than Kwon.

I worry more about defending against RBs and TEs in the passing game. That is where Kwon's experience comes into play. Greenlaw has plenty of speed to keep up, it is just the PA passing game that will be a learning curve for him. If Dre has spent enough film time to recognize PA, I think we will be fine.

Originally posted by dj43:

Just the opposite with me. Greenlaw has been much better against the run than Kwon.

I worry more about defending against RBs and TEs in the passing game. That is where Kwon's experience comes into play. Greenlaw has plenty of speed to keep up, it is just the PA passing game that will be a learning curve for him. If Dre has spent enough film time to recognize PA, I think we will be fine.

Agree definitely, the experience lost won't be replaced easily by the two rookies. There will be a learning curve. If the 49er offense can control the ball and get a lead and rest the defense against Midget, then the defense will have the energy to defend the pass and play the run.

A good lead will enable the 49ers (like in the Cardinal game) to play downhill and pass rush, and ignore - for the most part - any play action passes.

The D-Line has to contain Midget and shut down his scrambles, which is easier said than done. Otherwise, the linebackers will be exhausted covering the broken field routes. Seadderall is a good team, much tougher than the Cardinals, that's for sure. Its going to be a good test for the young linebackers.

This kid is a great story and a good football player. He would have probably been a 4th or 5th rd pick had he not tore his ACL. I think he will surprise a lot of people at how well he plays

Our defense is like "plug and play", this guy won't have to have the world on his shoulders, and since he's really good in coverage he won't be called in for run coverage assignments, while Greenlaw will that package, which is all we could ask for with all the talented pieces in this defense.

I think we're gonna be so damn fine with these guys.

Originally posted by Giedi:

I'm worried more about the run defense game than the passing defense game. In the pass defense, as long as you put heat on the QB, it makes the guys covering the pass catchers job easier. Bosa, Ford, and Buckner pretty much have that in loads. My worry is if the 49ers fall behind, and have to play run defense - the wide 9 will have to be modified to be stouter against the run, and Greenlaw and Azeeze will have to worry about play action pass, which is what I think most rookie LB's always have a problem with.

Alexander was not good against the run, he was a cover guy and made open field tackles.

Originally posted by MSteitz468:

Originally posted by Giedi:
I'm worried more about the run defense game than the passing defense game. In the pass defense, as long as you put heat on the QB, it makes the guys covering the pass catchers job easier. Bosa, Ford, and Buckner pretty much have that in loads. My worry is if the 49ers fall behind, and have to play run defense - the wide 9 will have to be modified to be stouter against the run, and Greenlaw and Azeeze will have to worry about play action pass, which is what I think most rookie LB's always have a problem with.

Alexander was not good against the run, he was a cover guy and made open field tackles.

Just from what I saw in pre-season and also the 3rd and 4th Qtrs of the Cardinal game, I think Greenlaw will be fine in pass defense. He's going to make rookie mistakes, no doubt about it. But Saleh can minimize those mistakes by sending him on blitzes (run and pass) and keeping him - as much as possible - away from coverage duties.

I think Greenlaw and Alexander have very similar athletic profiles and the only thing missing from Dre is Kwon's experience. Otherwise, I see them almost as the same kind of player. Again, a good pass rush will help the coverage, and of course, good coverage by Dre will help Bosa and Ford get to Midget. I think the strategy I'd adopt is to play keep away from that potent Seadderall offense and keep them cold and on the bench on game day. Hope the 49er offense can ice the Seadderal defense on gameday.

If we can get a good lead on them, I'm taking Greenlaw out and putting a DB in and playing Dime defense. I know they will just run the ball at that point against a dime defense, but I'd rather Wilson be running and getting (possibly) hit than staying back there and passing against a rookie LB.

i am concerned that there are only 4 LB's on the roster now. Def need to sign someone.

Better work on their tackling, Carson is hard to bring down.

Originally posted by jimrat:

Better work on their tackling, Carson is hard to bring down.

He fumbles a lot, need to punch the ball.