I wonder about these puff pieces sometimes.....- is the defense that crappy?
- is Mariota playing it too safe?
- is the coaching staff being too "kid gloves" with him?
- or is he really looking that good?
He only threw like 14 ints in college or somesuch.
Their LBers are very good and sorely underrated. Casey is a stud. Hill is great or soso depending on the day but most of all a 4-3 DT playing NT. Blackson has been a surprise and if he can continue to do well, they have a nice front seven. The pressure has been there and they're getting to him because most of the RBs are getting blasted for poor blitz pickups.
The secondary last year was pitiful and Michael Griffin had 20000 tackles as the last line of defense. He lost his freedom last year and had to be back deep just in case or double because of weak CB play etc. When he can truly play safety, he is a top player. Age wise he might not still be. It's a real shame for his career to be spent in Ed Reed and Polamalu's conference and IMO amazing he made the pro bowl twice. Twice he, not one of them, made it. Anywho...there's concern about his age and losing a step. Searcy had some good days and some where he didn't. They signed a Browns backup S (started a handful of games) and in just a day or two he's got people talking. They should be fine at Safety
CBs were terrible last year. I called them the closest fans as they ran right with the WR but didn't do a darn thing like swat at the ball, hit the WR or try to tackle them for a couple seconds. Cox is a nice addition and he's got some bulk to him which is oddly nice to see. Still McCourty is considered the #1 and I am desperately anxious for him to hit his potential because he's stunk. Blihdi is called bleeding for a reason, also totally not hitting his potential.
They added two UDFA CBs and both are getting some love from TC.
A friend of mine said "how good are your starters if two UDFAs can make this much noise" and that's kind of hung with me.
Recently both got time with the 1s on different days and did well. Coty Sensabaugh can play S and CB and is like their Vincent Fuller from years ago. Handy but not the best at either.
I'm fearful the CBs stink besides Cox. It was effortless last year to complete a pass.
Lebeau has a say, a big say here so we'll see. He wasn't pleased and they improved the next day. There's definitely something in the works.
As far as Mariota, yeah could be the weak CBs and a bit of a gift there. I am firm in stating no team could cover all of Turzilli, DGB, and Hunter. Huge fast guys while the league has mostly small CBs. Wright has many NFL Ds play zone and not try to match his quickness at all, giving him the short pass then hitting him. BUT this is the NFL even if you say Calvin is uncoverable, someone's got to and he can't be allowed 300 yards and 50 catches in one game. They aren't Calvin.
They could totally trade a WR for a CB if only...
The game is so much faster and remember all the talk of spread versus NFL O? Huddle versus Shotgun? Kurt Warner said something like "Rookie's from the spread don't know what they'll do wrong, til they do it." So there's that and Lebeau and Horton throwing the kitchen sink at him. I think most QBs would have thrown an INT by now and it's very good for a rook.
He hasn't always rocked in the two minute drill or when Whisenhunt puts them in 3rd and long. This is where he has to grow and do it fast. That's make or break situations for QBs and teams even.
Mett is doing very well, even a day he was clearly better. He is not competition but for pride, so that's good for Mariota.