How Do Patricia and BB Stop Seattle's O?

[Bobsyouruncle]

I think they go heavy, focus on the run and spy Wilson. Although if my TV is to be believed, the easiest way to beat Wilson is to inflate his footballs an extra 1 or 2 PSI. Pretty much guarantee's victory.

 

[pencilneckgeek]

I believe that the Packers broke down late because they started sending full house blitzes. The winning TD pass in overtime was a complete sell out to stop the run. No deep safety.

Seems to me that the key to stopping Seattle is gap discipline and edge contain discipline. That would suggest that the last thing you want to do is send a lot of blitzes. Jones and Ninko have to set the edges and keep Wilson from escaping the pocket. They can't be be biting to the center. The Patriots are usually really good at this kind of discipline, much to the dismay of all those who just want them to "blitz the passer".

I don't think Wilson can beat the Pats secondary from the pocket very often.

On passing downs, I'd be interested to see if the Pats run any twists. Nink and Jones did this last week, where the Nascar DT would loop outside to what was a decent contain position - the stunt keeping the T from dropping too deep and the DT from going to far upfield. Against Wilson, I'd be concerned about him breaking out of the pocket immediately against that, but as part of package of rushes, I think they could continue going to that well.

The NFL supposedly clarified that rule last year. The QB is fair game whenever he fakes that he still has the ball. The only time he's not fair game as a runner is when he makes it clear by holding up his hands that he DOES NOT have the ball. On a fake, you can light him up.

The way college coaches stop the read option is to jack up the QB on EVERY PLAY, whether he keeps it or not. I don't understand why the pro coaches haven't done the same. Yes, you are "wasting" a defender on a player who doesn't have the ball, but what are the second half implications of lighting up the opposing QB a half dozen times in the first half? You'd think the defenders would be salivating at the chance to get them without their tutus and ballerina slippers....

The difference in the read option is that the QB is the one running parallel to the line, instead of the RB. When college option QB attacks the OT gaps, he is pitching at the last minute and subject to demolition. When he is several steps away from the defender having made a hand-off, he can afford to hold-up his hands, because the RB is the one attacking the B & C gaps, so he's the one who gets blown-up on every play.

 

[pencilneckgeek]

Biggest matchup for me is the Pats run D vs those Zone C Gap runs.

We haven't been good at stopping them all year. Kubiak and the Ravens threw them out and ate up our run D.

It is arguable consistently Collins weakness and the weakness of our D as we like to stay in nickle. This is where i believe we feel the loss of Mayo the most. Cassillias is good but can he step up to where we need him to be against those zone runs?

If i was Seattle i would script 7+ runs and 2 play actions at least in my 1st 10 plays.

How do we stop that? Well that's up to Jones, Nink, Branch and Vince.

Bill could throw out a 3/4 look with Vince, Branch and Chris Jones up front and Chandler Jones, Nink, Hightower and Collins at LB. but that just weakens our Pass D.

It's a tough match up in my mind.

However we could stop the run successfully if we just play 1 Saftey most of the game and dare them to beat us on intermediate/deep throws 1 on 1. Risky... but can be done and i think this is where we will look to stop them. i.e with a 4-3 base and Chung in the box and Cassillias on the field creating an 8 man box and saying ok can your TE's beat Chung/collinc/cassilias in coverage and can you wr's beat Revis/Browner/Arrington with McCourty popping up to help each.

The Kubiak zone run game is different, as they rely on backside cut blocks in a way that other zone teams don't. Those backside cut blocks give our DTs fits, as they are getting their knees taken out from behind while they are following the flow of the play. That's a very different approach and one that's tough for a team to adopt over a 2-week period, as it relies on letting those slower players run free toward the play and making a very committal, almost diving block to enable the cutback. If you don't practice that a lot, you're liable to miss those blocks, and the play gets blown-up in the backfield.

 

[Big-T]

Would standing Ninkovich up and going huge on the DL (Wilfork at LDE, Branch & Siliga at DT and Chandler Jones at RDE) be a good idea?

Funnel everything inside and stop Lynch & Wilson bouncing it outside.

 

[jsull87]

The Kubiak zone run game is different, as they rely on backside cut blocks in a way that other zone teams don't. Those backside cut blocks give our DTs fits, as they are getting their knees taken out from behind while they are following the flow of the play. That's a very different approach and one that's tough for a team to adopt over a 2-week period, as it relies on letting those slower players run free toward the play and making a very committal, almost diving block to enable the cutback. If you don't practice that a lot, you're liable to miss those blocks, and the play gets blown-up in the backfield.

Fair enough point. While Kubiak is one example. I would point tothe Jets and Dolphins use of the read option as other examples of well executed running attacks vs the pats.

You could argue that this is a blessing in disguise as we have come up against these type of teams (read option) 4 times already this year.

All i was saying is that we have struggles vs Zone blocking C gap runs and also the potential of QB read option runs numerous times this year.

Stopping that action is the key I believe. It will put more stress on our DB's but if Seattles WR's and TE's beat us rather than the run game, then we don't deserve to win the SB IMO.