Welcome to the grinder of the preseason. We are now 2 weeks through the 2016 NFL Preseason where teams are starting to figure out starting spots and who will fill the 53 roster spots. With cuts looming who took advantage of the moment? Who stood out on the defensive side of the ball in week 2?
The Inside Linebacker Position For The Ravens Is Set:
A few weeks ago I talked about how the middle linebacker spot for the Ravens was a huge question mark. Albert McCllelin really did his best to shut me up and looked like a world beater out there. He looks to be the next unsung hero linebacker for the Ravens just as they had Bart Scott, Adalius Thomas, Dannell Elerbe, and others. McCllelin spent most of his NFL career as a cog on special teams but now looks like a very capable starter. The Ravens will regret not drafting Myles Jack in the future but for now they appear to be okay in the immediate future. Rookie 5th round pick Matt Judon also had a great showing as a rotational pass rusher for the team.
The Eagle Defense Is Greatly Improved:
The Eagles Replaced former defensive coordinator Billy Davis with Jim Schwartz this offseason in a move that appears to be paying dividends. Schwartz is a defensive line specialist at heart running the wide 9 defensive front. The Eagles defensive line was a nightmare for the Steelers all afternoon creating 4 sacks and many more defensive pressures in the process. The Philadelphia secondary also looked sharp and picked off quarterback Landry Jones 4 times in the first half. Pitching a shut out is no small feat for a defense and was a step in the right direction for the Eagles.
Jadeveon Clowney Finally Looks Ready To Make An Impact:
The 2014 number one overall pick was awfully scary in week two. Drew Brees still probably doesnt feel right from the sack Clowney delivered who also forced a fumble in the process. Click here for Clowney’s highlights vs. the Saints in week two. Clowney was dominant in the run game as well. I don’t think anyone was more dominant on the defensive side of the ball than Clowney this week, my words simply don’t do him justice here.
Carolina’s Corners Have Some Work To Do:
We talked about the Panthers cornerback dilemma heading into the season. Josh Norman is off to Washington and the team responded accordingly drafting three rookie corners. James Bradberry looked the best so far who allowed only 1 catch for 5 yards on 24 snaps. Daryl Worley and Zach Sanchez on the other hand were not very good. Worley allowed a catch every single time he was targeted resulting in 6 catches for 67 yards. Sanchez gave up 5 catches but did get one back with an interception late in the game. This could be a serious Achilles Heal heading into the season.
Vernon Hargreaves Is A Stud:
I went out on a limb from most experts when I declared Vernon Hargreaves the best cornerback from the 2016 Draft Class. Shockingly the former Florida Gator was the 3rd cornerback selected in the draft. On 11 snaps Hargreaves was targeted 3 times and didn’t allow a catch. What’s more impressive is he managed to record two interceptions along the way. According to Pro Football Focus he has the highest grade of any cornerback in the NFL during the preseason.
