A closer look at the Ravens/Jets defense....

[patfanken]

Since both teams are major obstacles to our championship aspirations, I though this would be of interest. To give true credit, I found it on Jets Insider.

The presentation is something that you would expect to see at a coaches clinic, and although there are 50 slides and tons of coaching points, its still VERY basic. So while your head starts spinning at the tons of options as you go through this, it will give you a better feel for how complex these defensive packages REALLY are, since this only scratches the surface.

Note that although that this is styled as a "pressure" defense, they only show ONE example of a 6 man rush. Most of the blitzes are 5 man packages. On the other hand, they never show anything less than 4 man rushes.

Take your time and enjoy

http://www.scribd.com/doc/2941718/2005-Ravens-34-Defense

 

[Patspsycho]

Nice link, interesting read. Like you said, you get the sense it is only an overview and many of those break down into tendencies and reads on the offense and what their strengths are/are not. Almost a read and react.

 

[Big-T]

I downloaded the 06 Ravens Defensive playbook from somewhere a few months ago, VERY simple playbook, most of the pressure is 4 or 5 man rushes and there's points of emphasis like play 100% or don't play/play hard or go home etc, simplistic playbook that takes a week or 2 to learn at the most and looks like it could make average players look good and potentially get 10+ sack years.

 

[SanAngeloState]

Simple is best then. Our complicated defense can't be staffed and can't apply pressure.

It's "read and react"...should be called "read and concede" cause that's what we do...give them the easy passes with which they pick up apart. That's how Denver's QB looked like he was HOF potential against us.

 

[FredFromDartmouth]

Simple is great when you have outstanding personnel. Hopefully Floyd Reese comes through again this year.

Good point about Read & Concede!

The key to a pressure defense (besides having pass rushers) is having dominating man-coverage CBs. If you don't have that and try to blitz then the things get very exciting; i.e. a sack or a TD! The defense has to be more complicated without the cover guys. This is why I am always hoping that the Patriots make CB a priority on draft day which is not very popular the other draftnics who prefer flashy full-length-fur-coat-wearing WRs.

The fact that the evil Jets got Cromartie does not bode well; the blitzes will be worse this season.

 

[Christopher Patriot]

I have the best solution on neutralizing the cro man, All the opposing receiver has to do is talk to him about a book he is reading. Then ask Cro what his book of choice is. Antonio will go from confused to hurt to mad leaving him a mess during the game.

 

[Christopher Patriot]

our defense will thrive

 

[Gunnails]

our defense will thrive

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What do you feel will be the Pats strength as it relates to there D?

 

[BradyFTW!]

===============================================

What do you feel will be the Pats strength as it relates to there D?

Dominant up the middle, especially if McKenzie can adequately produce as SILB on running downs. CBs will be adequate, but unless we upgrade OLB and DE, I don't see our pass rush being anywhere near good enough to be considered an elite D.

 

[Deus Irae]

===============================================

What do you feel will be the Pats strength as it relates to there D?

The offense, once the receiver problems are fixed.

 

[Christopher Patriot]

BB running the show, The emergence of Crable, t mac being a force in the middle, The maturation of Butler, Chung, Pryor, The Comeback of T wheat, the demotion of wilhite. The Draft which should bring 2 young talented edge rushers. Or a upgrade on the defensive end with one new pass rusher. But I have a feeling Crable will open some eyes as he finally makes a impact.

 

[Gunnails]

Dominate up the middle, Powerfull Offense, and BB taking over the defensive play calling. IN all honesty I feel this is a recipe for succes.

The Pats sencondary and LB corp does not overly impress, except for Mayo and Bodden. Less so Bodden, I expect a big year out of Mayo. But I have much respect for the Pats D line and with Mayo, the Pats will be tough up the middle.

A great offense can make a average D look great.

BB is quite clever.

 

[jays52]

Ryan loves that overload d left delay b right cover three. You draw it up, and it looks like suicide, but at playing speed it is lethal. Partly why Welker had a career day on the rematch this year. Rex draws up nice plays, but he isn't smart enough to self scout. Playing him is a three step or gun/quick gun gameplan. His defense is lethal against all bu the best QB's. Fortunately for us, The Pats have the best in NFL history.

 

[FredFromDartmouth]

The offense, once the receiver problems are fixed.

Hmmm, that is not a simple issue to address; we need more than David Patten and I hope that the Patriots do not think that they can draft WRs all of a sudden. And the TE issue is only partially fixed.

In spite of my wiseacre comments, I still think that the D needs the biggest upgrade (i.e. early picks). Guys with full-length-fur-coats and prima donna attitudes (i.e. WRs) are easy to find; CBs and pass rushers are not.

 

[FredFromDartmouth]

BB running the show, The emergence of Crable, t mac being a force in the middle, The maturation of Butler, Chung, Pryor, The Comeback of T wheat, the demotion of wilhite. The Draft which should bring 2 young talented edge rushers. Or a upgrade on the defensive end with one new pass rusher. But I have a feeling Crable will open some eyes as he finally makes a impact.

