I always thought Adams was kind of an enigma. He excels at rushing the QB, hitting hard, and tackling well. He's also not the best at coverage and has horrible hands when it comes to interceptions. It just seems like a strange package for a safety. Unconventional. His best attribute is rushing the QB. Is that what one looks for in a safety? With his unique skillset, I imagine it is kind of hard to figure out how to use him properly and for that reason alone, i need to reel it in some when it appears he isnt being used properly.
That's a fair summation.
One of the problems I have with Adams is that we have to change our defense in order to allow him to excel. Sure, he's good at rushing the passer, very good, but being that he plays in the secondary, we have to give up something in order for him to play at his optimum. That's how I saw 2021 unfold. We'd send him on a blitz, they'd pick it up, then complete a pass for a first down. We had the 2nd worst passing defense in the league that season.
It's going to be very difficult to find a way to utilize Adams on all three downs without having to expose him in coverage, which is his weakness, or sacrifice a secondary spot to send him on a blitz. Plus, he's coming off a very serious injury that after nearly a year, he still hasn't fully recovered. How is a 6'1", 215 lb. player recovering from an injury going to fair against tight ends and pulling guards if we're going to routinely play him in the box?
My idea is to limit his play, use him primarily in passing situations and make offenses account for him. Not only would it allow him to be used at his optimum, but it would reduce his exposure to further injury. The problem is that it's an admission that he is not worth being the 3rd highest paid safety in the league, meaning that Pete would have to swallow his pride.
