Camp Battles

[Mikie2times]

In passing situations the cover 2 defenses relies on a linebacker strong enough in coverage to turn the cover two into a three deep look. The Mike linebacker is often the player looked at to fill this requirement. London Fletcher will be our Mike LB in running situations but in passing situations the role will probably be up for grabs.

 

Here is an early look at the camp battle for this important role.

 

London Fletcher- London will be the Mike linebacker in running situations, but having him stay in at the Mike LB in passing situations might become a liability. London's short stature, and less then ideal coverage skills would make him a target of athletic TE's and WR's posts down the seem.

 

Takeo Spikes- A healthy Takeo Spikes would be perfect in this role, a fast strong LB with great coverage skills. But as we all know he is coming off an injury many don't recover from. If he does eventually return to 100% his speed will still be reduced during at least the early portion of the 2006, year and probably the whole season.

 

Keith Ellison- Being a late draft picks it was difficult to consider Ellison in this role so early, but at the same time it was clear the Bills drafted him for his pass coverage skills. Most pundits said he wouldn't be a full time LB in the NFL, but that's fine for us if he can become a strong Mike LB in passing situations.

 

Angelo Crowell- Crowell came in last year and had to replace the best player on this defense. He did that rather admirably, and showed enough coverage and athleticism for me to believe he can play the Mike on passing downs.

 

IMO London won't under any circumstances remain at middle LB in passing situations. In this system it would be like fitting a square peg in a round hole. So essentially it's a three man race between TKO, Ellison, and Crowell. If TKO is fully recovered he is the best fit but I can’t see that happening in just one year. Given Ellison’s lack of experience it would lead me to believe Crowell is the early leader for this role.

[jarthur31]

A very astute oberservation, Mike. If for some reason, the coaching staff believes this, then I think it will be Crowell who'll play the middle. Spikes, will not be as good as he once was; other players who suffered the same injury never were.

[Pyrite Gal]

I doubt this theory. I think Fletcher is the mike backer on all plays. I think it is a mistake to think that the primary thing needed from the Mike is speed. Running is essential and you do not want Sam Adams out there.

 

However, of there is a primary thing its being able to make good reads. If your MLB better be a speed demon because he makes incorrect or slow reads so that he better be quick to make up for his mistakes your team is gonna get killed.

 

The concept of Crowell being the first MLB choice is possible as he was Fletcher's back-up and handled the position well in pre-season last year, but even though he did a very good job stepping in for TKO last year, if he plays any MLB this year it will be as Fletch's back-up whether it is a running or passing down and distance.

 

The concept of Elllison starting at MLB is laughable at best.

 

It was no coincidence or mistake that Fletcher was D captain last year. He has consistently shown he has a great football head often yelling at the ref for a call we disagree with or a mistake he made before the announcers or the rest of the team seems to know what is going on.

 

He is a smaller guy than the LB norm, but has made up for it by having a constant motor and football smarts to get the right place with no hesitation.

 

he has proved so resilent as a Bills that not only has he led the NFL in tackles credited to him the last five years, but he even was used as a ST hawk and generally is second to Mcgee in kicks returned because he makes the right decision handling the ball.

 

He actually has provided some deep coverage on crossing WRs even in the zone blitz.

[stuckincincy]

I wouldn't be surprised if their foray into a Cover 2 style defense gets tossed into the trash can come game 3.

[UConn James]

I wouldn't be surprised if their foray into a Cover 2 style defense gets tossed into the trash can come game 3.

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Wouldn't surprise me either.

 

But hey, Calvinball is fun.

[stuckincincy]

Wouldn't surprise me either.

 

But hey, Calvinball is fun.

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[Mikie2times]

I doubt this theory. I think Fletcher is the mike backer on all plays.  I think it is a mistake to think that the primary thing needed from the Mike is speed.  Running is essential and you do not want Sam Adams out there.

 

However, of there is a primary thing its being able to make good reads.  If your MLB better be a speed demon because he makes incorrect or slow reads so that he better be quick to make up for his mistakes your team is gonna get killed.

 

The concept of Crowell being the first MLB choice is possible as he was Fletcher's back-up and handled the position well in pre-season last year, but even though he did a very good job stepping in for TKO last year, if he plays any MLB this year it will be as Fletch's back-up whether it is a running or passing down and distance.

 

The concept of Elllison starting at MLB is laughable at best.

 

It was no coincidence or mistake that Fletcher was D captain last year.  He has consistently shown he has a great football head often yelling at the ref for a call we disagree with or a mistake he made before the announcers or the rest of the team seems to know what is going on. 

 

He is a smaller guy than the LB norm, but has made up for it by having a constant motor and football smarts to get the right place with no hesitation.

