Wow. Yes, he looked bad on Green's TD but anyone can stumble. He must have been consistently poor to be released this quickly.
I'm starting to understand why we have an almost entirely new secondary this year.
Wow. Yes, he looked bad on Green's TD but anyone can stumble. He must have been consistently poor to be released this quickly.
I'm starting to understand why we have an almost entirely new secondary this year.
Can't say I'm surprised.
Really? Please elaborate.
A receiver coming off an ACL injury just totally abused him. They bet on Jefferson to go back to his 2015 form but he looks worse than last year. And the Red Blacks probably have had more big plays from their secondary the last two years than any other team. They've come to rely on that.
Time to cut your losses.
Funny thing is, as good as he is, and he's had a very good career, I don't ever recall him having a stretch of games like he has to start this season. Maybe because his prime seasons age wise came after AC retired and the Als had nobody capable of connecting with him consistently.
It's us vs the rest of the country
Jefferson claims he only lined up against Green 3 times.
D-backfield play is a huge concern for a lot of CFL teams now - not enough good DBs?; or maybe weak defensive schemes that expose DBs a lot in coverage?
Pretty well zero worry for CFL defences now to get exploited by a consistent ground game. Why not have at least 6 pure DBs in the game most of the time - and a mix of zone & man coverages? Even a cover OLB (usually a converted DB anyways), lined-up close to the line and then turning his back to chase a receiver is IMO poor defensive scheme. Go with lots of pass rush (at least 5 on obvious passing downs - maybe 5 pure D-line types = 3 big bodies in the middle and 2 pass rush DE types); one LB only and 6 DBs behind them? = a fifty-one D look ? You could also blitz the LB or the extra free safety type. One of the athletic DEs could also drop in coverage at times and playing games with 2 safeties who give different looks could confuse QB reads who like to see where the one safety is lined-up.
Scape-goating a DB who gets burned in one game and cutting him is IMO mostly B$. Cutting dumb, myopic defensive coaches might make more sense.
I wouldn't be opposed to seeing him back in at CB with Rico dropping back to HB. Ottawa needed an example, and AJ's was highlight reel. This guy is still young and athletic enough. He can bring the big play. He'd be motivated.
My point is - you don't need a SAM (even if it is a converted DB) - who still lines up more like a linebacker, close to the line of scrimmage, and often ends up turning his back to chase a slotback, who often has a waggle start. The 6th DB should be more like another safety - who is often lined up deep (but plays games back and forth with the other safety - sometimes one or the other could be up close to the line) - and a deeper safety can often read better and then have the ability to come forward (or down hill as I call it) to close on the ball / receiver. IMO - there should almost always be a free DB, who is lined-up deeper and gets to read and come downhill, or maybe has to provide deep support. And having sometimes 2 of those guys on the D - both smart D players who can read well and are ballhawks - could do lots of damage in coverage. SAM backers starting close to the line can't do this job. And wimpy CFL safety play now - often smaller cover guys who aren't big hitters and who are asked to do man coverage - is a reason why there are so few INTs by safeties or big hits/tackles that strike fear in receivers anymore; Taylor Loffler seems like more of a throwback there. Rover is the proper (IMO) old term.
Jefferson looked bad last season, and hasn't looked that good so far this season either, so I'm not surprised that the Redblacks have let him go. We don't need him here, Popp can find better players.
A bit off topic, but while on the topic of defensive backs, why was Matt Webster playing corner for a little against Ottawa? Elinzondo recognized this and put Ellingson against him resulting in a big gain.
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