Jump to content

expectations for Cowart


Best5zach

Recommended Posts

Here are some thoughts from TET. Thoughts?

Links to your blog are not allowed.

Link to comment
Share on other sites





Good article on the pros & cons with Cowart (he's fresh out of high school and he will have to tweak a few things to make an impact in the SEC).

I think the author of the article also forgot that Stephen Davis was the #1 overall recruit out of high school in '92 and that ESPN had Lawson as their #2 overall recruit

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Virtually every player has to go through a year of adjustment before they star. A lot of what is demanded of them depends on who is in front of them and we do have some depth at DE. I think Cowart will be a big help in situations and will get a significant number of snaps. I also think we won't see his best until the 2016 season. He'll be doing a lot of learning this year.

From his published remarks, Cowart seems to have an outstanding attitude and is willing to learn.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Virtually every player has to go through a year of adjustment before they star. A lot of what is demanded of them depends on who is in front of them and we do have some depth at DE. I think Cowart will be a big help in situations and will get a significant number of snaps. I also think we won't see his best until the 2016 season. He'll be doing a lot of learning this year.

From his published remarks, Cowart seems to have an outstanding attitude and is willing to learn.

I agree with this. And he has a summer, fall camp, and season to learn from CL. Someone who every single person interviewed about him indicates that his work ethic is off the charts. He will be a situational player this year until (or unless) the switch turns on during the season. But he will play!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

The great thing about a guy like Cowart is that physically, he's ready to play at this level. So, that means that he will help us with depth immediately. There will be things that he will be very very good at initially, and so when he is used in those situations I expect that he will be effective. The longer he's here the more he will develop and the more we will see him on the field.

Another thing to note. I wouldn't necessarily expect him to be filling up the Stat sheets. Just because he isn't racking up sacks and tfl's doesn't mean he isn't being effective. Same goes for Lawson, although I think he will rack up those numbers. Elite players draw attention and blockers which allows the rest of the defense to work even better.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I can't remember the last time I thought a true freshman was going to start. No matter how much hype the guy had. Cowart isn't an exception for me. I expect our starting four to be: Lawson, Adams, Russell or Swain, and Lambert, unless Lambert isn't healthy. Lambert and Adams are almost prototypical hybrid players for a multiple front defensive line. Adams' reps at DE were wasted in a 4-3, but in a 3-4, those are going to help. His quickness and Lambert's size allow those guys to play on the edge in a 3-man front with Lawson moving from side to side as the four.

Even so, I expect a lot from Cowart this year. Early on, I hope he has a very defined role. Put one or two things on his plate, and let him strive for perfection of that limited demand. Then, you add to the list over the course of the season. He can be a game-changing pass rusher, but he'll likely struggle to give you even that much if you ask him to be all-things at all-times right away. Use him the way we used Lawson. Specialist early with more playing time and more complexity later in the season.

Muschamp knows all this stuff so I'm not really concerned. If we see him as an every down guy early, it will tell me one of two things, either he's very, very advanced or we have real issues at DE. Again, if healthy, I expect Lambert to start. He's a very good player that probably has a future at the next level. Around the time his game took a leap forward last season, he got hurt. Mentally, he's ready to be an every-down player; I hope his knee is ready for it. If so, that's going to be a very good starting group with interesting depth behind it.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

If you recall, Lawson didn't get the hang of it until 5 games in. That being said, I have a feeling that Muschamp will get Cowart ready a lot quicker than people think. When that time comes, there will be a burning question.

With Lawson, Adams, Russell and Cowart in the game at the same time, who are offensive line coaches going to double team ? Whoever it is, the other 3 should have fun.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

If you recall, Lawson didn't get the hang of it until 5 games in. That being said, I have a feeling that Muschamp will get Cowart ready a lot quicker than people think. When that time comes, there will be a burning question.

With Lawson, Adams, Russell and Cowart in the game at the same time, who are offensive line coaches going to double team ? Whoever it is, the other 3 should have fun.

Not sure if Russell and Cowart belong in the double team conversation just yet.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

If you recall, Lawson didn't get the hang of it until 5 games in. That being said, I have a feeling that Muschamp will get Cowart ready a lot quicker than people think. When that time comes, there will be a burning question.

With Lawson, Adams, Russell and Cowart in the game at the same time, who are offensive line coaches going to double team ? Whoever it is, the other 3 should have fun.

Not sure if Russell and Cowart belong in the double team conversation just yet.

You missed the "when that time comes" part. Then, it will be an almost impossible task with those 4, all in at the same time.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

If Cowart can just be a rush threat in the second half of the season like Lawson was in 13 I will be happy. Lawson will be better then Cowart as a freshman because Lawson was shorter and more compact and knew how to use leverage already and was also grown man strong when he got to campus. Cowart has never had to use leverage or a lot of moves because of his size and speed. Leverage and rush technique can be taught CWM will improve him over time. I believe his ceiling can be higher then Lawson but that's just a guess because you know Lawson has passion and heart for the game and Cowart has yet to show the same love for the game. That being said if he can just help out Lawson down the stretch on 3rd down by not letting them double Lawson every passing situation it will be a successful freshman season for him. Remember Lawson did the same thing for Dee Ford down the stretch in 2013 and that let us get a lot of big 3rd down stops we needed so much.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

If you recall, Lawson didn't get the hang of it until 5 games in. That being said, I have a feeling that Muschamp will get Cowart ready a lot quicker than people think. When that time comes, there will be a burning question.

With Lawson, Adams, Russell and Cowart in the game at the same time, who are offensive line coaches going to double team ? Whoever it is, the other 3 should have fun.

Not sure if Russell and Cowart belong in the double team conversation just yet.

