I Think This is What is Going On with Vontae Davis.

[madmic21]

http://www.chicagotribune.com/sport...-home-playing-safety-20120803,0,3322104.story

While it is not that Vontae will be playing safety. The Article mentions this..
“I think something that's been very evident for Charles, number one throughout his career, he's been a playmaker, whether he's played the corner or the inside position,” head coach Mike McCarthy said. “In our particular defense, we feel that he is a lot more valuable to us the closer he is to the ball because of the different positions he can play, the number of different things that we're able to do with him.

And..

"When Woodson isn't technically at safety, as he shifts into his familiar slot role for coverage or blitzing purposes in the nickel and dime schemes,"

It seems pretty obvious that this may be going on. Instead of the down on Vontae ideas that are being passed around.

 

[dolpns13]

Man I hope Vontae can become the second coming of Charles Woodson!

 

[ckparrothead]

Pretty confident that's not what is happening.

 

[JMarino]

Vontae is our best cornerback. weather you agree or not. they are just trying to maximize his ability and develop his talent into something more productive. They are also trying to get the backups some time and development. When week 1 starts, barring injury, Smith and Davis will be our Corners.

 

[madmic21]

Pretty confident that's not what is happening.

Why would you say that? Am I wrong that they are not putting him in the middle of the field in nickle and dime packages. The guy is a player that plays instinctively and fast. I really don't think they are moving him inside so Marshall can compete to beat him out of his spot. I remember in 2010 Woodson was lined up everywhere. In the NFL why would you not put your best DB in spots to make plays? Instead of isolating him on the boundry where teams can just choose to not throw that way.

 

[datruth55]

Pretty confident that's not what is happening.

Was about to say the same thing. The two are not even remotely related. Just cause Philbin came from the Packers doesn't mean the teams (or players for that matter) are identical. If you don't already know we're now a base 4-3 team, Green Bay is a 3-4 team run by Dom Capers.

 

[dolfan91]

Isn't Vontae hobbled a bit?

 

[madmic21]

Was about to say the same thing. The two are not even remotely related. Just cause Philbin came from the Packers doesn't mean the teams (or players for that matter) are identical. If you don't already know we're now a base 4-3 team, Green Bay is a 3-4 team run by Dom Capers.

But what about nickel and dime packages? Being a 3-4 and 4-3 team has changed so much with the need to play 5 and 6 DBs. Mark my word VD will be lining up in a lot of places this year beside boundry CB. Philbin has already shown a more than expected interest in the Defensive side of the ball. He understands that teams are attacking the middle of the field. Why would a coach not be putting his best DB in the middle to slow these attacks?

 

[foozool13]

You guys are really reaching. There is nothing suspect going on with Vontae. He is and will continue to be our #1 DB. Get over it people.

 

[spiketex]

Look Marshall is our top free agent recruit ($16M for 3 years). He has had an excellent 5 year career with Carolina and last year in Arizona and is a proven 80+ tackles a season cornerback. As our biggest acquisition he needs to see some playing time at training camp. Philbin has even stated that Marshall is looking good. Rather than looking at it as what's wrong with Vontae, the coaching staff appear to be trying to increase Marshall's reps. Both are good players and Marshall should be a big asset in tightening our secondary as the nickel back.

 

[hoops]

marshall might be a solid player and acquisition but he's not vontae...

 

[madmic21]

Look Marshall is our top free agent recruit ($16M for 3 years). He has had an excellent 5 year career with Carolina and last year in Arizona and is a proven 80+ tackles a season cornerback. As our biggest acquisition he needs to see some playing time at training camp. Philbin has even stated that Marshall is looking good. Rather than looking at it as what's wrong with Vontae, the coaching staff appear to be trying to increase Marshall's reps. Both are good players and Marshall should be a big asset in tightening our secondary as the nickel back.

I am not saying that there is anything wrong with VD. Just getting Marshall some reps at boundry QB if they decide to match up VD on a tough slot or something inside. It may or may not happen, but I think that putting VD in some spots to blitz off the nickel, man up on a Welker type, or even play some inside zone would be a nice little wrinkle. A wrinkle that Philbin has seen work. Woodson is a great talenet. I am not comparing the two. But he did win a DPOY award doing stuff like this. It can be really effective.

 

[hoops]

i'm not seeing the cast like charles woodson thing either...on a different note you guys see deangelo hall is playing safety now...that seems like a disaster in the making to me...i can see him getting out of the way making business decisions as deion has coined them instead of taking contact

 

[spiketex]

I am not saying that there is anything wrong with VD. Just getting Marshall some reps at boundry QB if they decide to match up VD on a tough slot or something inside. It may or may not happen, but I think that putting VD in some spots to blitz off the nickel, man up on a Welker type, or even play some inside zone would be a nice little wrinkle. A wrinkle that Philbin has seen work. Woodson is a great talenet. I am not comparing the two. But he did win a DPOY award doing stuff like this. It can be really effective.

Vontae has had very few opportunities to blitz but when given a go he looks good at it. I can recall one from last year's preseason. He is deceptively strong and fast.

 

[ckparrothead]

Why would you say that? Am I wrong that they are not putting him in the middle of the field in nickle and dime packages. The guy is a player that plays instinctively and fast. I really don't think they are moving him inside so Marshall can compete to beat him out of his spot. I remember in 2010 Woodson was lined up everywhere. In the NFL why would you not put your best DB in spots to make plays? Instead of isolating him on the boundry where teams can just choose to not throw that way.

That's the problem. There have been no reports they're doing what you suggest they're doing.

You play players at the spots where they are the best. You don't want to put them in positions where they're not set up to be comfortable. Vontae Davis would not be comfortable in the roles you suggest.