Pass Rush - Thought For The Day

[mgteich]

Here's something I heard yesterday.

"Show me a front four that can't pass rush and I'll show you a secondary that can't defend agains the pass".

Our secondary is as good as it has been in years. Yet, if we do not improve in the pass rush, the secondary will again be considered one of the worst in the NFL.

As we enter the season against two really awful teams with rookie quarterbacks, this seems especially relevant.

 

[Patriot Missile]

The last 5 years this has been the first thing I keep my eyes on. I'm spoiled watching this offense but always hope to see the front 7 just dominate with an aggressive scheme that works for the whole team. Hopefully they keep producing turnovers like last year too.

 

[Ring 6]

Here's something I heard yesterday.

"Show me a front four that can't pass rush and I'll show you a secondary that can't defend agains the pass".

Our secondary is as good as it has been in years. Yet, if we do not improve in the pass rush, the secondary will again be considered one of the worst in the NFL.

As we enter the season against two really awful teams with rookie quarterbacks, this seems especially relevant.

It works both ways. If you cover the pass rush has a longer time to get there.
It would be equally correct to say show me a secondary that can't defend the pass and I'll show you an ineffective pass rush.

Additionally, the better the secondary, the more you can blitz. Contrary to what some seem to think blitizing doesn't mean you hit the QB in 2.4 seconds, and you must cover if the blitz is picked up. Team defense. Always has been and always will be what its all about.

 

[PatsWickedPissah]

Yes the pass rush and pass coverage are functionally related. If your DBs are good enough to cover for a few seconds, you can risk blitzing which forces the offense to add a blocker, hold in the RB, commit the TE to blocking, etc. We've seen this done to us with delayed up the middle blitzes costing us when great defenses are able to impede or cover our receivers. This causes us to max up protection, making it even more difficult to get a man open. Result 17 point playoff game offenses.

 

[RayClay]

Here's something I heard yesterday.

"Show me a front four that can't pass rush and I'll show you a secondary that can't defend agains the pass".

Our secondary is as good as it has been in years. Yet, if we do not improve in the pass rush, the secondary will again be considered one of the worst in the NFL.

As we enter the season against two really awful teams with rookie quarterbacks, this seems especially relevant.

I think Tommy Kelly immediately improves our pass rush. It would be great if a situational pass rusher emerges, but Jones, Kelly and Ninkovich are good pass rushers, Jones should breakout.

I do think that comment is flawed because defense is an overall concept. "Show me a team that can't cover and I'll show you a team that can't pass rush is equally valid."

Our great teams had balance and could bring pressure when they needed, make a big play when they needed etc. I think we're on the road to that, albeit with a different base defense.

 

[Ring 6]

Yes the pass rush and pass coverage are functionally related. If your DBs are good enough to cover for a few seconds, you can risk blitzing which forces the offense to add a blocker, hold in the RB, commit the TE to blocking, etc. We've seen this done to us with delayed up the middle blitzes costing us when great defenses are able to impede or cover our receivers. This causes us to max up protection, making it even more difficult to get a man open. Result 17 point playoff game offenses.

I disagree with your reasoning for the offense having some less than stellar playoff games but that is a topic for another day.
I think we will bring pressure this week and next as both QBs are apt to abandon the pocket at the first sign of trouble.
We have a scheme we used toward the end of Rodney Harrisons career, where we would consistently use him as a safety blitzer out of sub. He rarely got to the QB but blitz so hard, and from so far away that the QB would have to unload before seeing whether he was getting picked up or not (running full speed for 10 yards at the QB while he waits to see if the RB gets there).
I think dusting off that scheme for these 2 games would work well.

 

[SVN]

I dont want to close my eyes and pray every time the opposing offense is on 3rd and long .Its time this pass rush makes it count.

 

[Brady6]

Here's something I heard yesterday.

"Show me a front four that can't pass rush and I'll show you a secondary that can't defend agains the pass".

Our secondary is as good as it has been in years. Yet, if we do not improve in the pass rush, the secondary will again be considered one of the worst in the NFL.

As we enter the season against two really awful teams with rookie quarterbacks, this seems especially relevant.

I envision us using the LB’s a lot more in the pass rush than in years past.

3-3-5 WLB

LE- Ninkovich | DT- Wilfork | RE- Jones | WLB- Collins

SLB- Hightower | MLB- Mayo

3-3-5 SLB

SLB- Hightower | LE- Ninkovich | DT- Wilfork | RE- Jones

MLB- Mayo | WLB- Collins

3-3-5 Stack

LE- Ninkovich | NT- Wilfork | RE- Jones

SLB- Hightower| MLB- Mayo | WLB- Collins

3-3-5 Odd LB

LE- Ninkovich | Odd LB- Hightower | DT- Wilfork | RE- Jones

MLB- Mayo | WLB – Collins

4-2-5 3-DE

LE- Ninkovich | DE- Bequette | DT- Wilfork | RE- Jones

SLB- Hightower | MLB- Mayo

 

[Mack Herron]

BB's efforts to canvass the earth for DBs indicates he does not confine the problem to the front four. Things changed dramatically when he brought in Talib and shifted McCourty to safety. Kelly had 1 sack last year. This backfield gave coaches enough confidence to blitz, which also plays to the strengths of some of our LBs. I look for the Bills to give Manuel easy targets to backs and passes over the middle, forcing the Patriots to cover.

 

[Brewskies]

I dont want to close my eyes and pray every time the opposing offense is on 3rd and long .Its time this pass rush makes it count.

I can buy into that 100%

Lets Go Pats

 

[RayClay]

BB's efforts to canvass the earth for DBs indicates he does not confine the problem to the front four. Things changed dramatically when he brought in Talib and shifted McCourty to safety. Kelly had 1 sack last year. This backfield gave coaches enough confidence to blitz, which also plays to the strengths of some of our LBs. I look for the Bills to give Manuel easy targets to backs and passes over the middle, forcing the Patriots to cover.

Kelly also had one sack in 2007 and 2009 but 7.5 and 7 in 2011 and 2010 respectively, the point being, he has the ability to cause havoc from the DT position, something we didn't have next to Wilfork in previous years.