Explain: How do you move a tweener like J.Allen around in this defense? | FinHeaven - Miami Dolphins Forums

Explain: How do you move a tweener like J.Allen around in this defense?

ChambersNBoston

ChambersNBoston

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Now I think I know how a tweener 3/4 linebacker moves around in our defense but how is Saban going to use a tweener CB/S Jason Allen...see how he does at one position CB or S and keep him there? or move him around like a chess piece? sorta like a polamalu. Can you guys tell me what you think?
 
I suppose he could play corner in nickel packages or cover a tight end or whoever if we switch from a cover 2 to a man coverage play. Dallas had that a lot, they would show a cover 2 look and then switch to man coverage right before the play was snapped, Roy Williams would end up covering the slot guy instead of taking center field.
 
popularwar said:
I suppose he could play corner in nickel packages or cover a tight end or whoever if we switch from a cover 2 to a man coverage play.
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That's actually pretty much what i was thinking. Jason Allen is going to come in handy when we play teams with a good TE like Antonio Gates and Tony G. Jason Allen is going to be able to match up with them one-on-one because of his size and speed. I like the Allen pick even though alot of other people don't like him.
 
I think he has the unique ability to play some coverage (especially when the other team goes three wide and he can cover the slot receiver). Play close to the line in short yardage and provide tough run support, and play the last line of defense to make sure we never get beat over the top. I've got visions of a real field general back there making all the difference for our D.
 
if im not mistaken isnt travis daniels and renaldo hill "tweeners" as well... for some reason i heard that travis daniels played a little saftey at LSU and we signed CB renaldo hill for a shot to play safety..idk maybe Saban likes the idea of moving them around and making sure he has the 4 best guys on the field...he plays alot of zone so it does not require a shut down or cover corner most of the time...he also is a blitzer and a front 7 impact type guy which motto is basically u dont have to have a great secondary or great corners if u can get to the Qb in a hurry... we were second in sacks last year right??
 
Well, first of all, tweener is not a word I would use to describe Jason Allen. The word tweener suggests that he is a guy that is caught in between two positions, hence the word TWEENer.

That's not Jason Allen. Jason Allen is a VERSATILE player that can play BOTH cornerback and safety. To me, that means he is not a tweener. He's a lot like Michael Huff, with the exception that Jason Allen has more experience as a cornerback.

Jason Allen gives the Dolphins a lot of flexibility in the secondary. The first thing they will do is identify his primary position.

If they decide that he will play cornerback, then he gives us the flexibility to move Travis Daniels inside to the "star" position that Reggie Howard played last year. His versatility and ability to play the "star" position himself will allow the Dolphins to also play Travis Daniels at the "money" position with Will Poole lining up on the outside.

If they decide that he will play safety, then he gives the Dolphins the added advantage of having a safety that can line up man to man on a slot receiver. His versatile ability will also allow the Dolphins to move him to the "star" position in the nickle packages while bringing in a nickle safety like Renaldo Hill.

His versatility has no downside in this defense.
 
i'm not really a football expert but this is what i see. basketball analogy, if u are having a problem covering a guy, put ur stopper on him. if there is a mismatch anywhere, allen can either take advantage or negate a disadvantage. move him around to fit what the other team is doing or put him somewhere to take advantage of other teams weakness. he is probably stronger than most receivers so u could manhandle a guy at receiver on the line of scrimmage, if the other teams tight end is going off, then put a big strong cover guy like allen to cover him. if the other team is spreading the field and going for broke, pretend like allen is going to cover then blitz from the blind side. there are many more variations but u get the picture. versatility is good!
 
Also keep in mind that our no.1 rivals for the afc east crown, the patriots; feature a whole host of athletic TEs and Brady's favourite place to attack is down the middle. Jason Allen vs. Ben Watson could well be one of the most important matchups we'll see next year.

Pop the tape in and look at the way the Pats focussed on getting the slow Lance Schulters isolated in coverage against Watson last year. This is a key to their offense, and arguably the primary reason we had zero interest in bringing Schulters back.
 
Doakle said:
Also keep in mind that our no.1 rivals for the afc east crown, the patriots; feature a whole host of athletic TEs and Brady's favourite place to attack is down the middle. Jason Allen vs. Ben Watson could well be one of the most important matchups we'll see next year.

Pop the tape in and look at the way the Pats focussed on getting the slow Lance Schulters isolated in coverage against Watson last year. This is a key to their offense, and arguably the primary reason we had zero interest in bringing Schulters back.
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Allen has the speed and the size to match up with Ben Watson. Pats/Phins games are going to be intense next year.
 
KB21 said:
Well, first of all, tweener is not a word I would use to describe Jason Allen. The word tweener suggests that he is a guy that is caught in between two positions, hence the word TWEENer.

