hjerry Posted October 22, 2014 Share Posted October 22, 2014 So I keep hearing that we need better coverage ability from our LBs, that what we have, just isn't cutting it. However, not having watched a ton of other teams myself, I wonder who is out there, that would be a step up in coverage ability at that position. Who in FA is going to be available, that would be an improvement? I did some research and found a few, that seem to have a history of making plays in coverage, but I don't know if I'm right about them, or not, and if they'd fit here, and if I'm missing some. Here are the names that I've found.Mason Foster and K.J. Wright, both seem to be the best out of the FAs in 2015, but, with what these teams are projected to have in cap space, I'd be very surprised if they got away, so here's tier two.Malcolm Smith SeahawksBrooks Reed TexansBruce Carter CowboysLance Briggs BearsIf there's anybody that I've missed, please let me know. I'd also like your opinion on if these are any good. Finally, if there are any that you believe that will be released, and become FAs, then feel free to post them as well. Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Real Tony G. Posted October 22, 2014 Share Posted October 22, 2014 Mason Foster always looked like a good player to me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DonDaLuvMaker Posted October 22, 2014 Share Posted October 22, 2014 Mason Foster always looked like a good player to me.I heard that Mason Foster wasn't good in coverage from Buc fans. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hjerry Posted October 22, 2014 Author Share Posted October 22, 2014 I heard that Mason Foster wasn't good in coverage from Buc fans.Yeah, you see, I don't know. I based a lot of this on reports that I read, and stats. I'd love someone with PFF, or, even better, someone who's watched these guys, to correct me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rai Posted October 22, 2014 Share Posted October 22, 2014 Best cover linebackers in FA imo - KJ Wright, Sean Weatherspoon and Lance Briggs. But of course, there is always a drawback. Briggs is getting old, Spoon is injured a lot and I don't think Wright will be cheap.If you go by PFF, neither Wright or Briggs have been that good in coverage this year but they've been fine in previous seasons. Mason Foster has never graded well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hjerry Posted October 22, 2014 Author Share Posted October 22, 2014 Best cover linebackers in FA imo - KJ Wright, Sean Weatherspoon and Lance Briggs. But of course, there is always a drawback. Briggs is getting old, Spoon is injured a lot and I don't think Wright will be cheap.If you go by PFF, neither Wright or Briggs have been that good in coverage this year but they've been fine in previous seasons. Mason Foster has never graded well.Thank you. Any idea on how the other guys have graded, or if there are other FA LBs, that I missed, that are good in coverage? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brown bomber Posted October 22, 2014 Share Posted October 22, 2014 I say re-sign Spoon and do whatever it takes to get Hali. 1st rd we draft Shaq Thompson. Thompson can probably cover better than what's in FA. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rai Posted October 22, 2014 Share Posted October 22, 2014 Thank you. Any idea on how the other guys have graded, or if there are other FA LBs, that I missed, that are good in coverage?No, the only ones that seem to grade well in coverage every year are the truly elite ones like Willis, Bowman, Lee, Derrick Johnson etc. Almost everyone else is so hit-and-miss year-to-year.The LB FA market this year is really bare. Not many good players. I'd re-sign Spoon to a prove it deal, and see how it goes. Or draft someone like Kendricks in the 2nd. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hjerry Posted October 22, 2014 Author Share Posted October 22, 2014 No, the only ones that seem to grade well in coverage every year are the truly elite ones like Willis, Bowman, Lee, Derrick Johnson etc. Almost everyone else is so hit-and-miss year-to-year.The LB FA market this year is really bare. Not many good players. I'd re-sign Spoon to a prove it deal, and see how it goes. Or draft someone like Kendricks in the 2nd.So then, out of the ones that I listed, only Wright consistently gets positive grades? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndySG Posted October 22, 2014 Share Posted October 22, 2014 I wonder what kind of deal Spoon is expecting. I would resign him for cheap on the off chance he can be healthy, but I wouldn't count on him and think we don't need another good coverage linebacker. