I might be the only one to vote Spoon v Nabers, but hear me out. Spoon could get multiple interceptions that game because of lack of weapons in New York. Nabers as a rookie with a mediocre QB could produce loads of impact plays for Spoon.
I think we might see a little bit of the match-up game, but I think mostly Mike Mac will just let them play their spots. If you move Spoon over to RCB and Woolen to LCB or some other spot, they are both playing out of position. I think they are both good enough to stay in their spots, and play who's in front of them. This assumes Woolen has successfully extracted his head out of his arse (reports say, as always, the procedure was a success).
In Year 1 I expect Mike Mac not to get too cute with the matchup game. Run the defense, do your job, play with extraordinary effort, and play tough. There's enough talent that he shouldn't often have to play the match up game very often.
Woolen had a tackling lapse, but his coverage was great all year. I think he'll be fine. I don't get how many folks are willing to discard Woolen because of getting overpowered in the run game a few times while doing the more important pass defense thing extraordinarily well, and at the same time keep these same folks keep wondering when Coby Bryant will get more snaps when he is always out of position and gives up big plays constantly. Woolen is fine.
Agreed his pass coverage was still solid even if his run support wasn't. I was more perturbed by him shaking his junk at the Arizona sideline after (barely) beating the 4-13 Cardinals. That's the kind of stuff that seems to imply Pete was no longer holding players accountable.
He definitely plays bigger than his frame. But I don't think he would even know how to dial it back. That's just who he is as a player. Fingers crossed he stays healthy. Hopefully he put on a little armor over the offseason. I'd like to see him at least at 190.
Hopefully they can find someone who can play the Nickle as it is supposed to be played - DW was really starting to get that- and it was nice to see since they haven't had anyone do it justice for along time! But he can certainly play anywhere MM wants to put him in the secondary maybe short of strong safety.
“But I think it is safe to say that if an offense has one standout receiver on their offense that Macdonald’s best bet is to put Witherspoon on that player as much as possible.”
Can’t agree. Putting Witherspoon on the best receiver and Woolen on the second-best does not play to either player’s strengths. To the extent that this is about coverage, put Woolen on the best receiver and free up Witherspoon to wreak havoc.
If he can hang with guys on shorter throws across the middle and get some PD's, that's what I want to see. We've been burned too many times on uncontested underneath throws that keep extending drives, even on 3rd and long. Let's put an end to that!
It'll be interesting to see how they use ol' 'Spoon. We may be putting the cart a little ahead of the horse in assuming that Witherspoon will be used as a straight number one cover type of guy. I have no real expectations yet. I'm not sure how MM will use him but he's going to be a huge piece of what we're doing on D. Fun article to get the brain thinking about what we are up against and what the match ups will look like throughout the year.
If we lock down opponent's #1 WR with Spoon, then they don't have to wonder whether he is coming on a blitz, or not. Seems like he is most dangerous in the slot.
I am with you. I see him staying in the middle of the field where his versatility and football IQ are maximized. I just don’t see him as the corner that is isolated man on man to shut down the number one guy. That is old school and at minimum a great coverage tell. If Witherspoon is doing a Reeves Island / Neon Deion impression then
In terms of being a difference maker, Spoon having huge games against the 49ers and Rams are what I see as most crucial. How about picking Purdy off at the goal line and taking it to the house on TNF with Richard Sherman there to punctuate it. Then cap off the season against the Rams in a nationally televised flex game with a pick to end Stafford and the Rams season and put us in the playoffs. The legend begins....
You said you spend at least a bit of time learning Xs and Os football every day. Where and how do you do that? I love that aspect of the game but after reading a couple layman books I can’t find great content. I’d love to learn, for example, how to understand the intricacies of run blocking better, or different route and play concepts.
I might be the only one to vote Spoon v Nabers, but hear me out. Spoon could get multiple interceptions that game because of lack of weapons in New York. Nabers as a rookie with a mediocre QB could produce loads of impact plays for Spoon.
I think we might see a little bit of the match-up game, but I think mostly Mike Mac will just let them play their spots. If you move Spoon over to RCB and Woolen to LCB or some other spot, they are both playing out of position. I think they are both good enough to stay in their spots, and play who's in front of them. This assumes Woolen has successfully extracted his head out of his arse (reports say, as always, the procedure was a success).
In Year 1 I expect Mike Mac not to get too cute with the matchup game. Run the defense, do your job, play with extraordinary effort, and play tough. There's enough talent that he shouldn't often have to play the match up game very often.
Woolen had a tackling lapse, but his coverage was great all year. I think he'll be fine. I don't get how many folks are willing to discard Woolen because of getting overpowered in the run game a few times while doing the more important pass defense thing extraordinarily well, and at the same time keep these same folks keep wondering when Coby Bryant will get more snaps when he is always out of position and gives up big plays constantly. Woolen is fine.
Agreed his pass coverage was still solid even if his run support wasn't. I was more perturbed by him shaking his junk at the Arizona sideline after (barely) beating the 4-13 Cardinals. That's the kind of stuff that seems to imply Pete was no longer holding players accountable.
The only thing I don’t like about Witherspoon in the slot is his size and the risk of injury.
He definitely plays bigger than his frame. But I don't think he would even know how to dial it back. That's just who he is as a player. Fingers crossed he stays healthy. Hopefully he put on a little armor over the offseason. I'd like to see him at least at 190.
Cool clup?
Hopefully they can find someone who can play the Nickle as it is supposed to be played - DW was really starting to get that- and it was nice to see since they haven't had anyone do it justice for along time! But he can certainly play anywhere MM wants to put him in the secondary maybe short of strong safety.
“But I think it is safe to say that if an offense has one standout receiver on their offense that Macdonald’s best bet is to put Witherspoon on that player as much as possible.”
Can’t agree. Putting Witherspoon on the best receiver and Woolen on the second-best does not play to either player’s strengths. To the extent that this is about coverage, put Woolen on the best receiver and free up Witherspoon to wreak havoc.
I had to split hairs between JJ and Marvin Jr... the tiebreaker was that it is a divisional matchup
If he can hang with guys on shorter throws across the middle and get some PD's, that's what I want to see. We've been burned too many times on uncontested underneath throws that keep extending drives, even on 3rd and long. Let's put an end to that!
It'll be interesting to see how they use ol' 'Spoon. We may be putting the cart a little ahead of the horse in assuming that Witherspoon will be used as a straight number one cover type of guy. I have no real expectations yet. I'm not sure how MM will use him but he's going to be a huge piece of what we're doing on D. Fun article to get the brain thinking about what we are up against and what the match ups will look like throughout the year.
If we lock down opponent's #1 WR with Spoon, then they don't have to wonder whether he is coming on a blitz, or not. Seems like he is most dangerous in the slot.
I am with you. I see him staying in the middle of the field where his versatility and football IQ are maximized. I just don’t see him as the corner that is isolated man on man to shut down the number one guy. That is old school and at minimum a great coverage tell. If Witherspoon is doing a Reeves Island / Neon Deion impression then
In terms of being a difference maker, Spoon having huge games against the 49ers and Rams are what I see as most crucial. How about picking Purdy off at the goal line and taking it to the house on TNF with Richard Sherman there to punctuate it. Then cap off the season against the Rams in a nationally televised flex game with a pick to end Stafford and the Rams season and put us in the playoffs. The legend begins....
Unrelated question:
You said you spend at least a bit of time learning Xs and Os football every day. Where and how do you do that? I love that aspect of the game but after reading a couple layman books I can’t find great content. I’d love to learn, for example, how to understand the intricacies of run blocking better, or different route and play concepts.