Shutting Down the Pass

[Mack Herron]

 

[bbobbo]

The problem with that strategy is that Julio Jones is a large, powerful human. Faulk and Marvin Harrison were finesse players. Julio is too strong to jam consistently without risking him tearing the cornerbacks arms off and catching the pass with those arms instead of his own. Would Rowe, for instance, have the ability to jam Jones at the line and stay with him?

great visual

 

[TheRazorsEdge]

The point is.. Your not going to concentrate on taking Jones away completely. If he beats you here and there ..so be it..he's the best WR this year. Based on their season thus far wether they win or lose..Jones gets his unless he's completely off or Ryan is completely off.

The variable that seems to fluctuate in falcons wins and losses is Coleman /Freeman/ Sanu and Gabriel receiving stats.

 

[Soul_Survivor88]

Based on their season thus far wether they win or lose..Jones gets his unless he's completely off or Ryan is completely off.

The variable that seems to fluctuate in falcons wins and losses is Coleman /Freeman/ Sanu and Gabriel receiving stats.

If you look at his receiving yards for this season, in Julio Jones' five most productive games (300, 174, 139, 135, 113 yards) the Falcons are 1-4.

You can let him have his yards, especially if Ryan starts to over-rely on him, and still find ways to win.

 

[Soul_Survivor88]

Muhsin Muhammad (TD), Marvin Harrison, Terrell Owens, Reggie Wayne, Torry Holt, Tim Brown, Jerry Rice, Andre Johnson

 

[TheRazorsEdge]

If you look at his receiving yards for this season, in Julio Jones' five most productive games (300, 174, 139, 135, 113 yards) the Falcons are 1-4.

You can let him have his yards, especially if Ryan starts to over-rely on him, and still find ways to win.

Exactly. Let Ryan have Jones..let him go to him often. It doesn't have a direct effect to the result as much as Sanu and Gabriel's stats.

 

[rookBoston]

I don't think we need to be in a Dime defense, unless they go 5-wide... in which case there is no running game to defend against.

BB and MP ask the DL to maintain strict two-gap discipline while they're rushing the passer. Even when the team switched from 4-3 to 3-4 and back to 4-3, the two gap principle has remained a constant.

It bodes well for us in the Atlanta game. I think MP knows he can control the run without overloading the box, because that's what we do. He can play a hybrid zone with his LBs and DEs behind a 3 or 4-man pass rush, and still feel good that he has an answer for the running game.

It doesn't hurt that every one of our DBs is an above average tackler, and willing to rough it up in the run game. Some, like Ryan, McCourty and Butler, are exceptional tacklers.

Our D is underrated. Fast and versatile and healthy, they match up well. I think they don't need to get too exotic in the scheme if they play with discipline and are prepared to exploit mistakes when they happen.

 

[Snooky97]

Rowe, will play the browner role. Take the physical guy, in this case julio and have safety help along the way throughout the whole game. Do that, let them have the underneath routes. Control the run with Branch and the big boys and the game will be fine.

 

[SVN]

 

[PScottman]

The problem with that strategy is that Julio Jones is a large, powerful human

The other problem with it - they motion the heck out of him to prevent just such a strategy. It's probably in the bag of tricks over the course of a game - not sure it's an all-game long thing though. Like with Brown they'll mix up the coverages - make Ryan think all game long.

 

[Soul_Survivor88]

You aren't jamming him to hold him there. You are jamming him in order to throw off TIMING.
The Faulk rules were because in film study they realized the offense, reads and timing flowed through Faulk. They hit him to disrupt the timing and it worked for about a half.

The fact that Jones is bigger actually makes it easier to get a jam on him than a small quick guy.
In this case you aren't playing bump and run you are playing bump and double.
I like the idea.

Agree. I think Matt and Bill will come out and try to be physical with the WR’s to disrupt timing and see if it works. Our pass rush hasn’t been getting home, and you don’t want Matt Ryan to feel comfortable and work in rhythm. So the best alternative is to jam the receivers off their routes.

Logan Ryan is very good with his hands and has the capabilities to play with bigger receivers as he has in his career. But Eric Rowe is bigger than Ryan and has the speed and quickness to stay with Jones especially with safety help. I would then put Malcolm Butler on Mohamed Sanu to try to take Matty Ice’s #2 target out of the game and Logan Ryan on Taylor Gabriel. Gabriel has been a real X-factor in Atlanta’s offense and I think putting Ryan on him would be the best fit for the personnel we have.

I also think we see three safeties more than half the time, with Chung shadowing Freeman or Coleman. In the big nickel, I’d have Duron Harmon over the top to support Rowe. Patrick Chung and Devin McCourty will be moved all over the field depending on Atlanta’s formations. Atlanta is known for using as many or more players and formations than any team in the NFL so Chung and McCourty’s jobs will change by the series and sometimes by snap. When Atlanta flexes out either Coleman or Freeman, I can see DMC covering them 1-on-1 while Chung picks up a TE.

