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Welcome to Houston Jalen Pitre

CloakNNNdagger

Hall of Fame
From THE ATHLETIC:

Jalen Pitre, Nickel, Houston Texans
Scheme fit: Hybrid slot defender in a zone match/man match coverage scheme

Above, I reference the zone match and man match coverage schemes that exist in a split-safety world. For a deep safety like Hamilton, his job is to protect the seams and/or double the most dangerous receiver. Corners, like Elam in Buffalo, must spend most of the game with his eyes fixated on outside receivers, matching them wherever they go. These jobs aren’t easy, but the responsibilities are straightforward. To better understand the nuances and intricacies of zone match and man match coverages, it’s necessary to focus on the underneath defenders in the slot, and Pitre makes for a perfect example.

Zone match coverage ask for coverage defenders to drop toward an area of the field, but they are keying the releases and routes of the wide receiver first, before focusing on the quarterback’s intentions. If no receiver threatens a defender’s assigned area, he will settle and play a more typical zone responsibility. If a receiver does run a route into the defender’s zone, he will play tight in coverage and deny the throwing window until the route moves into the next area.

In the example below, a concept known as smash-drive, defensive backs in zone match quarters give up the hitch and drag routes to take more dangerous patterns as they distribute down the field. Linebackers have to play between intermediate and shallow routes, forcing the quarterback to take the shortest option and hope for yards after the catch.



To execute in the underneath areas, linebackers and slot defenders must possess a good feel for the most probable route combinations, based on what the nearest receiver is doing. Pitre excelled at Baylor by jumping into passing windows just as they opened, squeezing away air space and confusing the timing between quarterback and receiver.

In man match coverage, the goal is to deny the offense an opportunity to complete easy passes, so corners play straight man-to-man coverage, and the underneath defenders adjust their leverage to deny routes with their body positioning, working in tandem with safeties to bracket receivers and dissuade quarterbacks from throwing into intermediate windows. Taking the same route concept from above, the corners stick to drags and hitches now, and with the corner route doubled, the only potential hope that remains is to hold the ball long enough for the dig to get away from the linebacker. This opens the door for a coverage sack.



Last season at Baylor, Pitre transitioned from playing more like a true strong side linebacker to filling the role of a pure nickel, meaning more man coverage for Pitre on early downs. He can size up any slot physically, and he has the athleticism to handle the shiftier route runners. Baylor head coach Dave Aranda and defensive coordinator Ron Roberts trusted him with a job he hadn’t been asked to execute prior to their regime at the school, but Pitre had no problem flashing man coverage skills against the best competition in the Big 12.

Pitre can be the perfect player for Texans coach Lovie Smith’s two-high system, if Smith allows Pitre to fit into that big nickel role and execute both match coverage concepts. With corner Derek Stingley Jr. playing alongside Pitre and locking onto the top wide receiver every time he’s on the field, Houston can make a quick defensive turnaround.
 

thunderkyss

Just win baby!!!
Staff member
Contributor's Club
From THE ATHLETIC:

Jalen Pitre, Nickel, Houston Texans
Scheme fit: Hybrid slot defender in a zone match/man match coverage scheme

Above, I reference the zone match and man match coverage schemes that exist in a split-safety world. For a deep safety like Hamilton, his job is to protect the seams and/or double the most dangerous receiver. Corners, like Elam in Buffalo, must spend most of the game with his eyes fixated on outside receivers, matching them wherever they go. These jobs aren’t easy, but the responsibilities are straightforward. To better understand the nuances and intricacies of zone match and man match coverages, it’s necessary to focus on the underneath defenders in the slot, and Pitre makes for a perfect example.

Zone match coverage ask for coverage defenders to drop toward an area of the field, but they are keying the releases and routes of the wide receiver first, before focusing on the quarterback’s intentions. If no receiver threatens a defender’s assigned area, he will settle and play a more typical zone responsibility. If a receiver does run a route into the defender’s zone, he will play tight in coverage and deny the throwing window until the route moves into the next area.

In the example below, a concept known as smash-drive, defensive backs in zone match quarters give up the hitch and drag routes to take more dangerous patterns as they distribute down the field. Linebackers have to play between intermediate and shallow routes, forcing the quarterback to take the shortest option and hope for yards after the catch.



To execute in the underneath areas, linebackers and slot defenders must possess a good feel for the most probable route combinations, based on what the nearest receiver is doing. Pitre excelled at Baylor by jumping into passing windows just as they opened, squeezing away air space and confusing the timing between quarterback and receiver.

In man match coverage, the goal is to deny the offense an opportunity to complete easy passes, so corners play straight man-to-man coverage, and the underneath defenders adjust their leverage to deny routes with their body positioning, working in tandem with safeties to bracket receivers and dissuade quarterbacks from throwing into intermediate windows. Taking the same route concept from above, the corners stick to drags and hitches now, and with the corner route doubled, the only potential hope that remains is to hold the ball long enough for the dig to get away from the linebacker. This opens the door for a coverage sack.



Last season at Baylor, Pitre transitioned from playing more like a true strong side linebacker to filling the role of a pure nickel, meaning more man coverage for Pitre on early downs. He can size up any slot physically, and he has the athleticism to handle the shiftier route runners. Baylor head coach Dave Aranda and defensive coordinator Ron Roberts trusted him with a job he hadn’t been asked to execute prior to their regime at the school, but Pitre had no problem flashing man coverage skills against the best competition in the Big 12.

