The Pass rush, are we looking in the wrong place?

[JoeShmoe]

One other point and i know its been stated is BB’s myriad of subpackages were in nearly 2/3 of the time - designed to confuse.

The key to it's success needs to be the flexibility of personnel. To be able to switch from a 3-4 to a dime and all points in between requires versatility at nearly every position. Players have to be able to run, cover and tackle. DL have to be strong enough to hold the point in the 3-4, but get upfield in a subpackage. DB's have to be good in zone and competent in man coverage. It requires special skills, and above-average football IQ.

Last year we got repeatedly burned in these alignments ( 3 and 10 anyone?). BB will have looked at this and worked out the personnel weaknesses, who we've got coming back from injury and where there are skill gaps, that's where we'll draft.

Im not convinced those weaknesses are all at DE/OLB and the pass rush

 

[patsfaninpittsburgh]

You've just stated Brady's kryptonite and the reason some of us think upgrading the interior OL is just as important, if not more so, than a DE/OLB

These penetrating DL's such as Ngata, Ellis, Baji etc ripped Koppen, Connoly etc to shreds last year and were one of the main reasons TfB was so off in the loss to the Jets

We were 30th in pass coverage, is that a fault of no QB pressure or of our young secondary learning their trade, poor coverage skills by the LB'ers etc

Guess we'll find out in the draft

I think people could be crying when we dont go DE at all in the first 2 or 3 picks and get a T, a C/G and something else no one thinks like a WR or CB

The interior pressure is the kryponite for most elite QB's. Guys like Manning and Brees are little affected by the edge pass rusher. R'berger and Rogers require pocket containment so entire group needs to work together in a disciplined manner.

 

[convertedpatsfan]

Dan Pompei just wrote about this last weekend when talking about the increasing value of DTs in generating pressure, and the increase in the importance of interior OL to counter that.

NFP Sunday Blitz | National Football Post

 

[Patspsycho]

In the 09 game against the Saints they brought pressure many times with a 3 man rush.

No they didn't. In that game they were in their 4-3 and ran what they called the "dollar" on us (rush 4 drop 7).

 

[patsfaninpittsburgh]

No they didn't. In that game they were in their 4-3 and ran what they called the "dollar" on us (rush 4 drop 7).

Basically, this is the "base" against elite QB's