ILBs sure look different

[whisper]

They all looked pretty good.

[Captain Lemming]

They all looked pretty good.

Somebody needs to give you some credit for a positive take.

Your usual negativity gets all the responses, gotta make sure your positive take gets some love too.

I agree btw. If our inside backers are surprisingly strong our team might have a scary good defense.

[Steel Maniac]

They all looked pretty good.

They did. But the coverage ability of our linebackers will be tested week one as Kittle is one of the best TE's in the game. They'll be times when it's up to those linebackers to have to drop into coverage. And coverage is the area that we were most concerned about with our new linebacking corps. They'll be safety coverage at times as well but if our linebackers can cover Kittle when they have to, that would go a long way in determining the overall capabilities of the unit.

[whisper]

They did. But the coverage ability of our linebackers will be tested week one as Kittle is one of the best TE's in the game. They'll be times when it's up to those linebackers to have to drop into coverage. And coverage is the area that we were most concerned about with our new linebacking corps. They'll be safety coverage at times as well but if our linebackers can cover Kittle when they have to, that would go a long way in determining the overall capabilities of the unit.

Almost no/none LBs cover Kittle, almost no safeties do either. Unfair test.

[Steel Maniac]

Almost no/none LBs cover Kittle, almost no safeties do either. Unfair test.

It might be unfair, but your going to have to mix up coverages on Kittle; give Shanahan different looks. They'll be moments they'll have to cover him. Attempt to cover him. Shanahan is an offensuve guru; you best believe he's going to chin check their coverage abilities.

[Blitzer]

They did. But the coverage ability of our linebackers will be tested week one as Kittle is one of the best TE's in the game. They'll be times when it's up to those linebackers to have to drop into coverage. And coverage is the area that we were most concerned about with our new linebacking corps. They'll be safety coverage at times as well but if our linebackers can cover Kittle when they have to, that would go a long way in determining the overall capabilities of the unit.

Put the QB on his ass enough times and all will be good

[Steel Maniac]

Put the QB on his ass enough times and all will be good

I like that idea..a lot. But McCaffrey slipping out into the flat is going to be available to them and those linebackers are going to have to cover him as well. In this game, those linebackers coverage skills are going to get tested. And tested at the highest levels between McCaffrey and Kittle. I like it because we are really going to get to know what they can do in coverage without any excuses for any of the excuse makers. Can it possibly be their biggest test of the year from an opponent? Yeah..probably. But at least the test is the first game of the year, where you've had since late April to game plan and prepare and all your linebackers are healthy (should be healthy).