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Sorry another Bernard thread. But I gotta say the word: The Instincts. I don't know I have seen a Bills LB like that forever. Even though in the video below, Erik said he hated using that word in scouting report, but I have heard it many times during the Ravens - Steelers feud back in the day and that's how people here describe Ray Lewis. Lewis was considered short (6'1"), maybe a tad slow (running 4.59), and not that big in his era (235lb). Ozzie Newsome who drafted Lewis recalled that "I remember Mike [Lombardi, Browns director of player personnel] and I ended up doing the interview with Ray at the combine. We put in the Baylor tape. It was a highlight tape. I think he made every tackle. To sit there and listen to him explain why he was doing what he was doing, his instincts were really amazing. He would say, 'I’ve seen this before so that’s why I was playing that.'"
So what are the instincts we are talking about? Erik's video explained well. Those peripheral vision, the feel of someone behind him without actually turning his head to look etc. It seems like it is on full display from Bernard now.
I'm not putting Bernard on Ray Lewis's level or suggesting he's going to be at that level down the road yet. It'll take more than instincts. Lewis had the competitive desire to watch films until he could get an answer for one play on the opponent. Even if Bernard has the same work ethics, there is still a size issue unique to him. Can his body frame carry addition muscle so that he can hold up week in and week out for years? That is a serious concern for the position he plays because he's going to encounter some big O-Line people down the line when opponents scheme to take him out of the game just like when Lewis was facing back then.
So what are the instincts we are talking about? Erik's video explained well. Those peripheral vision, the feel of someone behind him without actually turning his head to look etc. It seems like it is on full display from Bernard now.
I'm not putting Bernard on Ray Lewis's level or suggesting he's going to be at that level down the road yet. It'll take more than instincts. Lewis had the competitive desire to watch films until he could get an answer for one play on the opponent. Even if Bernard has the same work ethics, there is still a size issue unique to him. Can his body frame carry addition muscle so that he can hold up week in and week out for years? That is a serious concern for the position he plays because he's going to encounter some big O-Line people down the line when opponents scheme to take him out of the game just like when Lewis was facing back then.
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