 

he has proved so resilent as a Bills that not only has he led the NFL in tackles credited to him the last five years, but he even was used as a ST hawk and generally is second to Mcgee in kicks returned because he makes the right decision handling the ball.

 

He actually has provided some deep coverage on crossing WRs even in the zone blitz.

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On PASSING downs the cover two generally turns into a cover 3 with the two safeties covering the outside 1/3 of the field, and the Mike LB covering the deep middle 1/3 of the field. So if it is a passing down, such as 3rd and 5 or longer how does London’s play recognition or tackling ability outweigh his less then ideal cover skills? In a zone defense in passing situations the defenders job is to get into his zone as fast as possible and defend everything within that area. London’s short, doesn't have a big vertical, and doesn't have a tremendous amount of athleticism in the passing game. What he does well is stop the run, and with situational subs available it just doesn't make sense to assign him such a critical part of real estate in the passing game

[Pyrite Gal]

On PASSING downs the cover two generally turns into a cover 3 with the two safeties covering the outside 1/3 of the field, and the Mike LB covering the deep middle 1/3 of the field.  So if it is a passing down, such as 3rd and 5 or longer how does London’s play recognition or tackling ability outweigh his less then ideal cover skills? In a zone defense in passing situations the defenders job is to get into his zone as fast as possible and defend everything within that area.  London’s short, doesn't have a big vertical, and doesn't have a tremendous amount of athleticism in the passing game. What he does well is stop the run, and with situational subs available it just doesn't make sense to assign him such a critical part of real estate in the passing game

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Speed is important but isn't everything. Verticsl leap is important but isn't everything. The ability to make a good read is not everthing either but if you don't make a good read then you're running to catch up or leaping to try to stop a ball thrown over your head and this is a losing game against even an average NFL QB.

 

The key is to have a working combination of these items and I think that the Flletcher combo of great motor, tenacity (even minus a few inches from the norm, and his experience and demonstrated applied knowledge of the game actually makes him our best LB to play the Tampa 2.

 

What plays or exact situations lead you to a conclusion that Flercher is a oiir cover guy or are these simply fact-free opinions based on your judgment.

 

My sense of Fletcher's footbsll intelligence is based on him repeatedly being selcte as captain of the D even with a better player TKO on the D. Its based on my observation in games that he is routinely the player making out case to the officials on controversial calls.

 

His constant movement toward the ball and high motor is evidenced by the large number of tackles he is credited with. The year he set the Bills record for tackles credited to him in a season occured when our DL simply sucked in GWs initial start and because the D could be singled up he often made these tackles with an OL player assigned to him. The complaints voiced by folks that he made tackles 5 yards up the field rather than at the LOS seemed much more to be a rap on our DL than a rap on Fletcher.

 

Fletcher has demonstrated a real ability to track the ball in space and the physical skills to handle the ball close in as is evidenced by his role as a returner on SY

 

Look you said it yourself, in the cover 2 he is going to be playing zone and coverting a space and not man-to-man. Coverage in a zone is about reads as in not simply reacting when someone comes into your space but in reading the plau amd anticipating who is coming into your space.

 

Fletcher was probably one of those pleased as punch (along with the much maligned Troy Vincent to hear we were moving to the Cover 2 because this switch plays to their strength and unless either suddenly hits the wall due to age this move really plays to their strength.

 

Do not be surprised if he shows evidence again by leading the team in tackles in 06 that the move to a cover 2 may actually extend his time as a Bill rather than this year being his swan song.

[obie_wan]

On PASSING downs the cover two generally turns into a cover 3 with the two safeties covering the outside 1/3 of the field, and the Mike LB covering the deep middle 1/3 of the field.  So if it is a passing down, such as 3rd and 5 or longer how does London’s play recognition or tackling ability outweigh his less then ideal cover skills? In a zone defense in passing situations the defenders job is to get into his zone as fast as possible and defend everything within that area.  London’s short, doesn't have a big vertical, and doesn't have a tremendous amount of athleticism in the passing game. What he does well is stop the run, and with situational subs available it just doesn't make sense to assign him such a critical part of real estate in the passing game

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Letcher excelled at the cover 2 with the Rams.

 

He only comes off the field if he is hurt.

 

However, that is more than likely due to his increasing age.

[Mikie2times]

Possible update on the original post. This is from Chris Browns inside the Bills blog on the Bills main site. It's based on the recent mini camps the Bills have held.

 

Bills Blog

 

 

Watson got some reps right away today. Not surprised to see him get some second team reps. What was interesting was he was sent what they call "down the pipe" a few times on a couple of defensive calls. It's when the MLB runs 30-40 yards downfield to cover the deep third of the field.

 

I wonder if the coaching staff was doing that just to see how athletic Watson is. He did okay, but wasn't exactly fluid. What struck me was I haven't seen Liam Ezekiel or Greg Carothers cover the deep third at all this spring. Perhaps Watson's athletic ability could provide Buffalo's defense with more options.