Pitre can be the perfect player for Texans coach Lovie Smith’s two-high system, if Smith allows Pitre to fit into that big nickel role and execute both match coverage concepts. With corner Derek Stingley Jr. playing alongside Pitre and locking onto the top wide receiver every time he’s on the field, Houston can make a quick defensive turnaround.
That’s some good stuff
 

beerlover

Hall of Fame
He isn't playing in Romeos D. He is playing in Lovies Tampa 2 which fits his skill set
Exactly. Good of fit as any in the 2022 NFL Draft -

Pitre can be the perfect player for Texans coach Lovie Smith’s two-high system, if Smith allows Pitre to fit into that big nickel role and execute both match coverage concepts. With corner Derek Stingley JR. (adding value to Stingley as well) playing alongside Pitre and locking onto the top wide receiver every time he’s on the field, Houston can make a quick defensive turnaround.
 

TheRealJoker

Hall of Fame
I read Stingley is favored to win DROY but I actually think Pitre has the better shot at it. If Stingley goes well he wont have many opportunities to fill up the stat sheet. Whereas Pitre is going to be around the ball a lot more racking up TFLs along with the occasional sack and same INT/PD opportunities Stingley will get.
 

michaelm

vox nihili
I read Stingley is favored to win DROY but I actually think Pitre has the better shot at it. If Stingley goes well he wont have many opportunities to fill up the stat sheet. Whereas Pitre is going to be around the ball a lot more racking up TFLs along with the occasional sack and same INT/PD opportunities Stingley will get.
I think they should just alternate winning defensive player of the week, and leave it up to the voters
 

steelbtexan

King of the W. B. Club
Contributor's Club
Lovie knows how to use his players to get the most out of them.

I'm really looking forward to seeing the secondary of

Stingley
Petrie
Stewart
King

Nickle Thomas

Reserve Nelson

A massive upgrade over what they had last yr. What I want to see as little of Murray as possible. Which means Murray will be playing alot.
 

TheRealJoker

Hall of Fame
Lovie knows how to use his players to get the most out of them.

I'm really looking forward to seeing the secondary of

Stingley
Petrie
Stewart
King

Nickle Thomas

Reserve Nelson

A massive upgrade over what they had last yr. What I want to see as little of Murray as possible. Which means Murray will be playing alot.
Jonathan Owens is interesting to me. Super athletic 4.4 speed, 11’ broad jump, 43” (!!!) vertical. Like Tavierre Thomas he came from a small school (Missouri Western).

Started off on practice squad and when he got an opportunity to start last season took advantage of it, getting an int and fumble recovery against the Chargers. Unfortunately he dislocated his wrist the following game against the 49ers in week 16.

Hopefully Owens takes another step forward like he did late last year and becomes this year’s Tavierre Thomas breakout player.
 

steelbtexan

King of the W. B. Club
Contributor's Club
Jonathan Owens is interesting to me. Super athletic 4.4 speed, 11’ broad jump, 43” (!!!) vertical. Like Tavierre Thomas he came from a small school (Missouri Western).

Started off on practice squad and when he got an opportunity to start last season took advantage of it, getting an int and fumble recovery against the Chargers. Unfortunately he dislocated his wrist the following game against the 49ers in week 16.

Hopefully Owens takes another step forward like he did late last year and becomes this year’s Tavierre Thomas breakout player.
This would be a pleasant surprise and solidify the S position for the next 4-5 yrs.
 

TheRealJoker

Hall of Fame
No. Based on character and leadership, these two players are much different
I remember OB not so subtly taking a shot at Swearinger in a video at a coaching seminar around the time they cut him. He spoke of a rookie 2nd round pick who came up to him asking why he wanted him to go to a Special Teams meeting when he was a 2nd round pick.

I can’t imagine Pitre pushing back if they asked him to play anywhere.

Beyond being safeties drafted in the second round they are completely different.
 

TheRealJoker

Hall of Fame
Adams was Jonnie on the spot. The Kid from Nebraska was top shelf
Mike Brown your Nebraska reference? He was a stud but injuries robbed most of his time with Lovie. Though he did get 2nd team all pro in 2005 (playing 12 games).

Him and Bob Sanders were two absolute studs in those mid 2000s that just couldn’t stay healthy. Though Bob Sanders was worse. Hall of fame caliber when healthy. Only had two out of eight seasons with more than six games played!
 

leebigeztx

Keep it Movin!
Mike Brown your Nebraska reference? He was a stud but injuries robbed most of his time with Lovie. Though he did get 2nd team all pro in 2005 (playing 12 games).

Him and Bob Sanders were two absolute studs in those mid 2000s that just couldn’t stay healthy. Though Bob Sanders was worse. Hall of fame caliber when healthy. Only had two out of eight seasons with more than six games played!
Mike Brown your Nebraska reference? He was a stud but injuries robbed most of his time with Lovie. Though he did get 2nd team all pro in 2005 (playing 12 games).

Him and Bob Sanders were two absolute studs in those mid 2000s that just couldn’t stay healthy. Though Bob Sanders was worse. Hall of fame caliber when healthy. Only had two out of eight seasons with more than six games played!
Thats him, Mike Brown. Bob Sanders was a beast with his speed. They called him the missle
 
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