I just saw this, but it says nothing we don't already know. As a result of the issues with CB, they've been playing him in a role that wasn't planned for him. He's playing a lot farther back than they really intended. Rex said in a press conference earlier this year that the plan was to start Allen and Pryor at safety before moving Allen to corner, so their coverages would have been different.
Wouldn't we still have the same issue that we have now since Allen is probably worse than Pryor at diagnosing plays from deep?
Not necessarily. Part of the idea is that between Milliner, Patterson and McDougle, we would have better skill at outside CB. It's not only about playing deeper, it's about the overall range you have to cover. Better outside coverage would mean the safeties would have to be responsible more for the center of the field, hitting TE's and slot receivers and RB's. With our guys getting beat on the outside, Pryor has to play a more ranged role, moving to the outside to provide help while also playing the middle of the field. Pryor is more dominant when plays are funneled towards him, instead of requiring him to constantly go to the play.
That's kind of my point in that it has nothing really to do with Allen being moved from safety to CB and everything to do with us not having "better skill at outside CB", as you put it , as well as Pryor's limitations as a player. Note Allen shares those limitations and probably to a higher degree. Even with Milliner, Patterson and McDougle I think we would need at least one safety on the roster with better range. I know players often tend to look a lot better when they are not playing but not one of those 3 has a record of being so consistently skillful on the outside that it shrinks their safeties coverage areas.
ehh... worse is a strong word. But him and pryor pretty much gave up all of our passing TD's it seems like this year. Allen looks terrible (in coverage). Almost time to start looking for real quality players, PROVEN ones. We have enough young guys, time to start looking at Free Agents that can make instant impact.
In a best case scenario, Allen would play primarily a truer SS position with some nickel DB responsibilities. In Rex's defense, the SS tends to play a combination of in the box run support and man coverage on TE's. They take on some zone responsibilities in the shallow middle as well. Pryor would play the FS position, but remember that in Rex's defenses the FS position is closer to a second SS. He would play back a little farther, but his responsibilities would be more along the lines of run support and cover 1 zone. The principle is that quality man coverage CB's keep the outside/deep passes covered, forcing a pass over the middle or a dump pass. If the QB reads an open outsides receiver getting deep, he will take that throw forcing Pryor into the type of coverage he is less apt to be successful in. That's where Rex's emphasis on not giving up the deep ball comes from, as long as his CB's aren't giving up deep passes, his safeties can be more productive. A CB doesn't necessarily have to be a shutdown CB as long as they don't give up deep passes or chunk plays. I think Milliner is talented enough to shade coverage away from him, and between Patterson and McDougle, we'd have a the deep outside covered better. Pryor could stand to improve his angles when running perpendicular to the sideline, but is much better when running downhill, but there's no reason to believe that won't improve.
He won't get faster...just smarter. I seem to remember not so along ago we were afraid he'd hurt himself.
Pryor doesn't really need to get faster, he's pretty much on par with most FS and SS in terms of pure speed.
SEA plays primarily cover 1 and 3 with 2 very good cover CBs yet they still have Thomas back deep to clean things up. I don't see how Rex can run his scheme the way he wants without having either a dominant cover CB or rangy FS, if not both. Milliner's talent and potential just puts him at the top of the shit pile we have on our roster but he's done nothing really to make you trust that an effective pass defense can be yielded by shading coverage away from him.
Well there are differences in the rest of the defensive style, other than just the DB roles. Their 3 linebackers are used in zone coverage more, which takes care of a lot of the area that Pryor would be responsible for. Our LB's tend to be better blitzers, leaving the lower/middle of the field more open. Our defense wrks best with top talent at CB, so I guess we'll just have to agree to disagree about Milliner. McDougle's floor may be a slot CB, but his ceiling is definitely as an outside CB. He is a quality man cover guy, with good speed and although he's a on the shorter side at 5'10" he has a little more mass than most 5'10" CB's.
All we need is Pryor to change his name Rhodes, he already has the number, and his lack of coverage skills.
GTFO he is a rookie, starting. The kid hits like a hammer and he is all around the football. A couple of angle issues as last man, must make the tackle. He's going to be good in this league.
Lighten up Francis, I was joking. I think he is going to be good, he just needs some experience, Rex defense is not the easiest to play in, if he played the traditional 2 deep safety maybe Pryor makes an impact much quicker.
Yet its another example of Rex & his Tony Robbins philosophy on coaching. Call the players great (before they even play) and maybe this will cause them to be great.