That's not Jason Allen. Jason Allen is a VERSATILE player that can play BOTH cornerback and safety. To me, that means he is not a tweener. He's a lot like Michael Huff, with the exception that Jason Allen has more experience as a cornerback.

Jason Allen gives the Dolphins a lot of flexibility in the secondary. The first thing they will do is identify his primary position.

If they decide that he will play cornerback, then he gives us the flexibility to move Travis Daniels inside to the "star" position that Reggie Howard played last year. His versatility and ability to play the "star" position himself will allow the Dolphins to also play Travis Daniels at the "money" position with Will Poole lining up on the outside.

If they decide that he will play safety, then he gives the Dolphins the added advantage of having a safety that can line up man to man on a slot receiver. His versatile ability will also allow the Dolphins to move him to the "star" position in the nickle packages while bringing in a nickle safety like Renaldo Hill.

His versatility has no downside in this defense.
Click to expand...

There you have it, straight from the Guru himself!
 
I think its a question of flexibility and disguise. With J. Allen and perhaps Daniels and/or Hill on the field with two "regular" CB's, will QB's be able to read who is dropping where? They would be able to rotate sides into or out of coverages more seamlessly if the "safeties" can also be coverage guys.
 
the first thing i think of his his versatility will allow miami to "disguise" coverages.

Many times teams will play games in the secondary just as they do with their down linemen & linebackers, perhaps miami will be able to have Allen from his saftey pos. jump outside to cover the WR when having the CB on that side come on a blitz at the snap.
 
KB21 said:
Well, first of all, tweener is not a word I would use to describe Jason Allen. The word tweener suggests that he is a guy that is caught in between two positions, hence the word TWEENer.

That's not Jason Allen. Jason Allen is a VERSATILE player that can play BOTH cornerback and safety. To me, that means he is not a tweener. He's a lot like Michael Huff, with the exception that Jason Allen has more experience as a cornerback.

Jason Allen gives the Dolphins a lot of flexibility in the secondary. The first thing they will do is identify his primary position.

If they decide that he will play cornerback, then he gives us the flexibility to move Travis Daniels inside to the "star" position that Reggie Howard played last year. His versatility and ability to play the "star" position himself will allow the Dolphins to also play Travis Daniels at the "money" position with Will Poole lining up on the outside.

If they decide that he will play safety, then he gives the Dolphins the added advantage of having a safety that can line up man to man on a slot receiver. His versatile ability will also allow the Dolphins to move him to the "star" position in the nickle packages while bringing in a nickle safety like Renaldo Hill.

His versatility has no downside in this defense.
Click to expand...

thanks for breaking this down for us
 
When I first saw the pick I have to admit I was disappointed. I knew Allen was talented but I really like what I see in Cromartie. But after the draft I started thinking about the ways that Saban is going to use him, the more I started to agree with the pick. We could have a CB for a FS, you can disguise coverages and blitzes and it gives us the versatility that JT does. Now imagine our guys in a 4-3 base with

Holliday-Traylor-Carter-Taylor
Hodge-Thomas-Crowder

Now from this set Taylor can stand up moving us into a 3-4 with Holliday and Carter being the ends. Now imagine a QB has to read this and read where he believes the blitzer will be coming from. Now imaging the QB getting set as he looks up and the DBs change from what was a cover 2 to a man coverage. All the while the blitzer wouldnt be a LB but the DB off the corner while Allen effectively becomes the CB.
 
KB21 said:
Well, first of all, tweener is not a word I would use to describe Jason Allen. The word tweener suggests that he is a guy that is caught in between two positions, hence the word TWEENer.

That's not Jason Allen. Jason Allen is a VERSATILE player that can play BOTH cornerback and safety. To me, that means he is not a tweener. He's a lot like Michael Huff, with the exception that Jason Allen has more experience as a cornerback.

Jason Allen gives the Dolphins a lot of flexibility in the secondary. The first thing they will do is identify his primary position.

If they decide that he will play cornerback, then he gives us the flexibility to move Travis Daniels inside to the "star" position that Reggie Howard played last year. His versatility and ability to play the "star" position himself will allow the Dolphins to also play Travis Daniels at the "money" position with Will Poole lining up on the outside.

If they decide that he will play safety, then he gives the Dolphins the added advantage of having a safety that can line up man to man on a slot receiver. His versatile ability will also allow the Dolphins to move him to the "star" position in the nickle packages while bringing in a nickle safety like Renaldo Hill.

His versatility has no downside in this defense.
Click to expand...
Great post.
We all know how Saban loves versatility. In his style of defense, IMO, FS, SS, and CB will all be interchangeable. No more SS type who only hits hard, and no more FS type who is mostly for coverage. And any CB could also jump into any safety position.
 
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