Reiss: 'Interchangeable' defense sparks Patriots

[SVN]

http://espn.go.com/blog/boston/new-...71510/interchangeable-defense-sparks-patriots

Players pointed to better on-field communication between them as a key -- which was fine-tuned on the practice field -- and it wasn't long before they realized the plan had a good chance at success.

"We knew when [Manning] was at line of scrimmage and didn't know who was dropping and who was rushing, and he didn't know what to check to, because he's trying to check to that perfect play," Ninkovich said.

 

[mayoclinic]

From Reiss' article:

This was all about the "interchangeable defense."

For most of the game, the Patriots played a 4-2-5 nickel that had Ninkovich and Akeem Ayersas hybrid end-of-the-line players. Their job was to work in concert with off-the-line linebackersJamie Collins and Dont'a Hightower to take away Peyton Manning's go-to play -- the over route paired with a shallow crosser.

To simplify, this is how the defense approached things:

• If Collins or Hightower rushed up the middle -- they showed quite a bit of pre-snap pressure looks over the center in the game -- it was on Ninkovich or Ayers to drop back into coverage in their place.
• If Collins or Hightower backed out into coverage, then Ninkovich and Ayers would play more of the traditional defensive end role.

"You have to change it up," Ninkovich explained. "Having [Hightower] and Jamie, those guys can get inside and rush well on backs and also on guards, and when they do that, you have ends that can drop back and cover. So you're able to switch things up and it's all interchangeable."

I'll have to wait for the All-22 and some more detailed film analysis (Andy Johnson, that means you!), but if correct, that's very interesting. It's sort of a sub package twist on the hybrid 3-4 they ran earlier in the year with Jones and Ninkovich alternating between 5-Tech and OLB.

 

[Fencer]

I thought that the Front Six/Seven would show a lot of deception, while (some of) the DBs would be in simple and recognizable man coverage.

Uh -- how d0 you disguise man coverage? Or is it more that by changing up your man coverage you somehow put the QB's brain on overload?

Well, if there's no pre-snap motion and also no press then disguising man coverage isn't a particular challenge, and unless I missed it Denver doesn't motion as much as some. But it was a pretty physical game, so my question stands.

 

[I am party]

"Through the week, we knew they run a lot of crossing routes, but it's not the shallow crossing route that is the No. 1 target. It's the shallow route that pulls you up to get the over routes in there," [Ninkovich] said.

"He'd rather throw the over than the shallow cross, so you let that [cross] go. [Sanders] ran a quick under and I just knew that he was going throw that over so I just backed straight up and he threw it right to me."

Is Ninkovich giving out too much information here? These teams may meet again in the postseason. No need for him to divulge that kind of intelligence now.

 

[Joker]

nope...the whole world knows they run a ton of pick play crossing routes. Today, you saw coaching diminish its' effectiveness enough to matter. You also saw a key cog in the "pick" schemes take a brutal smash to the lower back and leave the game. THAT will bear watching as Denver moves forward. They are thin at RB now with their rookie dinged up. Will Ball make it back? Sanders also will have a concussion protocol tonight or tomorrow I would guess. He got his bell rung pretty hard.

Teams will look at what the Pats did today and mimic it going forwards. Manning will have to adjust. Until today it was all pitch and catch in the backyard for Moonhead.

 

[hwc]

I'm sure that fivehead will figure out what Ninko did when he watches the film. It is really interesting, though.

Sounds like Belichick told his team that the short crossers were "the cheese" and to not bite the cheese. Makes perfect sense.

I think Brady does the same thing and would prefer to through the deeper route. Check down to the low crosser.

 

[Sciz]

With very few exceptions, the lineup was Ninkovich at left end, Hightower at left inside backer, Collins at right inside backer, and Ayers at right end. The only exception that happened enough to mention is the last 6 passing plays when Ayers and Ninkovich flipped sides. Those six plays included three plays where Nink and Ayers rushed, two 3-man rushes with Ayers and the DTs (Ninkovich dropped), and one Ayers+Collins rush.

The following is the list of the different rusher configurations. This includes everything that started as a passing play, whether it ended in a scramble or a penalty or whatever. It was also done at 1AM without ideal NFL Rewind controls, so I don't guarantee complete accuracy!



All of that is in addition to the two DTs that always rushed. That gives me 48 rushes for each of Ninkovich and Ayers, 13 for Hightower, and 11 for Collins. This was on the 63 plays that I counted.

