Technically, it should allow them to make a play on the ball. They are facing the QB, they should be watching the QB & the receiver.
I don't think it is this technique that is the "source" of our problems. I think it's that we have "fine" athletes, a talented bunch of guys, but not many football players.
It's as if they don't understand routes, don't study tendencies, don't anticipate the throw. It's usually not until the ball is caught, that our DBs & LBs make a break on the ball.
Surely that's not what is being taught.
I'd have to watch the whole game.. I hope they replay it...
IMO, it would take a lot of time to dig into all these.
Overall, one would imagine that in the long run, the more techniques you learn, the better the chance that you become a better defender.
However, there might be some guy who will never become comfortable with a certain technique. (In that case, it would be like the coaches trying to fit a square peg into a round hole.)
On the one hand, we're not the only team that teaches the shuffle technique.
Last year, I was looking into Sean Smith (Utah) during the draft and I noticed that he pretty much stayed with this technique in college.
So I watched a few Dolphins games (last year and this).
I saw that the Dolphins also get the other CBs to play some of this (including Vontae Davis whom I don't think had any such experience at Illinois.)
(BTW, Jason Allen was a #16 overall pick in 2006, but was known for his plays as a special teamer more than at DB.
I read that he played well in wk 1, and was MVP in week 2, and yet he was waived.
What a turn-around!)
http://www.miamiherald.com/2010/09/10/1818681/allen-gets-his-chance-to-focus.html?asset_id=Dolphins%20First%20and%20Goal:%20Team%20chemistry&asset_type=html_module
At any rate, I watch them get burned by Rodgers (Packers) no matter what technique they use.
It's complicated to try to describe all the things a CB have to do.
Read the QB to see whethere he's in a 3-step drop, or 5, or 7, or something else.
In certain coverage he has to pay attention to another receiver besides his main threat.
He has to learn the route tree and try to recognize the route(s) that the various legible receivers are running.
He has to read his keys (deciphering whether it's a pass or a run play) so that he can come up for run support.
IMO, I wouldn't have young CBs playing with new techniques.
Rather, I would work with them individually to see what they are most comfortable with to refine those techniques first.
Then you start teaching them another technique and check with them to see whether they like it or not.
If they do well after a lot of practice then you can start incorporating it slowly on game day.
How soon I think should depend on each individual player.
However, as a coach, I think one should be more conservative than the player (who may be overconfident) and should remain patient, not letting the student try out something "live" too soon.
Because when he doesn't get success on the field, his confidence may be affected (deep in the back of his mind.)
Got to run!