A Nickel For Your Thoughts.

At some point as poor as the cover grades were in Buffalo...why not play Thompson at CB and SMB at the other, they are solid at tackling and can provide run support. Have Wilson and White at MLB and Budda at strong safety and Rabbit at free safety. It can't get worse than the line-up attempts so far.

This would put the most experienced on the field and best tackling LBs and DBs on the field and JG would get a win with 3 safeties on the field.

Agree, but bringing Wilson and White a step closer to the the middle to contain Rams runs between tackles puts tremendous pressure on the Safety and DBs to cover the extra yardage behind the LBs. The Rams OC will see that LB adjustment and radio down to Stafford to work on his slant routes. Then Stafford goes to work. More 1st downs. Ugh.

I like the ARZ Defensive group mostly. The Edge is the job that needs help. We have to suck it up until DR returns maybe in 3 weeks. When he comes back, that should help Wilson, White, and Baker with backfield gaps, pressures on the QB, and cut RBs and WRs from making some big gains.

Technique and experience is my answer....speed is useless if talent or ability is lacking

I prefer a nickel set-up and my favored option is the straightforward 4-2-5 formation. Within this, then three Safeties as, on balance, I like their extra strength and hitting power. - Nothing is set in concrete though, whatever Defense is set up, stand still on tactics, then opposition teams adapt and you can quickly become a sitting duck.

We could line up like this:

At MLB - White - Wilson

At Strong Safety - Baker and at Free Safety - Rabbit

At Nickel - Thompson

At wide out - I want the best two performing CB's in training. You prove it during the week, then you are in the team (no fear of favor).

I consider Thompson would do well at Nickel and I believe he has good speed to cover a third Receiver.

All of the above depends on the front four being able to stop the run through the middle and hold the line. If you cannot do that, we are cooked. Have we got the quality players to do this is the biggest question mark. I'd start with Lopez and Collins, and there would be much rotation of players for sure. - If we cannot cope in nickel, then we'll have to give up on it as a base Defense.

I think you plan works with DRob at edge...taking a DL player out of the formation with current personnel makes nickel on normal downs a guaranteed run advantage for offenses...4-2-5 with current OLB options force Cards to have one large edge Collins one small edge and 2 DL players on the DL. Need edge players in 270-290 range to be stout against the run in any Nickel formation...Cards are not set up for that minus our big rookie.

Agreed...I was using the comparison for current defensive issue and getting a better personnel grouping and there is going to be a give and take.

Personally I would give up one CB with greater speed and play Thompson at CB and he is very capable and has better experience as well as better tackling. Use Rabbit at Free safety to cover over Thompson...Rabbit has the speed to cover open field over top

I like the avatar Flash

I agree with your thoughts and appreciate the humor

The nightmares of the Rams giving the Cards a dose of a dominant run game to crush any hopes the Cards had...can not repeat. In order to keep the game in Card's favor stopping the run and taking that option away is one of they keys.

JG wants to play bully ball...the first week gives evidence of that in the first half approach. The defense giving up positive runs makes any 3rd down plays manageable. The key to limiting the Rams ability to score requires stopping the offense...making 3rd downs difficult is the key.