I focused mainly on just what was happening at the snap as opposed to the result of each play, but I can tell you that the Ninkovich INT happened on the second straight Collins+Ayers rush, the early play where Manning had forever to hit Sanders along the right sideline was just Hightower and the DTs, and Ayers' sack was with Collins, Hightower, and Ninkovich all dropping. The Hillman TD catch came with Ayers, Collins, and Ninkvich all rushing. It seems really "out there" that Collins would accidentally rush after following the RB from outside back inside, so I think that was on Ayers.

 

[I am party]

I'm sure that fivehead will figure out what Ninko did when he watches the film. It is really interesting, though.

Sounds like Belichick told his team that the short crossers were "the cheese" and to not bite the cheese. Makes perfect sense.

I think Brady does the same thing and would prefer to through the deeper route. Check down to the low crosser.

Even so, why let Moonhead know what you know? Better for Nink to say something like, I have no idea how I got that INT. I was just out there running around and the ball came to me. Totally mindf--- Peyton. Unless!....Nink deliberately wants Peyton to know what they know that Peyton knows, setting a trap for next time if they potentially meet again. You think you know what we know that you know, but we want you to know that you know what we know that you know. It's a quadruple cross!

 

[patchick]

Boy, has Ayers ever been thrown into the fire as a mid-season acquisition. Have to be impressed with how well he's handling it.

 

[SVN]

I was surprised how effectively they stopped the run especially playing nickel so much.

 

[nabwong]

Is Ninkovich giving out too much information here? These teams may meet again in the postseason. No need for him to divulge that kind of intelligence now.

Or he's telling the other 8 teams Denver have to play how to beat manning.

 

[VrabelJr]

Is Ninkovich giving out too much information here? These teams may meet again in the postseason. No need for him to divulge that kind of intelligence now.

This was all well known by anyone that has watched a couple Broncos games this year.

 

[VrabelJr]

I was surprised how effectively they stopped the run especially playing nickel so much.

Our big bodies inside played a great game.

 

[Brady_to_Moss]

I thought BB couldn't coach D anymore?! Looked pretty good at it last night against manning

 

[VrabelJr]

Boy, has Ayers ever been thrown into the fire as a mid-season acquisition. Have to be impressed with how well he's handling it.

Agree. I was excited about picking him up but now I'm super happy because he's far exceeded even the loftiest expectations. He's a really versatile player. Of course, when Chandler Jones comes back that is his spot but Ayers is more diverse in coverage than Chandler is, which is a hugely valuable asset against a QB like Manning.

 

[Ring 6]

From Reiss' article:



I'll have to wait for the All-22 and some more detailed film analysis (Andy Johnson, that means you!), but if correct, that's very interesting. It's sort of a sub package twist on the hybrid 3-4 they ran earlier in the year with Jones and Ninkovich alternating between 5-Tech and OLB.

It actually sounds (and seemed) like a true 2-4-5. Any 2 of gone 4 rushed and any 2 covered.

 

[Marinlik]

It actually sounds (and seemed) like a true 2-4-5. Any 2 of gone 4 rushed and any 2 covered.

That's how I saw it. 2 block eaters on the line and then 4 linebackers who blitzes and covers interchangeably. Would not call it a 4-2 because the outside linebackers played more like linebackers than 4 front ends. If I where to gameplan an offense against the D we played I would see them as linebackers as they would drop into coverage much more frequently, and with better sucess, than regular 4 front ends.

 

[mayoclinic]

It actually sounds (and seemed) like a true 2-4-5. Any 2 of gone 4 rushed and any 2 covered.

One of my favorite schemes. I'll look forward (hopefully) to your film analysis.

In some ways the loss of Mayo makes running a 2-4-5 easier. Ninkovich, Hightower, Collins and Ayers all fit in that scheme, as does Chandler Jones. I think even Easley has the ability to play in that scheme.

 

[I am party]

This was all well known by anyone that has watched a couple Broncos games this year.

You could say the same about any tactic or strategy regarding any opponent, yet Belichick never divulges what he knows about an opponent's tendencies in great detail (or any detail at all, really), with good reason.

I think Nink just got caught up in the moment of beating Peyton and let his guard down.

 

[rochrist]

From Reiss' article:



I'll have to wait for the All-22 and some more detailed film analysis (Andy Johnson, that means you!), but if correct, that's very interesting. It's sort of a sub package twist on the hybrid 3-4 they ran earlier in the year with Jones and Ninkovich alternating between 5-Tech and OLB.

Bruschi echoed this in his chat.