Preseason Game 1 Quick Hits

[RandomFan]

Just a few random, quick observations from the first game that I haven't seen mentioned anywhere else yet. Gonna post a relevant picture to the discussion to follow.

-- Unlike Seattle, we didn't play our 1-Tech Nose Tackle in a slanted position. The cocked NT over the Center is something Carroll has used for years. Instead we played across the Center straight on, either at the 1-Tech, or a true 0-tech a few times. We'll probably never know if this is simply something Quinn likes to do differently, or if it's something that fits our players better, i.e. Soliai. But Mbu played the same way. It's a minor detail that is moderately interesting to me at least.

-- For the base defense we played the traditional Seattle defensive alignments I was expecting to see: 5-tech SDE of Jackson, 1-tech NT of Soliai, and 3-tech DT of Hageman. It was interesting to see that the 5-tech actually lined up quite often as a 4-tech instead. In fact, Jackson's sack came from a 4-tech alignment. Goodman was a 4-tech quite a bit after he subbed in for Jackson. I knew we'd see the 4-tech some, but if the first game is any indication Quinn might favor it more in his own defensive scheme over how often Carroll did.

-- We only played 3 snaps before Quinn subbed in the NASCAR D Line package. Out came Soliai, Hageman, and Jackson, in came Schofield, Babs, and Clayborn. We never did really see a true nickel package where it was a mix of big and small this game. It was either a regular big-boy base defense, or a full small-guy pass rushing NASCAR package. I'm sure that will change in the future, but it was an interesting observation nonetheless. It will be interesting to see what the rotation looks like in week 3 when the starting groups play the entire 1st half and into the 3rd quarter.

-- The alignment was interesting in the NASCAR sub package of Schofield, Babs, and Clayborn, and also the backups when they came in later. Both of the DE's were aligned as expected - as wide 9's well outside the far shoulder of the OT's. But the DT's were aligned in a 2i and a 4i technique. You'll notice in the picture above that those are unusual alignments, and not often seen. This seems to be a new Dan Quinn wrinkle added to the Seattle scheme. Of course I haven't watched enough of Seattle to know how often they use that alignment, so perhaps it's not so unusual. But what I have watched of them, it's not something I picked up on enough to say they did regularly do this.

-- Worrilow was in at LBer for every play, including sub packages, until the 1st string was pulled. A lot of us were wondering who our nickel LBers were going to be; well, at least for preseason week 1, we have our answer. The big question is going to be will Reed take his place there once he returns from injury? Or will Reed do like his counterpart in Seattle (Irvin) and move down to a pass rushing DE spot? Something to keep an eye on going forward.

[Dirtybird56]

Interesting stuff. Good post. Soliai and TJax looked like 2 different dudes compared to last year

[Lornoth]

I imagine whether the LE lines up at a 4 or 5 may be influenced by whether we Over or Under the defense. If we're Over and the SAM is up at the line it may make more sense for only one of the LE and SAM to line up outside the RT, instead of both. Just a guess though.

[RandomFan]

I imagine whether the LE lines up at a 4 or 5 may be influenced by whether we Over or Under the defense. If we're Over and the SAM is up at the line it may make more sense for only one of the LE and SAM to line up outside the RT, instead of both. Just a guess though.

Doesn't really have anything to do with it. And the DE's don't switch sides on an Under to Over switch, just the two DTs. Either way, they were lined up in a 4-tech in an Under front.

[Lornoth]

Doesn't really have anything to do with it. And the DE's don't switch sides on an Under to Over switch, just the two DTs. Either way, they were lined up in a 4-tech in an Under front.

I'm aware the DE's don't switch sides, but the LB'ers switch who's up to the line, usually, which was my point. If you have two players on one side, both outside the RT, that leaves a B gap open.

[Califalcon0013]

Reed well probaly be standing up like kroy was when we had 5 (4 dl & 1lb)guys on the line of scrimmage

Edited August 18, 2015 by Califalcon0013

[FenixFalcon]

Interesting stuff. Good post. Soliai and TJax looked like 2 different dudes compared to last year

It was hard to tell if it was Jackson or Clayborn on the field on some of the snaps. I literally had to re-watch several times over to verify the Jersey numbers on the play because they look so similar. Once I realized they were only playing Clayborn in the Nascar and Jackson in the 4-3 Under it became clear who was who. It amazes me how slim they are though, they both look in much better shape and play very fast off the line.

[FenixFalcon]

Reed well probaly be standing up like kroy was when we had 5 (4 dl & 1lb)guys on the line of scrimmage

I concur. I'm willing to bet Reed will start over Biermann, as Beirmann had the start in our 4-3 Under.

[RandomFan]

I concur. I'm willing to bet Reed will start over Biermann, as Beirmann had the start in our 4-3 Under.

That's not much of a bet, it's a given.

[FenixFalcon]

That's not much of a bet, it's a given.

I just meant in specifics of where Reed will play. I'm pretty sure he will play where they have been putting Biermann at).

[RandomFan]

I just meant in specifics of where Reed will play. I'm pretty sure he will play where they have been putting Biermann at).

In base yes, that is well known. But that was never the question. The question is in sub packages, as I said in my initial post in this thread. There is no SLB position in the sub packages: either he will be pulled, or he will be one of the two off-ball coverage linebackers alongside Durant, or he will move to a wide 9 DE position. That is the question. And if he moves to one of the coverage linebacker spots, that would push Worrilow to the bench in sub packages.

My first guess is that we'll continue to see Worrilow as a nickel linebacker and Reed will rotate between pass rushing DE and taking a rest on the bench during sub packages. But we won't know until the regular season.

[Mid-Nite-Toker]

We never did really see a true nickel package where it was a mix of big and small this game.

But we won't know until the regular season.

From what I saw preseason game 1 Quinn shouldn't overplay his hand.