George, This is from Kevin Carretta, a former player who is in law school at ND and writes for Blueand Gold.com. He is analyzing Ray Herring's performance at safety in the Stanford game. He is commenting specifically on how the LBs had trouble covering Stanford's running game, primarily because of their inexperience. I thought you'd be interested:
Charlie made a point recently when asked if Z had a future in the NFL, he said absolutely that Z would fit perfectly in a defense that likes to walk the safety up a lot. Since the Texans are playing the Cowboys this week naturally there has been lots of talk about the Cowboys. Including the supposition that their safety's can be attacked because they are great in run support but just average in coverage. One of them is former OU AA Roy Williams who made Chris Simms life miserable on blitzes, including a famous one where he came over a lineman tipped a ball that was caught by a OU DL for a TD in a very tight OU/Texas game. It was on the cover of SI. This is the type of safety Z will be in the NFL.
If TZ plays one down in the NFL as a starting safety I'll eat my hat. And as far as that strategy goes, I'll have my free safety play back where he belongs. I'd rather find new LBs than concede 50 yard passes. On another note, the BBs are buzzing about a possible exhibition boxing match between TZ and Mike Tyson. So our argument here may be moot because Tommy may eating through a tube in the future. :wink:
George.. <t>Agree. He is so average at ND back there and no quicks at all. I'll be shocked if he plays in the NFL. We just have to get better at that position in the coming years.</t>
8) What's so interesting to me is that all of the things being said about Zbikowski were also said about another All-American, Troy Palamalu of USC. "They're just small LBs; they're not deep cover safeties; they can hit, but they're not fast enough...blah...blah...blah... You can catch Palamalu's act with the Pittsburgh Steelers. I'll get the hats ready...