HHCD - future star

[call_me_ishmael]

Well, the original post said "rookie defender", so I went with that...

But considering Hayward made his living as a zone defender (i.e. reading defenses and adjustments and QBs) as opposed to manning up on a player and running with them play in and play out, I'm not sure the difference is as big as it would be otherwise. Although I agree the safety position is more of an adjustment.

I've always kinda thought Hayward was overrated personally. Let's hope HHCD isn't like that!

I perceive Haha as constantly around the ball and a physical mismatch for us. He is huge and looks super athletic to me. I never really saw Casey as having these characteristics.

[Guiness]

Well, the original post said "rookie defender", so I went with that...

But considering Hayward made his living as a zone defender (i.e. reading defenses and adjustments and QBs) as opposed to manning up on a player and running with them play in and play out, I'm not sure the difference is as big as it would be otherwise. Although I agree the safety position is more of an adjustment.

I don't remember seeing Hayward at all yesterday, but he shows up on the stat line. When did he come in? Nickel? Dime?

[Tyrion Lannister]

4 weeks in and the results to me look incredibly promising. He is always around the ball. I can't remember a Packer rookie defender being this active in a very long time.

What do you think?

Clinton-Dix looks like a Sean Taylor clone, but given that Kaepernick and Wilson seemly own the Packers, and the D is having trouble stopping the run, Thompson should've traded up in round 1 to get Ryan Shazier - IMO, of course.

[Tyrion Lannister]

I don't remember seeing Hayward at all yesterday, but he shows up on the stat line. When did he come in? Nickel? Dime?

Usually when you don't hear a corner's name, he's doing his job. Hayward replaced Mr. Slip House and I don't think he allowed a completion.

[mission]

Well, the original post said "rookie defender", so I went with that...

But considering Hayward made his living as a zone defender (i.e. reading defenses and adjustments and QBs) as opposed to manning up on a player and running with them play in and play out, I'm not sure the difference is as big as it would be otherwise. Although I agree the safety position is more of an adjustment.

Right, but he was covering the slot. Even in a zone defense (at least how Dom plays it for corners), you man up your guy until he leaves your zone. It's not like a linebacker zone where you take your drop and wait for someone to enter your zone.

[3irty1]

I don't remember seeing Hayward at all yesterday, but he shows up on the stat line. When did he come in? Nickel? Dime?

He was finally back in nickel this week, hopefully a sign that he's ready to contribute after a terrible week 1. So far this year he's been a liability against the run which is no bueno for a slot guy. House has been good enough on the perimeter to allow Tramon to move inside to cover the slot. Hyde and Bush have also been getting more snaps in the slot than Hayward.

[mission]

Clinton-Dix looks like a Sean Taylor clone, but given that Kaepernick and Wilson seemly own the Packers, and the D is having trouble stopping the run, Thompson should've traded up in round 1 to get Ryan Shazier - IMO, of course.

Of course.

[Pugger]

Like him a lot. Needs to clean up tackling but it willing an big enough, so I expect that to improve.

Gee, I like his tackling...

[Pugger]

It's hard to fault Burnett much after the Bears game. A couple of 'wtf?' moments, but check the stat line - 13 tackles, 12 of them solo!

But do we want our safeties making that many tackles?

[3irty1]

HHCD is just what was needed for Morgan Burnett to earn his check IMO. Haha is the better center fielder, Burnett is the better tackler at this point but neither is a liability in any assignment. Both get a chance to do it all. If nothing else they both look the part too. Haha is a gem.