Why We Drafted Shaq

[Peppers90 NC]

honestly, Shaqs cover skills, play recognition and ball hawking are his best assets. Thats why he got drafted here...so that he can cover a large portion of the field regarding pass coverage and allow TD and Luke free to stop the run and possibly get pressure on the QB.

Didn't Jones blitz on that play leaving coverage to Boston? Shaq wouldn't have gotten to the QB either and result would have been similar.

In general, he may be an upgrade in that spot. Hopefully Jones can move over for Harper because Colin had a solid year in that package.

[Cary Kollins]

why peter king will always be the worst

 

 

GM I Couldn’t Figure Out

Dave Gettleman, Carolina. None of these things can be judged for at least a couple of years, of course, so Gettleman, who has done a good job being patient in his Carolina rebuild, deserves time to see if he’s right and everyone else is wrong. But with a significant tackle need (Carolina is due to start the shaky Michael Oher on Cam Newton’s blind side, no pun intended), I thought Gettleman over-drafted Shaq Thompson at 25. Thompson certainly would have been there 10 or more picks later. And picking wide receiver/tight end combo guy Devin Funchess at 41 was a significant reach, according to the chorus of GMs I spoke with over the weekend. “Can be lazy and become disinterested in the game if he goes stretches without being utilized,” Ourlads Guide to the NFL Draft wrote of Funchess. “Lazy blocker … Inconsistent hands.” But Gettleman didn’t just reach for Funchess. He traded third- and sixth-round picks to move up to get him. There will be significant pressure on the 14th tackle picked in this draft, fourth-round pick Daryl Williams, to produce at tackle for Carolina. Everybody has opinions this time of year, but Gettleman made some unusual calls that also will be under the microscope for the Panthers this year.

 

 

Oh please do tell me moar while gazing into your crystal balls Peter.

[Mvp2014]

And when you have a LB who can play the Big Nickel it really messes with the defensive coordinators in their play calling and QBs on their pre snap reads. When you have 3 LBs who can cover and fill the Big Nickel, a QB has no definite pre snap read as zone and man will be hard to determine. Also, the QB will need more time to process the play after the snap.

 

Here is an example:

 

Russell Wilson has his pre-snap read and knows where he is going with the ball. He is going to Kease on Jones knowing that the only possible threat is the deep safety. The clock is stopped at 1:01 minutes.

 

 

 

In 1 second, Wilson is already throwing the ball to a spot behind the safety. Thomas Davis has an excellent pass rush on and would close in 1.5 seconds after the blitz. No chance to get the the QB in 1 second. This is where LBs who can cover like safeties put the offense at a disadvantage. Create enough hesitation for the QB and this becomes a defensive advantage.

 

 

 

Even with strong coverage by Boston, the pre-snap advantage for the offense was too much to overcome.

 

 

 

The addition of Shaq Thompson is going to open up the defensive play book and minimize subpackage substituions. A much greater challenge for even the best QBs in the NFL.

Exactly.  QBs will be brainf***ing themselves trying to figure out our coverage since formation will rarely change, only presnap looks.  

[SgtJoo]

why peter king will always be the worst

 

 

 

 

 

Oh please do tell me moar while gazing into your crystal balls Peter.

 

Especially when Dallas was ready to take him at 27.

[CelticCat]

I believe Boston copped to having "dirty eyes" on that play too. He'll learn.

[Semaj]

Kind of ironic that we got the hometown Washington Huskies LB to help us beat the Seattle Seahawks. If he ends up being one of the main differences, there will be some pissed off UW /SEATTLE fans. Go get them Shaq!

[uscgamecocks]

I think the idea behind Shaq helping is that the Seahawks had seen that exact blitz package on tape and knew Jones was going. You can see the receiver at the top of the screen pointing out the blitz.

When they saw the blitz the receiver had an option route and Boston was done.

With Shaq we don't have to sub into nickel (or buffalo). He can drop into coverage, blitz, or stop the run. Much more unpredictable.

[The NFL Shield At Midfield]

why peter king will always be the worst

 

 

 

 

 

Oh please do tell me moar while gazing into your crystal balls Peter.

 

i'm glad he pointed out that he didn't intend to make a pun with his "blind side" reference.  i was confused for a second.