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rai Posted October 22, 2014 Share Posted October 22, 2014 So then, out of the ones that I listed, only Wright consistently gets positive grades?Wright and Carter are the only ones that had a positive coverage grade in both 2012 and 2013 (both currently negative this year though). Carter's run grade was abysmal last year however. These PFF grades are volatile. It's hugely factored by what they're asked to do, and that can change by year. E.g. - Two LB with equal coverage skills but one is asked to match up against a TE more is probably going to have a lower grade than the one who's asked to just cover running backs coming out from the backfield. Similar to how a cornerback that shadows a #1 is going to have a harder time than if he was playing RCB full time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DonDaLuvMaker Posted October 23, 2014 Share Posted October 23, 2014 Malcolm Smith is a very fast LB, who I think ran like a mid 4.4 at the combine.I have seen him play during some games where he looked good in coverage.I don't know how good he has been over the course of his entire career so far when it comes to coverage, but he does show that he has upside and potential at only 25 years old. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hjerry Posted October 23, 2014 Author Share Posted October 23, 2014 Wright and Carter are the only ones that had a positive coverage grade in both 2012 and 2013 (both currently negative this year though). Carter's run grade was abysmal last year however. These PFF grades are volatile. It's hugely factored by what they're asked to do, and that can change by year. E.g. - Two LB with equal coverage skills but one is asked to match up against a TE more is probably going to have a lower grade than the one who's asked to just cover running backs coming out from the backfield. Similar to how a cornerback that shadows a #1 is going to have a harder time than if he was playing RCB full time.So, based on what you've said, it looks like the only real upgrades would be Wright or Briggs. Carter sounds like he'd be trading one skill for another. Briggs might be a good option for a short term deal, since he seems to still playing at a high level, if anything just for the leadership upgrade. Other than that, resigning Spoon to a Peters deal, might be the best course of action. I highly doubt that the Seahawks let him walk though.Hey, just out of curiosity, what are Patrick Willis and Ahmad Brooks coverage/run defense grades? What I mean is, who's better, and in which category? Sorry to ask all this of you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hjerry Posted October 23, 2014 Author Share Posted October 23, 2014 Malcolm Smith is a very fast LB, who I think ran like a mid 4.4 at the combine.I have seen him play during some games where he looked good in coverage.I don't know how good he has been over the course of his entire career so far when it comes to coverage, but he does show that he has upside and potential at only 25 years old.I'm curious as to how Smith and Wright both grade out against the pass and the run, especially, after finding this:http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1884548-malcolm-smiths-past-production-proves-seahawks-wont-miss-a-beat-on-defense Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hjerry Posted October 23, 2014 Author Share Posted October 23, 2014 According to this, at least so far this year, both Smith and Wright are struggling.http://blogs.seattletimes.com/seahawks/2014/09/25/reviewing-the-pro-football-focus-grades-of-the-seahawk-players-after-three-weeks/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rai Posted October 23, 2014 Share Posted October 23, 2014 So, based on what you've said, it looks like the only real upgrades would be Wright or Briggs. Carter sounds like he'd be trading one skill for another. Briggs might be a good option for a short term deal, since he seems to still playing at a high level, if anything just for the leadership upgrade. Other than that, resigning Spoon to a Peters deal, might be the best course of action. I highly doubt that the Seahawks let him walk though.Hey, just out of curiosity, what are Patrick Willis and Ahmad Brooks coverage/run defense grades? What I mean is, who's better, and in which category? Sorry to ask all this of you.2012 Run D/Coverage gradeWillis: +15.1/+9.8Brooks: +8.0/+1.62013Willis: +8.1/+6.1Brooks: +3.7/-2.02014Willis: -0.2/+2.5Brooks: -1.0/+0.9 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rai Posted October 23, 2014 Share Posted October 23, 2014 According to this, at least so far this year, both Smith and Wright are struggling.http://blogs.seattle...er-three-weeks/Yeah, both have graded poorly this year. I'm still high on Wright though because he's still young and talented and has a past of good grades. Run D/Pass CoverageWright: +5.6/-8.2Smith: +0.3/-5.6 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.