Falcons Fan MVP Posted July 13, 2020 Share Posted July 13, 2020 We all have our opinion on weather or not the Falcons should play Keanu Neal at Linebacker this year. But at the end if the day it's up to Dan Quinn and Raheem Morris with some possible imput from Neal himself. My question is what do you think the likelihood is that Keanu Neal will play linebacker in 2020 with Raheem Morris and Jeff Ulbrich running the defense? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Falcon Man™ Posted July 13, 2020 Share Posted July 13, 2020 No. SoCalFalconFan 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
autigerfan Posted July 13, 2020 Share Posted July 13, 2020 I think it is very possible given the makeup of our current roster (lack of LB depth, abundance of starting caliber talent at S). Given that we have already seen Kemal Ishmael have a successful transition to the LB position, I don't see why Neal couldn't make the move. He has similar size and is more athletic. PokerSteve and Falcons Fan MVP 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MAD597 Posted July 13, 2020 Share Posted July 13, 2020 No, maybe let him not get injured for a few games before deciding to move him to another position. Falcons Fan MVP 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lowndesfalc Posted July 13, 2020 Share Posted July 13, 2020 They were using him at lb some before he was injured. So yeah I think he will get more lb snaps this season if he can remain healthy. Of course that is the big question... Falcons Fan MVP 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snozberies17 Posted July 13, 2020 Share Posted July 13, 2020 While I think he could easily switch positions and be a great LB for us... I'd try to keep him at SS and re-establish him as the tone setting safety. Instead of a permanent switch, I would use him like a swiss army knife and move him all around the field to confuse the offense. I also think that Olokoun could take that next step in his game this year... typically the make or break year for players entering their 3rd year. mtldirtybird, Falcons Fan MVP and PokerSteve 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PokerSteve Posted July 13, 2020 Share Posted July 13, 2020 31 minutes ago, Snozberies17 said: While I think he could easily switch positions and be a great LB for us... I'd try to keep him at SS and re-establish him as the tone setting safety. Instead of a permanent switch, I would use him like a swiss army knife and move him all around the field to confuse the offense. I also think that Olokoun could take that next step in his game this year... typically the make or break year for players entering their 3rd year. He is a force at SS so it's hard to imagine they won't use him there, but he could really be a headache for offenses if he gets to freelance and play a different assignment on virtually every snap. Falcons Fan MVP 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GrimeyKidd Posted July 13, 2020 Share Posted July 13, 2020 He essentially already does with how the SS is featured on defense. But I would like to see him as the nickel LB allow for Kazee and Allen to be the deep safeties Falcons Fan MVP 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SoCalFalconFan Posted July 13, 2020 Share Posted July 13, 2020 1 hour ago, Falcon Man™ said: No. This. Emphatically. Falcon Man™ 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SavvyFalcon89 Posted July 13, 2020 Share Posted July 13, 2020 Maybe we run more of a big nickel look to get all three safeties on the field ? I mean we typically played Keanu inside the box anyway. Vandy 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lowndesfalc Posted July 13, 2020 Share Posted July 13, 2020 Falcoholic just happened to do a write up on Keanu today. Falcons player profile: S Keanu Neal We’re kicking off our Falcons player profile series with a look at the projected starters. We continue our safety preview with Keanu Neal, who enters a pivotal season on his fifth-year option in 2020. By Kevin Knight on July 13, 2020 3:00 pm Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images We’re in the depths of the offseason here at The Falcoholic, and there has been little to nothing in the way of interesting news in ages. So, we’ll have to make some content of our own in the meantime. Over the next few weeks, I’ll be bringing you a new Player Profile series where we’ll take a look at each of the players on Atlanta’s roster. I’ll break down their measurables, past production, and try to project their 2020 season with the Falcons. We’ll get things started with the projected starters. The fifth group—and final one on defense—will be safety. The Falcons kept things largely the same here heading into 2020, with the lone addition being fourth-round selection Jaylinn Hawkins as a developmental backup for Keanu Neal at strong safety. Today, we take a closer look at strong safety starter Keanu Neal, who enters a pivotal season in 2020 on his fifth-year option. S Keanu Neal Age: 24 (25 during 2020 season) Contract: $6.46M cap hit in 2020, free agent in 2021 Career Production: 34 games played, 34 games started | 238 total tackles, 6 TFL, 8 FF, 14 PD, 1 INT 2019 Production: 3 games played, 3 games started | 14 total tackles, 12.5% missed tackle rate | 70% completion percentage allowed, 85.4 passer rating allowed Neal followed up his strong rookie season with an even better 2017, where he was named to his first Pro Bowl. Expectations were similarly high for him heading into 2018, but Neal suffered his season-ending ACL tear in Week 1 against the Eagles—heralding what would be a miserable, injury-plagued season for Atlanta. In 2019, Neal returned and managed 3 games before suffering a similar fate, this time an Achilles injury. For whatever reason—his skillset, his leadership, or his mere presence—the Falcons defense just falls off a cliff when Neal isn’t on the field. Hopefully he can return healthy for the 2020 season. Projection: Neal, if healthy, should return to a high-level of play in 2020. It may not be 2017 Pro Bowl-level, but it will be above-average at worst for a strong safety—which is miles ahead of what the Falcons have had at the position in his absence. Just don’t be surprised if Neal has a slow start to the season as he continues to rehab his Achilles injury. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wade C Posted July 13, 2020 Share Posted July 13, 2020 22 is one of my favorite players. Mad respect for him. REALITY: While he is a TERROR across the middle and against the run (he will steal your soul and make you fumble), he is a LIABILITY against the pass. RBs and TEs have feasted against him one on one and it is twice as bad when they flex out to the line and he has to man up. He is constantly one step behind and cannot match up. Maybe Buchanan or Walker can cover RB/TEs? Campbell went to work against them last season and we "got by", but he is not around anymore and SOMEBODY has to pick up that role. But it won't be Neal, not if we are going to stop offenses. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HouseofEuphoria Posted July 14, 2020 Share Posted July 14, 2020 I would just like to see him healthy playing at SS. If he is healthy, then maybe some play components might would allow him to move around. But no one wants to see him get lit up by OL lead blockers on run plays. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Atl Falcon Posted July 14, 2020 Share Posted July 14, 2020 Just get him on the field and hope he stays healthy.....LB or SS Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
octoslash Posted July 14, 2020 Share Posted July 14, 2020 The Falcons won't play anyone at linebacker this year. Sipifalcon 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheFalcoholic Posted July 14, 2020 Share Posted July 14, 2020 Are we counting on him to stay healthy? Not saying he can’t, but for more it will be more of a pleasant surprise than anything. He was a stud but idk man. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smiler11 Posted July 14, 2020 Share Posted July 14, 2020 Whether he's listed as a LB or S, the majority of his snaps are going to continue to be in the box. To the naked eye, unless he's one of the 2 linebackers in nickel (presumably in front of Foye), it'll be impossible to distinguish. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tribal Chief Posted July 14, 2020 Share Posted July 14, 2020 Nah Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
UGABOZ Posted July 14, 2020 Share Posted July 14, 2020 no Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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