Query on lack of QB pressure

[Bostonian1962]

This goes out to the long time Pats' fans. I am not jumping on the team or criticizing. It's just a rather obvious observation, and then question to the rest of you.

I've been following the Patriots since day one. I never remember, EVER, a Patriots team applying less pressure on the QB.

It's rather pathetic in a sense. The QBs are back there, and there is sometimes ZERO pressure for long periods of time.

The reflex reaction is to say, "look at that darned lousy secondary", but to me it's glaringly the fault of the non-QB pressure. Henne and others this year drop back, look left, look right, shuffle a bit, break out a sandwich, listens to his IPOD, and then finds an open receiver.

My question, does anybody remember a year in the Pats history, when they applied less pressure? I know they are 13th out of 16th in sacks in the AFC, but I don't even mean just statistically. Just overall, I personally can't remember the opposing QBs sitting in the pockets for as long, play after play, as they are this year. What about the rest of you?

 

[patsinthesnow]

Does anyone know if its the pass rush and were just not blitzing. All I remember is 3 or 4 man rushes with no added rushers...

 

[letekro]

Does anyone know if its the pass rush and were just not blitzing. All I remember is 3 or 4 man rushes with no added rushers...

They blitzed a few times today to no effect.

 

[Jackson 2]

This goes out to the long time Pats' fans. I am not jumping on the team or criticizing. It's just a rather obvious observation, and then question to the rest of you.

I've been following the Patriots since day one. I never remember, EVER, a Patriots team applying less pressure on the QB.

It's rather pathetic in a sense. The QBs are back there, and there is sometimes ZERO pressure for long periods of time.

The reflex reaction is to say, "look at that darned lousy secondary", but to me it's glaringly the fault of the non-QB pressure. Henne and others this year drop back, look left, look right, shuffle a bit, break out a sandwich, listens to his IPOD, and then finds an open receiver.

My question, does anybody remember a year in the Pats history, when they applied less pressure? I know they are 13th out of 16th in sacks in the AFC, but I don't even mean just statistically. Just overall, I personally can't remember the opposing QBs sitting in the pockets for as long, play after play, as they are this year. What about the rest of you?

Been here since '60 and you're right on the money.

 

[IcyPatriot]

The good blitzing teams run a lot of stunts and do overloading. Banta-Cain ran a nice stunt when he got his sack. We don't really have a secondary that can be used in blitzing like we did when we had Law, Samuel, Harrison, etc... We did a few blitzes with the secondary against the Saints last week and Brees killed us for it. I think Belichick just doesn't trust this defense enough to do anymore than contain, keep the QB in the pocket and hope the secondary can make enough plays to keep the scores low. Overall ... it has worked ... the offense just hasn't pulled their share of the load in our losses.

 

[Sean Pa Patriot]

there is no pass rush, and that is fault of coaching ... we tend to alway seem to make the HOF and not so HOF Qb's look great, but this is the worst Ive seen it in years...

 

[DougFlutie]

Why are all the threads about criticizing the offense being closed? There are at least 4 on the current page closed now, most that were 5-star threads with 30+ comments.

It's pretty ridiculous that this site isn't even allowing free discussion as it pertains to the offense.

 

[JSn]

Why are all the threads about criticizing the offense being closed? There are at least 4 on the current page closed now, most that were 5-star threads with 30+ comments.

It's pretty ridiculous that this site isn't even allowing free discussion as it pertains to the offense.

I think it's just an attempt to stop millions of new threads, not to protect any particular department's feelings.

 

[SoCal Pmen]

I don't know. I thought it was pretty bad last year. Seems like it was pretty easy for opponents to complete 3rd and long at will

 

[JSn]

I don't know. I thought it was pretty bad last year. Seems like it was pretty easy for opponents to complete 3rd and long at will

Absolutely. This is the second year of "no pressure." We significantly upgraded our secondary, but they can't cover for 5 seconds.

It's getting ridiculous when even blitzes can't get there.

 

[ATippett56]

I don't know. I thought it was pretty bad last year. Seems like it was pretty easy for opponents to complete 3rd and long at will

It seems like it is even worse this year. Trading away Seymour has hurt this defense while trading for Burgess has not helped.

 

[FalconHeavy]

The worst part is, for the 2nd week opposing D are able to generate enough pressure on our O line with 3 or 4 rushers. Something is not adding up

 

[alvinnf]

It seems like it is even worse this year. Trading away Seymour has hurt this defense while trading for Burgess has not helped.

