Quotes From Kubiak

[papabear]

Originally Posted by painekiller

Yes you are remembering correctly. Kubiak did say that.

A question for the coach might be: Is a hybrid OLB really better than having true top SAM and WILL? I mean, having an undersized guy like Adibi, who some scouts thought made a better SS, really the smart answer against a RT and a TE?

Disguising your coverages is one thing, but stopping the run is another, and this team has been weak against the run.

Not that I necessarily agree with having a 220 guy at the SAM....but with the way the game is today I can see an argument for getting away with a lighter player there. Most TE's today are pass catchers first and blockers second. Sure there is the occasional guy like Bruener, and there are some TE's who block well....most teams don't draft TE's for their blocking anymore though. So a good deal of the time the SAM isn't going to have some massive blocking TE to deal with.

Throw in the amount of formations and shifts teams use and, depending on the team, it might not even be the majority of the time that the TE is even on the line. Tennessee will likely use a lot of two TE sets this year, which side do you put the SAM on then. Indy will have the TE in the slot....and then Peyton will do his little dance and who knows where they end up. In cases like this it might be better to just get your best football players on the field instead of worrying about getting a guy with prototype size on the strong side.

I think in today's NFL there is a need for those interchangeable parts...whether its at S, OLB, or even T. I would prefer that our SAM has a little more meat on his bones than Adibi, but if the D-Line is working like we hope it will having that speed and coverage ability might be more important.

If the size is that big of a factor, and Adibi beats out diles, then just put Greenwood back on the strongside. He's a film rat and shouldn't have any trouble making the switch. That's where he played at Miami, and the Texans have him listed at 253. They have Demeco at 250....that's bigger than I would have guessed for either of them.

[Dancerdog]

I agree with the philosophy of putting the most talented AND intense players on the field. Dunta Robinson really lays the wood when he hits. So does DeMeco. I've seen Will Demps pound opposing defensive players. Travis Johnson just doesn't seem to have the intensity of some of the others. Here's to a defense that plays with some ATTITUDE! I'd like to see a Ray Rhodes type of defense that swarms to the ball and hits with some conviction. I know health issues are a problem with Ray, but I'd sure like to see him as our defensive coordinator. ATTITUDE! That's the difference between a mediocre and a dominating defense. Just my two cents worth.

[Mike]

I am not sure that the "prototypes" will be the norm in the NFL. Everything goes in cycles and it is possible that speed might be in vogue, over size. Nice to see that barring injury, our 53 will be the most athletic group wearing the steel blue helmets.

In another thread, people were burying Richard Smith. I am anxious to see this 11 (again barring injury) and if this defense applies pressure like his reputation indicates.

What I am liking is this new eta of accountability and settling for mediocrity will not be tolerated. I think after 6 years, we have a football team. I want our guys to go into an opposing stadium and just suck the life out of a crowd and opponjent (like the Panther game last year) and the opposition will know that they cannot win.

I am so pumped. I am just hoping for a healthy camp.