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***THREAD ON 5th RD pick Kindle Vildor out of Georgia Southern & his day against Minn***
His first snap of live action on d the man gets props from Dalvin Cook for making a 1st down saving tackle. Square up, reacts to burst outside, Dalvin “Nice tackle!” As he falls. Respect.
His first snap of live action on d the man gets props from Dalvin Cook for making a 1st down saving tackle. Square up, reacts to burst outside, Dalvin “Nice tackle!” As he falls. Respect.
Shelley was playing over Kindle in two CB sets so he didn’t see field again until this RZ play. I think Kindle should be in as long as Jaylon is out as I’ll outline, but Kindle does struggle a bit in zone. I can’t be sure but I do think even tho he was on outside—his guy here. Ok
Now remember this play as I am going to skip ahead, rookies learn from experience. Similar concept w DHC on field altho could be man. Kindle has Jefferson & DHC is gonna be picked a bit. Cousins loads toward DHC man, kindle helps BUT drops back to guard Jeff. Near INT. Excellent
Here is Kindle press man on Jefferson (who he covered WELL in college), Kindle shows zero fear on press w his 4.44 speed and ALWAYS finds the QBs eyes. Shadows Jefferson w inside leverage, physical w him inside 5, forces coverage sack and punt.
Again press man against a man having a historic R year. This time it’s a double move, Kindle step for step on Jefferson w the out and up cousins runs for a first
Here Vildor is on Thielen and frustrates him into yelling at the ref because Kindle forces him LEGALLY to sidelines. Look at his eyes bottom left pic, he has feel for Thielen, isn’t scared of his speed, he’s watching Kurt for the ball. Love it.
Shelley is getting picked on underneath a bit, but here Vildor bluffs press and drops, eyes on Kirk who I think I called Kurt before (too right), has his guy and underneath zone
Here’s just a pic of shelley not covering his guy on inside which concerns me, bears get lucky Cousins goes other way or maybe shelley already saw it headed that way
Here is Johnson in red zone working in tandem w Shelley but if this is zone he’s losing discipline and following Thielen too far which leaves Jefferson on corner route which Jackson is getting beat on. Awful cousins throw. I THINK it’s man but can’t tell as no motion in video.
Next series & Vildor is back to press man this time in slot v Jefferson (just his foot in pic 1). Cousins going here whole way but V is so physical he has to pull down and run up in pocket to buy time. Pics dont capture but Jefferson swim move (grabs) Vi to get Separation & comp
Here’s another view of the swim move...this is only completion Vildor allows in man coverage on the day so worth two tweets. Vildor makes the tackle.
His next real action comes on the RZ play I outlined before, a near pic, but I’ll give you some video compliments of another bears twitter folk! Great play by Vildor but watch his eyes. Still, Vildor sometimes overcommits on zone cov which is expected—work in progress there https://twitter.com/chicagoaudible/status/1340802799622340609
This is step of game I want to see from him since his eyes are so good. He’s in zone here and has outside third. He sees cousins is going underneath but he continues to backpedal a bit too far as he’s later than his talent should allow for on coming back for the underneath YAC
He locks down thielen here AGAIN (he had zero fears on Thielen I didn’t show a RZ play earlier but same deal), Thielen can’t get separation and pushes off and they somehow call it on Vildor (video in next tweet)
I mean this is not on Vildor and instead of third down stop bears allow a td https://twitter.com/bearsbarroom/status/1340756687368679427
Just bc of situation Vildor isn’t on field for a bit, I think he should be on a lot more over shelley, but here is bears 4-1 stop. Pass rush saves shelley who is rubbed completely out of this play to Jefferson
Last drive is Vildor progressing in zone piece I want him focused on. He has outside third in hurry up keep in front, drifts too much deep even tho he sees it again and let’s man OB...but...then
Executes his zone perfect covering both his man deep sideline, while keeping eyes on underneath. Tackle in bounds and Vikings now basically dead to Hail Mary which fails. Nice progress in his zone reps here.
So from what I saw from Vildor on Sunday is a CB who has a ton of press man talents, who keeps his eyes locked on the CB and can thus ball hawk, and a kid who improved over course of game in zone responsibilities. I think Vildor showed what I saw in college, he can be special. https://twitter.com/_nchsathletics/status/1340855832133718018