Seymour allowed other guys to get free. He occupied 2 or got enough of a chip to more effectively blitz from either the linebackers or the secondary. Their only shot to fix this is getting four guys up front whom can push the pocket. I'll take my chances with Green and Warren on the outside. At least with those they'll be getting some attention. TBC and Burgess warrant no help!

 

[tedy hagler]

I thought it reached a low point when Chad Henne began grilling a steak during one play and assembled a Xmas toy for his kid.

The lack of pressure-- esp. up the middle-- put the secondary in a bad spot.

 

[dtbrks]

It seems like it is even worse this year. Trading away Seymour has hurt this defense while trading for Burgess has not helped.

It does seem worse and it is bad when they blitz and no one is still close to the opposing QB.

Burgess was a mistake and a desperate shot to get someone who can rush the passer after Taylor went back to Miami.

 

[dtbrks]

The worst part is, for the 2nd week opposing D are able to generate enough pressure on our O line with 3 or 4 rushers. Something is not adding up

Desire? I don't know, but it seems like the pats rushers give up as soon as someone makes the initial contact with them and they get pushed around easily. Maybe they just aren't strong enough to shed blocks and push offensive linemen back because I don't see the pats doing that to other teams offensive linemen.

 

[OldNEPatsFan]

Bill has slowly turned this defense into a JOKE. He continually has drafted fat lineman who couldn't sack a QB if they were playing a high school team.

 

[SidelineSid]

Desire? I don't know, but it seems like the pats rushers give up as soon as someone makes the initial contact with them and they get pushed around easily. Maybe they just aren't strong enough to shed blocks and push offensive linemen back because I don't see the pats doing that to other teams offensive linemen.

You're not the only one. I've noticed this one too. I'm getting frustrated with this. Let's hope that a personnel upgrade via the draft can help us out. If not, our coordinators should start receiving pink slips.

 

[BillBelichickFan79]

The good blitzing teams run a lot of stunts and do overloading. Banta-Cain ran a nice stunt when he got his sack. We don't really have a secondary that can be used in blitzing like we did when we had Law, Samuel, Harrison, etc... We did a few blitzes with the secondary against the Saints last week and Brees killed us for it. I think Belichick just doesn't trust this defense enough to do anymore than contain, keep the QB in the pocket and hope the secondary can make enough plays to keep the scores low. Overall ... it has worked ... the offense just hasn't pulled their share of the load in our losses.

Sometimes if you have a weaker secondary, you should blitz more and be more aggressive. Blitzing and getting a lot of heat on the QB make him have to throw the ball quicker, which gives the WR less time to beat his defender. Pittsburgh and Baltimore are good examples. They're corners aren't as strong as they have been in the past, but they continue to blitz and bring pressure. Sometimes if you have great coverage guys in the secondary (Law, Samuel, Harrison) you can rush 4 and drop 7 because they aren't going to get beat as quickly. I think the most optimal defense is obviously when you bring a lot of pressure AND have shutdown corners a la the Ravens when they had McAlister and Rolle in their prime.

The idea of rushing 4 and dropping 7 only works if your D-line can get amazing penetration like the Giants did to us. Obviously we can't do that with our D-line, so I'd like to see us take a page out of the Steelers or Ravens book and become a team that brings a lot of guys on a regular basis with dynamic blitzes. The Jets are #1 against the pass because they force the issue and come after you with multiple blitzes and 5-6 man rushes. Their D is built on aggression and confusion and forcing the issue. We always used to hear how confusing BB's defense was for others to figure out. I don't see the creativity, confusion, or anything anymore. That could have to do with Pees being here instead of Crennel. It could have to do with the personnel and BB not being confident in them, I dont know. I just wish we would play defense like the Jets, Ravens, or Steelers instead of our bend but dont break d. The Jets ability to get after the QB greatly help Lito, Stickland, and Coleman look somewhat decent. If they didn't come after you the way they do, Brady would just let Revis take Moss out of the game and pick on Lito all day b/c he can't stay with anyone.

 

[JasonStan]

What is wrong with just overloading one side with a blitz? I mean hell that is what I would do. If you do this you know you are going to have at least 1 person free that will hit the QB. Don't do it all the time like the Jets do, but a few times would not hurt. Pats corners are weak everyone knows this, so why give a QB time to sit back with a lot of time? You are going to get burnt anyways might as well try and force something like an INT, or get the QB a little nervous with some pressure and QB hits.

I would do this against all QB's if i had a weak secondary.