Interesting Defensive Alignment

[WinOneThisCentury]

I thought it was interesting how much we played with Hooker at LB and brought Stone in at safety against Minnesota. It worked well. Hooker made a few plays defending the slant, got in a passing lane to knock one down...and was making plays.

This personnel group may be used pretty extensively given the opponents we will be facing over the next three weeks...coupled with the injuries at LB. I like it. Stone appeared to be in good position and he's athletic. Putting Hooker in that spot may allow him to make more big plays and hopefully create some issues for opposing offenses. He's big enough to hold up in the running game also.

Good coaching, Mr. Parker.

 

[uihawk82]

Yes, this type of use of a big safety/faster lighter lbkr was mentioned pre-season and it may be out of necessity now.

Kirksey was not heavy while at Iowa but was like a really big safety playing Lbkr.

I have hated (maybe disliked is a better word) our third and long coverage with 3 Lbkrs for a long time going back to Norm. It just goes against the percentages to expect Lbkrs to cover fast slot receivers and also that a team on 3rd and long can run for a first down at a high percentage just because you have a Dime package in the game.

Iowa Dbacks are usually very good tacklers so they should be able to help stop a 3rd and long run.