Here's an interesting read from SI.com:
Talks about the evolution of offenses- using much more up tempo & spread and how some defenses have reacted to it by playing more man coverage and less zone.
That's where Shields and Tramon should provide an advantage, but the slower- than- molasses LBs are a huge weakness in man coverage that teams are happy to exploit
http://mmqb.si.com/2014/01/16/...ip-game-man-defense/
"There are other reasons man coverage works in today’s NFL, such as tempo. Offenses are playing faster from snap to snap, on the logic that more plays equals more chances to score (and more chances to establish a game-controlling rhythm and wear down the defense). With less time between snaps, defenses aren’t able to coordinate their spacing and assignments in zone. So they just line up and say, “I’ve got him, you’ve got that guy.” Offenses will keep playing fast because it’s also a great way to simplify things for the quarterback. A defense that doesn’t have enough time to coordinate spacing and assignments also doesn’t have enough time to organize blitzes or feigned pressure packages."
The amount of time between plays for a defense to make the calls & adjustments has been drastically reduced and Chip Kelly among others, uses this tactic to hog-tie the defense. They have to default to a basic coverage due to time limitations and the default defense is what they wanted to face all along.
Cat and mouse continues in the NFL and its cool to watch all the large-brained chess pieces react.
When GB went man vs SF, Kap killed them on scrambles because we just don't have the athleticism on defense. (yet)