You missed the "when that time comes" part. Then, it will be an almost impossible task with those 4, all in at the same time.

You're right I did miss that. I think both Lawson and Adams will draw their fair share of double teams this season but I think Cowart and Russell might not be in that conversation until next year, if at all. Very few defensive lines have 4 guys who require double teams.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Basically none. Lawson was commanding a double in certain situations at the end of 2013. Most teams were comfortable scheming around him or matching him one-on-one in most non-obvious passing situations. Adams is the most consistently doubled guy on the list. That's a function of his disruptive ability and the lack of attention paid to our edge players last season. We saw a fair amount of teams pinching the line toward DTs or just driving our DEs out of the play with a single blocker. Adams saw a good percentage of doubles. It'd be nice to see what he can do when he's not the center of attention every down.

Cowart isn't getting doubled until he earns the attention or the play dictates it. Even in pass downs, no one is going to double a guy until it's clear that failing to do so risks a negative play.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Basically none. Lawson was commanding a double in certain situations at the end of 2013. Most teams were comfortable scheming around him or matching him one-on-one in most non-obvious passing situations. Adams is the most consistently doubled guy on the list. That's a function of his disruptive ability and the lack of attention paid to our edge players last season. We saw a fair amount of teams pinching the line toward DTs or just driving our DEs out of the play with a single blocker. Adams saw a good percentage of doubles. It'd be nice to see what he can do when he's not the center of attention every down.

Cowart isn't getting doubled until he earns the attention or the play dictates it. Even in pass downs, no one is going to double a guy until it's clear that failing to do so risks a negative play.

You said it much better than I did.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I can't remember the last time I thought a true freshman was going to start. No matter how much hype the guy had. Cowart isn't an exception for me. I expect our starting four to be: Lawson, Adams, Russell or Swain, and Lambert, unless Lambert isn't healthy. Lambert and Adams are almost prototypical hybrid players for a multiple front defensive line. Adams' reps at DE were wasted in a 4-3, but in a 3-4, those are going to help. His quickness and Lambert's size allow those guys to play on the edge in a 3-man front with Lawson moving from side to side as the four.

Even so, I expect a lot from Cowart this year. Early on, I hope he has a very defined role. Put one or two things on his plate, and let him strive for perfection of that limited demand. Then, you add to the list over the course of the season. He can be a game-changing pass rusher, but he'll likely struggle to give you even that much if you ask him to be all-things at all-times right away. Use him the way we used Lawson. Specialist early with more playing time and more complexity later in the season.

Muschamp knows all this stuff so I'm not really concerned. If we see him as an every down guy early, it will tell me one of two things, either he's very, very advanced or we have real issues at DE. Again, if healthy, I expect Lambert to start. He's a very good player that probably has a future at the next level. Around the time his game took a leap forward last season, he got hurt. Mentally, he's ready to be an every-down player; I hope his knee is ready for it. If so, that's going to be a very good starting group with interesting depth behind it.

Great points. I'm hoping Lambert bounces back from his injury and plays to his abilities. IMO, we need to stop the run more so than pass-rush, though both are important. During AU's last 33 conference games, the Tigers have allowed 199-yards per game on the ground at 5.06 yards per rush. This includes 18 times the opponent has surpassed 200-yards rushing, where AU is 6-12 in those games. Got to stop the run before we can apply pressure on the QB. Coach Rocker often preached it to the DL.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Basically none. Lawson was commanding a double in certain situations at the end of 2013. Most teams were comfortable scheming around him or matching him one-on-one in most non-obvious passing situations. Adams is the most consistently doubled guy on the list. That's a function of his disruptive ability and the lack of attention paid to our edge players last season. We saw a fair amount of teams pinching the line toward DTs or just driving our DEs out of the play with a single blocker. Adams saw a good percentage of doubles. It'd be nice to see what he can do when he's not the center of attention every down.

Cowart isn't getting doubled until he earns the attention or the play dictates it. Even in pass downs, no one is going to double a guy until it's clear that failing to do so risks a negative play.

You said it much better than I did.

All 3 of us are in the same ballpark. I don't expect much from Cowart until midseason, the same as Lawson his Freshman year. The only wild card will be Muschamp's ability over the previous DCs to be able to get him ready. If that happens this year, when the time comes that Cowart commands a double team too, it is going to be very tough on any OC to decide between Lawson, Adams and Cowart.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Basically none. Lawson was commanding a double in certain situations at the end of 2013. Most teams were comfortable scheming around him or matching him one-on-one in most non-obvious passing situations. Adams is the most consistently doubled guy on the list. That's a function of his disruptive ability and the lack of attention paid to our edge players last season. We saw a fair amount of teams pinching the line toward DTs or just driving our DEs out of the play with a single blocker. Adams saw a good percentage of doubles. It'd be nice to see what he can do when he's not the center of attention every down.

Cowart isn't getting doubled until he earns the attention or the play dictates it. Even in pass downs, no one is going to double a guy until it's clear that failing to do so risks a negative play.

You said it much better than I did.

All 3 of us are in the same ballpark. I don't expect much from Cowart until midseason, the same as Lawson his Freshman year. The only wild card will be Muschamp's ability over the previous DCs to be able to get him ready. If that happens this year, when the time comes that Cowart commands a double team too, it is going to be very tough on any OC to decide between Lawson, Adams and Cowart.

Agreed

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Cowart should have better production than Lawsons' freshman year due to the different position....if he gets on the field as much.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I think Cowart will be on the field a lot. If our defense is going to be better this year, we will need Cowart to contribute. I think Cowart is very dedicated to being successful, and as long as he is healthy, he will be a terror on the field.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

×
×
  • Create New...