Baltimore Sun: Flacco Struggles Against the Blitz

[SHOWTIME15]

Baltimore Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco has had success when opponents send four or fewer pass rushers - baltimoresun.com

So it looks like Denver made the fatal flaw of not blitzing Flacco more than 3 times all game. Can't really expect anything much out of a Del Rio coached defense, however. I hope Patricia will unleash on Sunday and really hammer Flacco, who is due for a bad game.

also heard on NFLN (from a ravens player) that the Ravens are trying to counter the Pats' no huddle by putting in defensive packages where the personnell can play both run and pass.

 

[jb1095]

Baltimore Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco has had success when opponents send four or fewer pass rushers - baltimoresun.com

So it looks like Denver made the fatal flaw of not blitzing Flacco more than 3 times all game. Can't really expect anything much out of Del Rio, however. I hope Patricia will unleash on Sunday and really hammer Flacco, who is due for a bad game.

also heard on NFLN (from a ravens player) that the Ravens are trying to counter the no huddle by putting in defensive packages where the personnell can play both run and pass.

Oh he is absolutely due for a bad game. In his 5 year career, he has never had 3 consecutive games with over 300 yards.. In fact, From what I recall, he has only had 1 instance where he had a 4 string of games where he threw for over 200 yards. The reality is that he is due for a 150 yard, 1 td, 2 INT game right now.

 

[BSR]

also heard on NFLN (from a ravens player) that the Ravens are trying to counter the no huddle by putting in defensive packages where the personnell can play both run and pass.

I heard the same thing but I thought it was a pretty stupid strategy. Versatility is great but not at the sacrifice of ability or familiarity. If it was such a great personnel package they would have been playing with it all the time. As such, the Patriots will have already weakened the Raven's defense before they even step on the field.

 

[MNF]

also heard on NFLN (from a ravens player) that the Ravens are trying to counter the Pats' no huddle by putting in defensive packages where the personnell can play both run and pass.

I'm no football genius but doesn't your team have to be built to have this versatility. I don't think you simply implement this in a week.

 

[DarrylStingley]

Bill has to blitz or send 5 guys a lot this week.

He will.

 

[The_Riddler]

Baltimore Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco has had success when opponents send four or fewer pass rushers - baltimoresun.com

So it looks like Denver made the fatal flaw of not blitzing Flacco more than 3 times all game. Can't really expect anything much out of a Del Rio coached defense, however. I hope Patricia will unleash on Sunday and really hammer Flacco, who is due for a bad game.

also heard on NFLN (from a ravens player) that the Ravens are trying to counter the Pats' no huddle by putting in defensive packages where the personnell can play both run and pass.

This is exactly why I posted the "Attack the Slow-Footed Flacco" thread. Denver relied way too much on Dumervil and Miller ONLY and it bit them in the arse, because they never sniffed Slo-Joe.

Let's not make that same mistake. Flacco reminds me of those stink bugs you now see under the air-conditioners in early Sept when it's time to remove them. Everything is slow. The Stink Bug reacts methodically, doesn't even make an attempt to elude. This is Flacco, slow feet, slow reaction to what's going on around him, attack him up the middle with Mayo, Spikes and Hightower, it will pay HUGE dividends.

 

[Silver Blue&Red]

I agree. This would be the game to blitz the @#&a out of him. Those high lobs on a windy field could lead a few turnovers.

 

[RobertWeathers]

I'm pretty confident that you'll see the Pats blitz more than 5 rushers 20% of the time (which is more or less what they have been doing since Talib has joined the team).

A Perfect Storm is brewing...

 

[rfh]

I agree. This would be the game to blitz the @#&a out of him. Those high lobs on a windy field could lead a few turnovers.

Going to be 11-15 mph winds with gusts up to 30. That should possibly keep Flacco from tossing the 50-70 yard bombs

 

[DocHoliday]

Has Hightower EVER blitzed? I can't recall him even sniffing the QB.

Not that I'm complaining, Spikes does a phenomenal job with blitzing, but the mammoth Hightower crashing through an O-line is something I'm dying to see.

 

[mvrabel50]

I agree. This would be the game to blitz the @#&a out of him. Those high lobs on a windy field could lead a few turnovers.

Just hoping they get effective pressure with 5 guys rushing. If not we coudl be in trouble.

 

[BelichickFan]

Has Hightower EVER blitzed? I can't recall him even sniffing the QB.

He has 4 sacks and numerous QB hits including one on Schaub last week on the 4th and 1 that went incomplete.

