Barry Cofield to Skins...

HEROHAMO · Post by **HEROHAMO** » Fri Jul 29, 2011 4:30 pm

The bottom line is he is an improvement over the current NT we have now. I suspect he will be solid up front. If being under weight is an issue just hope he muscles up some more.

Overall I like the move. At least our FO addressed the issue. With VC and DS they would completely ignore some important positions.

emoses14 · Post by **emoses14** » Fri Jul 29, 2011 4:57 pm

I never said the guy was too small; I said a bit undersized. And he is -- by about 15 pounds. The guy can have the longest arms in the world, but you need leverage at the NT position. I understand your reasoning on the position (and agree for the most part) but there is a reason most of the best NTs are 320+.

But honestly, I don't think it was a bad pick up. I thought it was one of the better FA pick ups the team has had in a while. A lot has changed since that post, but at the time, I thought we needed to find additions at the DE position (I had no idea Jenkins is going to be used as a DE -- which makes drafting him in the second round appear even more stupid). I agree they found value in the pick up, I just wanted to see them pick up a DE.

Why is that exactly? isn't the idea of 3-4 DE to occupy blockers to allow OLB's to rush passer, and themselves occasionally get there, while being stout against the run? As a DT in college that was, apparently, a huge part of Da'Quan's Bowers' ability to sack the quarterback, wasn't he a good person to draft for our defense?

Irn-Bru · Post by **Irn-Bru** » Fri Jul 29, 2011 8:15 pm

markshark84 wrote:This guy is coming off his best season in the NFL, wants to get paid, and doesn't have a spot on his current roster......this just sounds too familiar.

You mean to a Skins pickup like Marcus Washington?

Didn't we use our 2nd round pick on a NT??? Why are we going after another NT when it is obvious we need a DE (assuming Kerrigan is playing OLB in the 3-4)?

Then you'll be happy to know we picked up a DE in the 2nd round. So not only did we not just sign a redundant DT, but we also addressed the DE need you are so anxious about.

fleetus · Post by **fleetus** » Sat Jul 30, 2011 10:44 am

CanesSkins26 wrote:He's not too small but he doesn't have the ideal size for a nose tackle. You look at the two best NT's in the game, Wilfork (6'2, 325 pounds) and Haloti Ngata (6'4, 350 pounds), and b comparison Cofield (6'4, 306 pounds) is a good amount smaller. But that doesn't mean he cant get the job done here and nobody is going to expect him to be Ngata or Wilfork either.

Ngata isn't a NT. The much smaller Gregg has been the ravens NT and Ngata plays end. Why? Because it isn't about the size of the dog in the fight, it's about how much fight is in the dog. The Ravens determined that Ngata was more athletic and could better disrupt the backfield from end, while NT is about eating blocks, clogging lanes. It's almost like Sumo wrestling.

Lstly, I'll say, it is very hard to determine who the best NT in the league is. They don't have many stats to show how many times a play was shut down because the NT stood his ground.

fleetus · Post by **fleetus** » Sat Jul 30, 2011 11:00 am

emoses14 wrote:
I never said the guy was too small; I said a bit undersized. And he is -- by about 15 pounds. The guy can have the longest arms in the world, but you need leverage at the NT position. I understand your reasoning on the position (and agree for the most part) but there is a reason most of the best NTs are 320+.

But honestly, I don't think it was a bad pick up. I thought it was one of the better FA pick ups the team has had in a while. A lot has changed since that post, but at the time, I thought we needed to find additions at the DE position (I had no idea Jenkins is going to be used as a DE -- which makes drafting him in the second round appear even more stupid). I agree they found value in the pick up, I just wanted to see them pick up a DE.
Why is that exactly? isn't the idea of 3-4 DE to occupy blockers to allow OLB's to rush passer, and themselves occasionally get there, while being stout against the run? As a DT in college that was, apparently, a huge part of Da'Quan's Bowers' ability to sack the quarterback, wasn't he a good person to draft for our defense?

This idea that all NT's are huge is just not true. it's been stated before, but I'll say it again.

Jay Ratliff, Dallas, Nose Tackle, 6'4" 303lbs, Pro Bowler - (Jeff Saturday was quoted saying Ratliff is the best Dl in the NFL)

Kelly Gregg, Baltimore, Nose Tackle, 6'0" 320lbs - short, slow, signed to practice squad, played in Europe, but ended up the starting Nose Tackle on one of the best defenses in football for 5 years or so.

Randy Starks, Miami, Nose Tackle, 6'3" 305lbs - beat out several 330+ tackles for the job because he is the strongest player on the defense.

