To my eyes there is a huge difference in team speed between the 49ers and Chiefs compared to the Giants. I am firmly in the run the ball, stop the run, rush the passer camp but I don’t think you can do those things without enough athletic, fast players.
We have moved more in that direction recently on offense with players like Barkley, Slayton, and Engram but we look slow on D, especially at the LB spots. I was watching our BJ Goodson from the Packers and he is the type of LB we used to target - a thumper. We need more athletic fast players, and I am hoping that is what we see in the draft and with FA acquisitions.
This
And is not a huge effort guy to boot
His problems had two sources -
(1) Mental - It took him a long time to grasp what to do. That why he looked lost and beaten most of the season.
(2) Adjustments - He's a natural press corner. When he played back, he couldn't react and receivers blew right by him.
He looked a lot better toward the end of the season ...
https://nypost.com/2019/12/21/giants-deandre-baker-beginning-to-shed-bust-label/
He's strong, quick and agile, tracks the ball very well . I hope the 2020 coordinator recognizes what he CAN do, and emphasize those things.
This Xs 1000.
Couldn't agree MORE... Also, notice the 49er defenders:
#1 Swarming to the ball carrier
#2 Textbook & sound TACKLING
Engram
Barkley
remember David Wilson?
They signed guys with speed, DRC, and others
But when you look at their speed guys, none of them compliment a ground and pound game. Even Barkely, who is by far the best of the bunch, is a home run hitter rather than road grater....