I hope you are right about Crable but from what I saw of him, he looked lost out there. Nor did he have a good pass-rush move. The only thing he has in common with, say, Jevon Kerse, is his wicked long arms.

 

[condon84]

Dominant up the middle, especially if McKenzie can adequately produce as SILB on running downs. CBs will be adequate, but unless we upgrade OLB and DE, I don't see our pass rush being anywhere near good enough to be considered an elite D.

You're hoping on McKenzie to solidify our defense up the middle? I hope it doesn't come to that.

First thing's first. We have to solidify the other end opposite Ty Warren. If Wright can't hold up on running downs, it won't matter who we got for LBs.

We can try Wilfork at DE like we did against the Ravens, but then we'd need Pryor or Brace to take the leap and man the middle for us. Or maybe try Pryor at DE. Our D starts upfront, and if we can't solidify one of those spots, then it could be a long year.

 

[BradyFTW!]

You're hoping on McKenzie to solidify our defense up the middle? I hope it doesn't come to that.

First thing's first. We have to solidify the other end opposite Ty Warren. If Wright can't hold up on running downs, it won't matter who we got for LBs.

We can try Wilfork at DE like we did against the Ravens, but then we'd need Pryor or Brace to take the leap and man the middle for us. Or maybe try Pryor at DE. Our D starts upfront, and if we can't solidify one of those spots, then it could be a long year.

a) No, not really. I'm hoping McKenzie can be good enough to get Guyton off of the field on running downs. If he's not, then hopefully the Pats will dig up someone who is. But considering that that's the role that McKenzie was drafted for, and he's had a full year to learn the system, I think it's at least highly possible that he could fit the bill after he's given some time to acclimate.

b) I agree that DE is an area of need, but moving Wilfork full-time is a terrible idea. I wouldn't mind seeing the Pats pick Odrick, and worst comes to worst we bave some big bodies that could maybe be serviceable in plugging that hole, although they're not going to help our pass rush issues at all.

But when you have Mayo at WILB, someone even remotely serviceable at SILB, and Wilfork, I'd say that's a hell of a group playing the inside.

 

[condon84]

a) No, not really. I'm hoping McKenzie can be good enough to get Guyton off of the field on running downs. If he's not, then hopefully the Pats will dig up someone who is. But considering that that's the role that McKenzie was drafted for, and he's had a full year to learn the system, I think it's at least highly possible that he could fit the bill after he's given some time to acclimate.

b) I agree that DE is an area of need, but moving Wilfork full-time is a terrible idea. I wouldn't mind seeing the Pats pick Odrick, and worst comes to worst we bave some big bodies that could maybe be serviceable in plugging that hole, although they're not going to help our pass rush issues at all.

But when you have Mayo at WILB, someone even remotely serviceable at SILB, and Wilfork, I'd say that's a hell of a group playing the inside.

I think the Pats moving Wilfork at DE in that Ravens game was an emergency adjustment. I just hope we're not in the same predicament all year next year.

And while I agree that Mayo, Wilfork, and Warren are all stout, if we have Wright and Guyton playing the run the way they did last year, then our best defense would be our offense.

I do hope McKenzie pans out, but I just don't expect much from a player coming off a major knee injury contributing much in his first year playing. I'm more hopeful that Guyton progresses and becomes a better run defender.

 

[BillBelichickFan79]

Ryan loves that overload d left delay b right cover three. You draw it up, and it looks like suicide, but at playing speed it is lethal. Partly why Welker had a career day on the rematch this year. Rex draws up nice plays, but he isn't smart enough to self scout. Playing him is a three step or gun/quick gun gameplan. His defense is lethal against all bu the best QB's. Fortunately for us, The Pats have the best in NFL history.

I don't know if that's necessarily true. That defense gave the 07 greatest offense of all time a lot of trouble. The Jets D gave us a ton of trouble in week 2, and when we played them in NE they gave us trouble in the 2nd half b/c they got more aggressive. Rex said they were caught off guard a little in the first half with all the empty backfield sets, but in the 2nd they decided to turn up the heat and get after Brady more, and it worked as we didn't move the ball that well in the 2nd half. The Jets D also held Brees to one of his lowest QB ratings of the year, and held Rivers to his lowest QB rating of the year. They held Schaub to somethign like a 55 QB rating, but I don't consider him elite.

It was often fairly successful for Baltimore in containing Manning, and it was working pretty well in the regular season when the Jets played the Colts. Granted, Manning carved that D up in the playoffs, but Dwight Lowery is the saddest excuse for a starting CB I've seen in a while.

How bad does that make our 2009 defense look though? Talking about his defense being lethal against all but the elite QB's, while our defense made guys like Henne and Orton look like elite QB's.