[SDS]

If Fletcher is such a liability against the pass, then any down he is on the field is a passing down...

[Mikie2times]

If Fletcher is such a liability against the pass, then any down he is on the field is a passing down...

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As people have pointed out he did play in the cover 2 in St Louis but that was a long time ago, and nothing I've witnessed the last few years makes me think he can retreat 30 yards downfield and cover some of the athletic TE's like NE has.

[Dan III]

As people have pointed out he did play in the cover 2 in St Louis but that was a long time ago, and nothing I've witnessed the last few years makes me think he can retreat 30 yards downfield and cover some of the athletic TE's like NE has.

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two years ago, London ran down Santana Moss from behind... Two years is a long time in the NFL, but nothing I have witnessed makes me think London will be a liability in the cover 2.

[Mikie2times]

two years ago, London ran down Santana Moss from behind... Two years is a long time in the NFL, but nothing I have witnessed makes me think London will be a liability in the cover 2.

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True, but Buffalo has struggled covering TE's the last few years. Time will tell if that was more of the system or the players. This Cover 2 philosophy couldn't be more of a drastic change from last season, but London has played this defense so we should know if he can do this successfully almost immediately. The only thing that makes me suspect it won’t be London is that fact that this position would be open to a situational role. London obvious strength is run stopping, and in obvious passing situations it would make sense to put the best coverage linebacker in.

[Pyrite Gal]

True, but Buffalo has struggled covering TE's the last few years. Time will tell if that was more of the system or the players. This Cover 2 philosophy couldn't be more of a drastic change from last season, but London has played this defense so we should know if he can do this successfully almost immediately. The only thing that makes me suspect it won’t be London is that fact that this position would be open to a situational role. London obvious strength is run stopping, and in obvious passing situations it would make sense to put the best coverage linebacker in.

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I'm glad you have brought your assessment closer to reality from first saying Gletcher would definitiely not be in on obvious passing downs to now it is something you suspect. I'm not sure where you developed the impression of Fletcher being such a liability on pass cpverage.

 

Perhaps it was because the entire Bills D were liabilities on everything last year. Perhaps it is because he is shorter than the norm.

 

It does not appear to be from the games to me since actually Fletcher seemed to routinely do deeper coverage than the norm last year and beyond the failing grades the Bills D received overall, it never struck me that Fletcher was that nid of a pass coverage liability.

 

Perhaos there are specific plays or speciific games you can point to, and I must admit that as last season wore on I did not look at our debacle efforts that closely so perhaps I missed something,

 

Overall, i think Fletcher brings this to the cover 2 (or Tamps 2 where the Mike gets the third downfield coverage role):

 

1. Great motor- I gave few doubts that a player who has shown LF's motor can get downfield repeatedly to cover passes. LBs are great players because generally they are stout enough to play the line but fleet enough to pass cover. However, of the two it is the LBs ability to play the safety role rather than his ability to play the DE role which is more in doubt for most LBs. Fletcher's motor makes him a positive in pass coverage rather than a liability due to his height.

 

2. Great ball tracking skills- Fletcher has snown an outstanding abilityu to track a ball in flight which is a critical part of pass coverage and winning duels in jump ball situtaions. His ball tracking abilities are so good in fact that he routinely was given the forward receiving duty on kicks which went short and he routinely handled these balls well. he was not given this duty because he is a shifty runners but because he tracks and plays the ball well.

 

3. Great experience- Fletcher is going to have to use this skill from seeing a tone of plays in a ton of situation to accurately diagnose whether the opponent is going to pass on an obvious passing down, but they just might run the draw instead and if our MLB is sprintind downfield with is back turned he might be followed by an RB doing the delayed draw. The beauty of the Cover 2 if it works will be that it will bend but not break. Part of not breaking here will some good reads by Fletcher or the MLN about what the O is doing. Yhe inability of a rookie to make good reads is why I do not se Ellison as a viable choice for the Bills at MLB until well after mid-season..

 

It will be a real challenge for Fletcher to play downfield so deep, but given that while the LB cannot ride a receiver adter 5 yards he does have an equal right to the ball in a jump ball situation. If Fletcher uses his motor to get downfield in position and his good ball tracking skills to make a play, even though most receivers are taller (actually Chris Chambers is taller than all defenders, if Fletcher gets position he can work the body of a smaller WR as they go up for the ball. I feel good about him in pass coverage.

 

My sense is that Watson was utilized initially in pass coverage less to see if he could replace Fletcher and more to see whether he was up to playing this unconventional role for an LB.

 

You need to present a much stronger case than fact-free mentions of Fletcher's heght or age (based on himeasily leading the team in tackles again he does not seem to be slowing down much yet.