There are many other examples.

Red_One43 · Post by **Red_One43** » Sat Jul 30, 2011 11:06 am

fleetus wrote:
CanesSkins26 wrote:He's not too small but he doesn't have the ideal size for a nose tackle. You look at the two best NT's in the game, Wilfork (6'2, 325 pounds) and Haloti Ngata (6'4, 350 pounds), and b comparison Cofield (6'4, 306 pounds) is a good amount smaller. But that doesn't mean he cant get the job done here and nobody is going to expect him to be Ngata or Wilfork either.
Ngata isn't a NT. The much smaller Gregg has been the ravens NT and Ngata plays end. Why? Because it isn't about the size of the dog in the fight, it's about how much fight is in the dog. The Ravens determined that Ngata was more athletic and could better disrupt the backfield from end, while NT is about eating blocks, clogging lanes. It's almost like Sumo wrestling.

Lstly, I'll say, it is very hard to determine who the best NT in the league is. They don't have many stats to show how many times a play was shut down because the NT stood his ground.

Former Raven's NT ( Now with the Chiefs) Kelly Gregg - 6'0" 320.

Very well said, Fleetus, but Gregg along with most NTs have a stocky build. CS says that Cofield is not too small but does not have the ideal size. He is correct as well. I really think that Cofield will be more of a pass rushing NT. He will be called the starting NT, but in some packages he will be a DE and lined up next to Bryant or Neild. I also expect to see Jenkins at NT in some packages. I suspect that almost always, Cofield will be the NT on passing downs. When we play teams with small O linemen and teams no huddle offenses, Cofield will be the guy. There are different philosophies for NTs - run stoppers (stout guys) and guys thaat can get after the passer (Cofield type's). Kris Jenkins at 6'4" 340 was both.

jr_uscg · Post by **jr_uscg** » Sat Jul 30, 2011 11:51 am

Yahoo has Barry Corfield penciled in as a DE. I like Anthony "Bear" Bryant as a NT. The guy is a beast!

fleetus · Post by **fleetus** » Sat Jul 30, 2011 12:05 pm

jr_uscg wrote:Yahoo has Barry Corfield penciled in as a DE. I like Anthony "Bear" Bryant as a NT. The guy is a beast!

Well if YAhoo says it, then it must be true.

Problem with this logic is, Cofield has already been playing NT for his whole NFL career. The only way Cofield IS NOT the Redskins starting NT is if Jenkins, Bryant, Nield plays better NT in camp and the FO decides to move Cofield to DE, IMO. I think the three DL positions will be more or less a wide open competition, with Carriker tentatively penciled in at LDE and Cofield likely getting one of the other two spots. Depending on who steps up to win the third spot likely will determine if Cofield is NT or DE. My bet is Cofield at NT and Bowen at RDE. It should be a good competition!

jr_uscg · Post by **jr_uscg** » Sat Jul 30, 2011 12:22 pm

Either way, I'm just glad we aren't going after all the big names. Just good players willing to do what's needed to win! Anything is possible if everyone is on the same page and believe in the coaches.

Red_One43 · Post by **Red_One43** » Sat Jul 30, 2011 4:52 pm

jr_uscg wrote:Either way, I'm just glad we aren't going after all the big names. Just good players willing to do what's needed to win! Anything is possible if everyone is on the same page and believe in the coaches.

Agreed

fleetus · Post by **fleetus** » Sun Jul 31, 2011 9:09 am

Listen to Cofield himself:

He explains that:

He has always wanted to play 3-4

That he played NT inn college too

He talks about leverage and technique vs. size

Also he says, just because he weighed 306 at the combine, 5 years ago, that he does not weigh 306 now.

http://washington.cbslocal.com/?podcast ... WASHINGTON

Like I've been saying since he was signed, this guy has played NT, has the right attitude for NT, and now you hear him saying he WANTS to be NT. What a breathe of fresh air after the Albert debacle.

Cappster · Post by **Cappster** » Sun Jul 31, 2011 9:40 am

Red_One43 wrote:
jr_uscg wrote:Either way, I'm just glad we aren't going after all the big names. Just good players willing to do what's needed to win! Anything is possible if everyone is on the same page and believe in the coaches.
Agreed

Another agree

Building the team chemistry and having guys who are hungry supersedes talent, IMO. Lazy talent like #92 is just a burden on the team. A guy who wants to be the center of attention, but doesn't apply himself enough to be the center of attention. If you play hard enough and have the talent, you will naturally become the focal point of any kind of attack whether it is the offense or defense.