Beck Water

From the tid-bits I get so far (and remembering there's 1 padded practice) Spector looks more like he knows his assignments, reads his keys and shows some patience so far. But that really doesn't mean too much until we're at least playing against opposing offenses, and even then of course most teams are evaluating players and don't scheme for their opponent too deeply.

I don't disagree with you a bit. I would say his size isn't a problem, but his strength (indicated by light weight) is. I was hoping to see Bernard put on more muscle myself, taking a leaf from the Milano playbook. I agree, in the glimpses I've seen, he looks about the same. That was my biggest knock on Bernard in the 1 game we saw him play for Milano last season: he would get to the right place, tackle, and get dragged literally for yards. Both Dodson, Spector, and even Williams are heavier

Anyone heard of this device? AJ Klein has apparently been wearing one, and this season apparently Dean Marlowe has joined him: It sounds kinda weird to me, anyone here know anything about it?

From Astro's Day 5 write-up for what it's worth: "I’m sorry to write this, but Dorian Williams doesn’t look like he knows what he’s doing yet. Grooming him behind Milano is the definite way to go. This isn’t Tulane."

I think his weight is relevant, and I was hoping he'd pack on some muscle. But judging from the pics coming into OTAs and TC, not so much. What I think you're seeing as "instincts" are that he's still processing what he sees and deciding what he needs to do, which makes him seem slow. Some players speed up with time, and some don't.

Top 10 ILBs by AAV per Spotrac (note: I'm aware there are rookies on 1st contracts who are good and also that this combines 3-4 and 4-3 inside lb) [All data per NFL Draft And Combine Profiles] Roquan Smith 6'1 236 grade 7.0 "pro bowl talent" Shaquille Leonard 6'2" 234 grade grade 6.3 "will eventually be plus starter" Fred Warner 6'3" 236 grade 6.1 "good backup with potential to develop into starter" Tre Edmunds "wingspan of a pteradactyl" 6'5"253 grade 7.3 "perennial all-pro" CJ Mosely 6'2" 234 grade 7.0 "pro bowl talent" Deion Jones 6'1" 222 grade 6.1 "good backup with potential to develop into starter" De'Vondre Campbell 6'4" 232 grade 5.8 "average backup or special teamer" Demario Davis 6'2" 235 grade makes no sense, but profile written as "initial special teamer" - 6.1 maybe? Devin White 6'0" 237 grade 6.7 "year 1 starter" Ja'whaun Bently 6'2" 260 grade: 5.6 "bottom of roster or practice squad" That's a height average of 6'2" with a range from 6'0" to 6'6" Wt average 238 with a range from 222 to 260. Our guy Terrel: Terrel Bernard: 6'1" 224 grade 5.94 "average backup or special teamer Free bonus from this year's draft: Dorian Williams 6'1" 228 grade 6.1 "good backup with potential to develop into starter" The MLB competition: Tyrel Dodson 6'0" 237 grade 5.6 "candidate for bottom of roster or practice squad" Baylon Spector 6'0" 233 grade 5.83 "average backup or special teamer" So there you have it. I included the draft grades from NFL Draft and Combine Profiles to show that while 4 of the top-10 contracts graded high before the draft, a number of others were graded as backups or bottom of the roster/ST guys. It's not Bernard's size per se. When I saw him in a game last season, I thought he was playing very tentative, like he was still thinking out there. He'd make the right diagnosis, but get there late, and when he got there, he didn't THUMP, he would tackle and get dragged 3-5 yards.

Is that a confession?

Yes to all 3

I dunno about that. But one pattern that struck me, that I'm not sure how it will play out, is that Milano has clearly been making an effort not to get injured by being "superman" if he's a bit out of position to really close the deal. So his tackle would slow the guy down and then Edmunds would close the deal. I'm wondering how that will play this season. I would be less than enthusiastic to meet Billy Buffalo.

Ha. Ha. Ha. The man has 8 QB hits and 6 sacks. Oh and 18 TFL. I know you're being funny, but "C'mon Man". He's one of the best nickel corners in the league.

I can't disagree, obviously, but I do think context is a lot of how players react. You expect to see the QB and his red jersey in the backfield.

My point is just that the foolishness goes beyond Taron Johnson doing what football players are trained to do - they're trained not to hit the QB in practice, but when the QB takes on a downfield role, instinct can take over. It's (IMO, you can disagree) foolishness to put that play in there at this time.

Then on the first day of practice, don't put him out there on plays where (if Getzenberg is correct) accidental contact is a reasonable likelihood to occur.

So...anyone there? Was it "accidental contact" or Taron Johnson laying the lumber?

I'd be fine with them not practicing it, taking that page out of the playbook, and lighting it on fire. But if they're gonna practice it, then practice it.

And speaking of anxieties https://twitter.com/AjayCybulski/status/1686054719645466624?s=20 "I can live without the Philly Special. Allen had a slight limp, but looked to be in good spirits"

literally. Broken arm, 6 weeks - but can he keep up his strength in that arm while its healing?

Well, OK. But then when Josh runs or catches for-real and lets go for a drop or fumble, will you be in the crowd complaining about his fumbling tendencies? If he's gonna play it, he's gotta practice it

I don't think you see the Bengals practicing "Philly Special" on the first day of pads with Burrow

The good news is that unlike last training camp, Davis is experiencing this now. So hopefully he and his coaches/trainers can work to remedy.

You're right, of course. I'm just displaying my anxieties.

Ugh on this, is all I can say. C'mon Spencer, get those feet moving

They did not. And your theory is certainly as credible as any and more than some, but the bottom line is, we just don't know. Like I said, what I put out there was just my opinion on one possible motivation for stepping down.