I've been reading some good things about Al Louis-Jean and got curious about his background. I don't typically follow our UDFA signings as they rarely end up contributing but he appears to be on track to doing just that. (Christian Jones too). I figured I'd post some of the links I came across here in case others were interested.

 

He's 6' 1", 190lbs and ran a 4.52 forty. He has the size and athleticism to play the position but he came out of college at just 20 years old and without making much of an impact on the field. He also had a couple disciplinary issues in his last season. A roadmap for any player who wants to go undrafted. In the last game when Fuller went out I felt we'd see a big drop off in coverage or run support. It never materialized, and that was also with Christian Jones on the field. Detroit will be a much tougher challenge.

 

http://www.csnchicago.com/bears/bears-lion...w-worry-detroit

“You’ve just got to compete,” said cornerback Al Louis-Jean, who filled in when Kyle Fuller was injured against Tampa Bay. “You can’t be scared and back off and let him dictate everything.”

 

Louis-Jean at 6-foot-2 will be expected to keep Johnson from dictating. Fuller is not expected to be back from his knee injury and Louis-Jean graded out at a very high level against the Buccaneers, according to sources.

 

http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/players...l-louis-jean-jr

 

http://www.bcinterruption.com/2014/1/19/53...ssmen-nfl-draft

 

http://www.patriotledger.com/article/20140...ports/140408101

 

http://chi.scout.com/story/1431801-br-rook...y-al-louis-jean

 

http://www.suntimes.com/29120560-606/undra...ml#.VHUmlUs8gVc

I've been reading some good things about Al Louis-Jean and got curious about his background. I don't typically follow our UDFA signings as they rarely end up contributing but he appears to be on track to doing just that. (Christian Jones too). I figured I'd post some of the links I came across here in case others were interested.

 

He's 6' 1", 190lbs and ran a 4.52 forty. He has the size and athleticism to play the position but he came out of college at just 20 years old and without making much of an impact on the field. He also had a couple disciplinary issues in his last season. A roadmap for any player who wants to go undrafted. In the last game when Fuller went out I felt we'd see a big drop off in coverage or run support. It never materialized, and that was also with Christian Jones on the field. Detroit will be a much tougher challenge.

 

http://www.csnchicago.com/bears/bears-lion...w-worry-detroit

“You’ve just got to compete,” said cornerback Al Louis-Jean, who filled in when Kyle Fuller was injured against Tampa Bay. “You can’t be scared and back off and let him dictate everything.”

 

Louis-Jean at 6-foot-2 will be expected to keep Johnson from dictating. Fuller is not expected to be back from his knee injury and Louis-Jean graded out at a very high level against the Buccaneers, according to sources.

 

http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/players...l-louis-jean-jr

 

http://www.bcinterruption.com/2014/1/19/53...ssmen-nfl-draft

 

http://www.patriotledger.com/article/20140...ports/140408101

 

http://chi.scout.com/story/1431801-br-rook...y-al-louis-jean

 

http://www.suntimes.com/29120560-606/undra...ml#.VHUmlUs8gVc

 

My gut tells me that Calvin will have a big day. With Golden on the other side the safeties are going to be busy in pass support trying to figure which side to help more on while watching for the run of Bush. Maybe they'll dilute it with a NB or Jones playing cover assist?

 

In the years since Megatron's surge I haven't seen many CB's effectively neutralize him as successfully as Peanut did. Save for maybe the occasional Talibs or Reavis'. Peanut paired up with Calvin at least twice a year for a few years and did pretty well in covering him. I sure hope Al-Jean can play up close to that standard.

 

One thing we did observe was that the defense actually improved after Briggs left the field and since he's probably not playing Thursday ... who knows.

Golden Tate actually concerns me more than Calvin Johnson. Johnson will get his big plays of course but he is less nimble in/out of cuts and easier to double cover. Tate is the guy running all over the field and if you don't get a good pass rush he's impossible to cover when they start free lancing. That's the kind of plays that really break down a defense. Nothing changes in the NFL…you get a good pass rush and your secondary looks better.