Originally Posted by chiefzilla1501 (Post 11053234)

Playing in the box actually gives Berry more ability to make adjustments because he can communicate directly with his linebackers. One of the main reasons Buddy Ryan started to line his safeties at that level. Most notably, a signature of Ryan's 46 defense was using the safety in a jayhawk adjustment. In a Ryan defense, the strong safety should have flexibility to read the defense, make a pre-snap adjustment, and have the linebackers adjust to what he's doing. That's how Landry has been used with the Jets. See below.

http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/fo...icle-1.1946766
"Ryan, who coached Landry for three seasons in Baltimore before bringing him back last year, trusts the veteran to absorb pre-snap offensive looks, make the proper adjustments and convey the changes to teammates. He is Ryan’s Chief Communicator in the secondary with thankless responsibilities that will never make SportsCenter."

So again, if in a Ryan defense, the strong safety is given lots of pre-snap responsibility... you and I both agree that Berry is playing WAY too many snaps as a linebacker and a blitzer. I really wonder if that's because of Sutton's playcall or Berry's pre-snap adjustment. I get that you think he should play single high -- I think he'd excel in that role too. But there's no doubt Berry has the physical ability to play SS. So it's more than fair to ask if he's handling the job mentally as well as we think he is. If he isn't, that's just another reason to consider him for free safety.

Originally Posted by milkman (Post 11053250)

Ed Reed and Troy Polamulu are/were making individual adjustments, that they can make within a couple of seconds of the snap, which allows them the ability to make plays on the ball in coverage.

The adjustments that you are talking about here are ones that must be communicated to the others involved, so they need more time to make them, which allows the smart QB to an opportunity to read and react and adjust himself.

We are talking about entirely situations.

This is why you are making too much of this.

Originally Posted by chiefzilla1501 (Post 11053293)

Then the Reed and Polamalu examples maybe aren't the best ones. I agree.

But if in the Ryan defense, the Strong Safety has ability to make pre-snap adjustments, then it's Berry's fault if he's blitzing too much or playing too many snaps as a gap filler. I agree he has less flexibility to adjust out of the box, but he does have ability to adjust into more coverage-related responsibilities. It sure feels like Abdullah plays a lot more coverage than Berry does, doesn't it? Blitzes less? Plays less of a gap fill role?

Now, maybe he's doing that because our linebackers and pass rush last year were complete dogshit. Or maybe Berry isn't making nearly the kind of pre-snap adjustments we'd want him to.

We both agree that Berry needs to play gap fill less and blitz less, and cover more. I also agree with you that a move to free safety could save his body. Where I disagree is I know Berry has the elite physical skill set to be an exceptional strong safety and that he could be a difference maker if used properly. He doesn't seem to be being used properly within a strong safety role which again points back to the question... is that Sutton or is that Berry? Does that change now that we have better talent around him?

Originally Posted by milkman (Post 11053304)

Abdullah isn't coming out of the huddle and lining up in the box nearly as often as Berry was, so that should answer the question.