McKinney - playing so well that we aren't able to see it?

[Patler]

I have read some moderate griping/criticism that McKinney is not playing as well as last year. "Where's 'X"?"

Interesting tidbit from Larry McCarren. A homer, for sure, but he does have access to inside info on the Packers; and this remark is statistical, not opinion, and I'm guessing based on the Packers' own analysis since he is often critical of PFF's stats, analyses and rankings.

Per McCarren: Opposing teams have thrown an average of only 1.9 passes per game into McKinney's area of coverage responsibility.

Hard to make plays if less than 2 passes per game are thrown your direction.

[Joemailman]

I think it kind of started last year. X had INT's in his 1st five games. After that it seemed teams started throwing at him less and he "only" had 3 the rest of the way. I do wonder if the lack of healthy talent at CB has restricted how Hafley uses X.

[texaspackerbacker]

That would be an excuse for a Corner not making plays, but not for a Safety. His job is way more read and react and get to the right place. It really seems like he hasn't done that this season.

[Patler]

That would be an excuse for a Corner not making plays, but not for a Safety. His job is way more read and react and get to the right place. It really seems like he hasn't done that this season.

You seem to be of the opinion that his responsibility is to be where-ever the ball ends up being, that he is totally free to be where-ever he chooses to be. It would be nice if he had that much freedom, but it's not realistic. The stat given was based on where the play required that he be, and apparently most often his responsibilities have taken him away from where the ball has actually ended up being. Clearly the reason the ball does not go there, because McKinley is there.

[texaspackerbacker]

He's the FREE Safety, isn't he? I don't buy it that they are throwing away from him. That's just not the way it works with a Safety.

[bobblehead]

A mark of success for a CB is when you don't get targeted. When Nixon had 5 pass break ups a few weeks back I asked how good must Valentine be playing.

[pbmax]

He's the FREE Safety, isn't he? I don't buy it that they are throwing away from him. That's just not the way it works with a Safety.

He is literally the opposite of what a free safety used to be. He's got the deep middle third and after that he's got the next deep route the QB is eyeballing. Unless they call a different defense (and they do on non-passing downs) he's gonna be deep and the Packers aren't getting beat deep much.

When the offense consisted of two WR on the edges and a TE in the middle, the free safety could roam depending on what he read of the QB and patterns. Even Ed Reed fifteen years ago was reading the QB to see which sideline he was headed toward. A modern Cover 3 doesn't work like that. La Fleur makes constant mention of his 3 deep shell to contain big pass plays, and McKinney is the keystone.

With offenses going horizontal off their running game to throw, La Fleur and the Packers have chosen a cover 3 to protect the backend and let 4 players handle the non-sense, misdirection and picks near the LOS.

[texaspackerbacker]

Are you saying that isn't the way they did it last year? I would say it IS what they did most of the time, 3 deep or 2 deep, Safetys doing what Safetys do, NOT man coverage, but providing help to the Corner in their portion of the field. Last year, McKinney was getting there on time and making a difference. This year he mostly has not.

[pbmax]

Are you saying that isn't the way they did it last year? I would say it IS what they did most of the time, 3 deep or 2 deep, Safetys doing what Safetys do, NOT man coverage, but providing help to the Corner in their portion of the field. Last year, McKinney was getting there on time and making a difference. This year he mostly has not.

Its hard to read minds of opposing coaches but teams were throwing much more on 50/50 down and distance and more intermediate to deep stuff last year according to my memory.

The absence of Clark (and especially when Wooten has been hurt) and the presence of Parsons means there have been more running and more short passing.

[bobblehead]

Parsons is a big part of it. His speed doesn't allow for deeper stuff to materialize. Honestly I'd like to see them play 2 deep almost exclusively.