 

[Luke Skywelker]

We'll see - again, NE's season low blitz % was against Baltimore earlier this year. BB's thinking is not always general consensus. In re-watching the AFCCG aired last night, Flacco did run the ball well a couple times, alluded pressure and threw off the run effectively. The NE defensive personnel is much better this year, so any drastic aggressiveness we see there is newfound confidence in the secondary.

I still don't think he goes overboard with the blitz. While we'd love to see it because it produces the sizzle factor, there is also some major risk to it and not a NE tendency. When you have the best offense in the NFL, there might be some thought around not giving up any easy points/yardage. Blitz will be saved for the red zone & second half.

 

[ThatllMoveTheChains!!!]

We'll see - again, NE's season low blitz % was against Baltimore earlier this year. BB's thinking is not always general consensus. In re-watching the AFCCG aired last night, Flacco did run the ball well a couple times, alluded pressure and threw off the run effectively. The NE defensive personnel is much better this year, so any drastic aggressiveness we see there is newfound confidence in the secondary.

I still don't think he goes overboard with the blitz. While we'd love to see it because it produces the sizzle factor, there is also some major risk to it and not a NE tendency. When you have the best offense in the NFL, there might be some thought around not giving up any easy points/yardage. Blitz will be saved for the red zone & second half.

The FO article posted in another thread says "For the record, however, Flacco didn't show much of a difference this year no matter how many pass rushers you sent at him.". I'd surely put more stock in them and BB's tendencies than other sources.

 

[JJDChE]

Oh he is absolutely due for a bad game. In his 5 year career, he has never had 3 consecutive games with over 300 yards.. In fact, From what I recall, he has only had 1 instance where he had a 4 string of games where he threw for over 200 yards. The reality is that he is due for a 150 yard, 1 td, 2 INT game right now.

Players being 'due' for anything is a myth. He'll toss it all over us if we don't stop him.

 

[AzPatsFan]

This is exactly why I posted the "Attack the Slow-Footed Flacco" thread. Denver relied way too much on Dumervil and Miller ONLY and it bit them in the arse, because they never sniffed Slo-Joe.

Let's not make that same mistake. Flacco reminds me of those stink bugs you now see under the air-conditioners in early Sept when it's time to remove them. Everything is slow. The Stink Bug reacts methodically, doesn't even make an attempt to elude. This is Flacco, slow feet, slow reaction to what's going on around him, attack him up the middle with Mayo, Spikes and Hightower, it will pay HUGE dividends.

I disagree. You blitz when you expect to get there.

Like last year the pass rushers are hurt now. Except Chandler Jones may still be able to play, and Ninkovitch is a more complete but lesser pass rusher than Mike Anderson. Adding blitzers when it would make a difference if both were healthy and able to do their part is worthwhile, but not when the blitz would usually fail.

Now it would merely give Flacco more time, simplify reads, and give the WRs more one on one coverage.

No cheap scores! Without them the Ravens are almost certain to lose, as they don't complete long methodical drives very often. With their profile, they are a perfect team to use the BBDB strategy.

 

[PATRIOTSFANINPA]

There are two reasons why the Patriots should be able to send blitzes more often than they did earlier this year or in last year's AFCCG.

1) Talib covering the top receiver

2) Mccourty/Gregory combo at safety


Those two big improvements in the secondary give them opportunity to not worry if they don't get to Flacco,unlike before.

 

[SVN]

We had zero pressure in week 3.Even the ravens didnt come after brady until the last pats drive when they came and stalled the drive .
I dont think pats will blitz or will do very little. They will want to make flacco drive the length of the field(if our ST can play better) and stop the big play. So get ready for a frustrating but understandable bend but dont break defense.

 

[supafly]

Has Hightower EVER blitzed? I can't recall him even sniffing the QB.

Not that I'm complaining, Spikes does a phenomenal job with blitzing, but the mammoth Hightower crashing through an O-line is something I'm dying to see.

He actually just had one not too long ago, a straight up blitz that pressured the QB to throw the ball early on a crucial 4th down. At the time (IIRC) it seemed to be a fairly big play.

Damned if I can remember the specifics of which game it was though, because it happened at least 2-3 games ago as I'm not referring to last week's play.

At any rate, I think that Hightower has progressed throughout the season and has looked much better than he initially did for the first 8-10 games, especially considering that he's still a rookie and will gradually be given more responsibilities as we head into next season.

 

[chris_in_sunnyvale]

Blitz from his left. Invite him to beat you by making throws to the side of the field he struggles with.

Regards,
Chris