So first off, this guy is gonna keep Venables up late at night more so than any other player this season outside of maybe Justin Thomas. He is truly special. He doesn't make the jaw dropping physical tackle-breaking runs like Elliott, Fournette, or Chubb so he doesn't get the hype, but make no mistake this kid is in their class. He's the Jamaal Charles or Chris Johnson to their Adrian Peterson.
With guys like Cook it's all about gap discipline, proper angles and correct leverage. I'll be honest, I am slightly worried about our LBs laterally. I'd expect to see a lot of those stretch and counter plays they're trying to hit BC with (almost brought one to the house).
Having said that, we do have two huge things going for us, and they're a stout duo at two different levels of the defense. So far, Lawson and Dodd have done an incredible job setting the edge. This cannot be understated and is paramount against a runner like Cook. Both of these guys do a good job of setting edge while also pushing the edge and not running upfield out of the play. It's one thing to simply set the edge, it's a whole nother thing to set it and then squeeze the hole.
The second duo is the safety cyborgs we have. Not only are Green and Kearse freaks physically, but their ability to diagnose a play immediately and fill instantly downhill is incredible against a back like Cook. The Earl Thomas' and Kam Chancellor's of the world are so good as the last line of defense because they AREN'T the last line of defense. Doesn't make sense, does it, but it makes all the difference.
Those elite safeties diagnose, attack downhill and fill their gap immediately. When you meet a RB in the hole, especially someone like Cook, you significantly reduce his options. Where safeties get in trouble is where they're meeting the RB once he's through the hole with room to work. Now this isn't easy. It takes instantaneous diagnoses and the ability to trust your reads and attack downhill with the ability to breakdown and make the tackle.
Do all this and we can contain Cook. That's all this FSU offense is. I still think Goldston can be had from what I've seen in this game, but we have to wrap up. BC has left some sacks (and a safety) on the board.
With guys like Cook it's all about gap discipline, proper angles and correct leverage. I'll be honest, I am slightly worried about our LBs laterally. I'd expect to see a lot of those stretch and counter plays they're trying to hit BC with (almost brought one to the house).
Having said that, we do have two huge things going for us, and they're a stout duo at two different levels of the defense. So far, Lawson and Dodd have done an incredible job setting the edge. This cannot be understated and is paramount against a runner like Cook. Both of these guys do a good job of setting edge while also pushing the edge and not running upfield out of the play. It's one thing to simply set the edge, it's a whole nother thing to set it and then squeeze the hole.
The second duo is the safety cyborgs we have. Not only are Green and Kearse freaks physically, but their ability to diagnose a play immediately and fill instantly downhill is incredible against a back like Cook. The Earl Thomas' and Kam Chancellor's of the world are so good as the last line of defense because they AREN'T the last line of defense. Doesn't make sense, does it, but it makes all the difference.
Those elite safeties diagnose, attack downhill and fill their gap immediately. When you meet a RB in the hole, especially someone like Cook, you significantly reduce his options. Where safeties get in trouble is where they're meeting the RB once he's through the hole with room to work. Now this isn't easy. It takes instantaneous diagnoses and the ability to trust your reads and attack downhill with the ability to breakdown and make the tackle.
Do all this and we can contain Cook. That's all this FSU offense is. I still think Goldston can be had from what I've seen in this game, but we have to wrap up. BC has left some sacks (and a safety) on the board.
