[News] C.J. Mosley's Next Step Is Improving In Pass Coverage

[BR News]

The third-year inside linebacker said he’s studying route concepts to get a better feel for where he should be. He’s also finally free from his hard wrist brace.

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[EdTheMythicalOne]

Awesome. Glad to hear that he's not simply taking it easy. He's honing his craft. Ray Lewis and Ed Reed were phenomenal athletes but they didn't become great players because they simply relied on their natural talents. They were relentless in the film room and even held their own private film sessions for the rest of the defense. Study, study, study. Mosley and his tag team partner in the middle should be locked in the film rooms with each other and studying their brains out.

[The Greek]

he will definitely need to step up this season and take his game to the next level. he is a key piece to the defense

[CodeSpyder]

Linebacker pass coverage was definitely an issue last year. I can't count how many times tight ends burned us with crossing routes. And the pass rush didn't help. We need a much better pass rush to cut down the time the QB can sit back and pick us apart. That will help the linebacker pass coverage.

[GENE2407]

This is where Myles Jack will be missed. I'll be keeping an eye over my shoulder at that guy on Jax for the years to come.

[Maryland]

Mosley reminds me of Patrick Willis in the sense that he's hyped quite a bit by the public as a hard-nosed LB, but both really struggled in coverage. I hope Mosley can develop the skills to cover better, but historically he's struggled to cover quicker RBs, biting on double-moves a lot.

[Fastynart]

I like everything about Mosley...except he can't cover worth squat. How many times did we see tight ends and running backs catching passes while no linebacker was even in the picture? Ok, Darryl Smith wasn't a blanket either, but lots of times it was Mosley chasing after the guy, long after he already got the pass and was making huge gains. Call him a Pro Bowler if you want, but until he gets it done in coverage, he is not an All Pro.

[sizzlingdoom]

Seems like Pees needs to make sure he doesn't need to pass cover at all, except for when we get "caught". Clearly it's not his strength at all, and I liked the Willis comparison "Maryland". I've been out here in the Bay Area my whole life, and Willis was a pro bowl/all pro LB, but he could not cover. KC and Orr can probably cover better, plus with the DB depth we have, I would to see us use Weddle as a cover and box LB at times. Like Arizona does with Buccanon

[billiejean]

13 hours ago, Fastynart said:

I like everything about Mosley...except he can't cover worth squat. How many times did we see tight ends and running backs catching passes while no linebacker was even in the picture? Ok, Darryl Smith wasn't a blanket either, but lots of times it was Mosley chasing after the guy, long after he already got the pass and was making huge gains. Call him a Pro Bowler if you want, but until he gets it done in coverage, he is not an All Pro.

you're so insightful. You seem to know a great deal about coverage schemes in the NFL.  You must have played high school football.  flag? two hand touch perhaps? 

Edited August 10, 2016 by billiejean

[BOLDnPurPnBlacK]

I like everything about Mosley...except he can't cover worth squat. How many times did we see tight ends and running backs catching passes while no linebacker was even in the picture? Ok, Darryl Smith wasn't a blanket either, but lots of times it was Mosley chasing after the guy, long after he already got the pass and was making huge gains. Call him a Pro Bowler if you want, but until he gets it done in coverage, he is not an All Pro.

Hes fine in zone coverage when he can keep his eyes down field and the play in front of him. Its when he has to turn and run with someone, especially TEs on seam routes that he struggles. And that could be a number of things, but he'll get it figured out - its not a talent or athletic limitation. Young players tend to lock onto the QB instead of playing with vision all around them. I think this is a big part of the issue with him, and he'll solve it to be at least good in coverage.

And yea, people can call him a pro bowler -- because he got selected to this thing called the pro bowl. Same year he was selected 2nd team All Pro.... so hes kinda earned the right to be called all pro too.

[Ravensfansince03]

Considering the fact that he played damn near the entire part of last season with a cast hand, I understand why his pass coverage wasn't up to par.

[billiejean]

Considering the fact that he played damn near the entire part of last season with a cast hand, I understand why his pass coverage wasn't up to par.

in pass coverage it doesn't matter if your hand his clubbed up or not (except maybe to catch interceptions). Pass coverage is all about footwork.