 

[Soul_Survivor88]

The other problem with it - they motion the heck out of him to prevent just such a strategy. It's probably in the bag of tricks over the course of a game - not sure it's an all-game long thing though.

Exactly. But Julio having a big game isn't necessarily a death sentence. And if you focus all of your attention on stopping Julio Jones, the other guys catching passes from Matt Ryan will still be ripping your defense apart.

As pointed out in the Football Outsiders thread, I think Belichick's defensive philosophy is incorrectly stated as "taking away an offense's best player" when what he really tries to do is "take away what an offense does best." Atlanta has clearly proven that they can use a lot of different players in a lot of different ways, and still beat teams without Jones doing a whole lot.

In Atlanta's losses this season, Julio Jones averages 7.4 catches, 125.4 yards, 0.4 TDs.

But in Atlanta's wins, Jones averages just 5.5 catches, 93.5 yards, 0.6 TDs

Throwing the ball to Julio Jones isn't really what Atlanta does best. What Atlanta does best is attack you with multiple weapons at every skill position, at every level of the field. Funneling their offense into a predictable mode of attack, even if that means forcing maybe the best receiver in the NFL to beat you, isn't really the craziest thing in the world.

 

[SVN]

I think the two RBs in the passing game offer more of a threat.

 

[Tony2046]

This. Possession time is what will win us the game, I don't like our chances in a shootout, I'm sure our team will be prepared well, and the run game needs to be held in check while we need to also be physical with their receivers, knock them around, hit them hard and put them on notice that if they going to catch the ball that they are going to be hit hard.

Overall we need to keep their running backs inside and also keep Matt Ryan in check because we know he likes to run the ball time to time.

If we take away Julio and their running game then it's gonna be tough of them.

I have faith in Rowe and Ryan being able to keep their other receivers in check. We will definitely have to double up on Julio because he is a huge guy, not a speedster but can go up and get it and he has the size advantage over Butler.

If we win this game is because of our defense.

Our front 7 will need to have the game of their lifetime, also some of these guys being in the SB 2 years ago will help the newer guys get ready. It's always hard for a guy to handle all the pressure in their 1st SB appearance...

Our d-line has been solid and having a healthy Hightower going into this game is gonna be a huge thing for us. Also Van Noy and McLellin being solid 2nds on this team is helpful. Those guys gonna be the key to keep their running backs in check.

FYI: Julio Jones is a speedster.

 

[Tony2046]

On the surface you may call me crazy but please give this theory a shot as I think it is a realistic strategy that may work.

- Give Them Julio Jones....take everyone else aways-

If you look up and crunch some numbers on the falcons seasons, specifically in terms of the offense..you'll see Jones production for a large part doesn't change wether the falcons win or lose. On the other hand: Games where Sanu and Gabriel struggle...the falcons lose. The games where the 2 do well..They win.

Same thing with the running backs...games where falcons lost for the most part, they had little impact through the air..games they won they got plenty of looks and were productive .

I think concentrating on just taking away Jones may be a fatal error. The ends and linebackers will have to marshall faulk the backs..stick Butler on Sanu and let the rest fall into place.

Jones is going to make big catches wether you try to take him away or not...but stats show he isn't the x factor in winning and losing.

Just my very amateur point of view.

Go Pats!

I like it. I would add that all the Pats need is a few stops or a turnover to put the game in their favor. Once they get the lead burn the clock with long sustained drives. Keep Matty off of the field. Force them to get desperate.

Anyways your strategy will force Ryan into his second or third reads which should translate into stops or hopefully a turnover.

 

[n1997y]

...
In Atlanta's losses this season, Julio Jones averages 7.4 catches, 125.4 yards, 0.4 TDs.

But in Atlanta's wins, Jones averages just 5.5 catches, 93.5 yards, 0.6 TDs
...

Interesting detail. In the wins Jones gets fewer catches and yards but more TDs.

 

[patsinthesnow]

(From PFF. Not sure why they didn't attribute the TD sunday to Rowe but the point stands)

The only CB trio comparable in this time span is the Broncos' group. Butler & Ryan haven't given up a TD since the first Jets game. Big Ben was shut down to the same level as the previous 8 weak QBs before garbage time. If there is a defense that can contain Atlanta's passing game the Pats are as good a bet as anyone.

 

[SalemPats]

Hey all,

Belichick and Patricia are both known to like to take away your primary weapons. Obviously this means Julio Jones and the passing attack more generally. However, my question is to what degree we are willing for Atlanta to gain rushing yards if it means shutting down the Atlanta passing attack.

For instance, do we run sets with two offensive linemen or fewer to help us with zone and man to man? Are we willing to give up 200 yards on the ground if it means slowing down the Atlanta passing game?

I'd play lots of dime in this game with a 2-3-6 if it means forcing Atlanta to try to win in a manner different than they are accustomed. Thoughts on this "dare them to run" approach?

I thought it was interesting that the approach against the Steelers was to not blitz and play 6-7 in coverage, allowing us to smother A Brown and force Big Ben to dissect us with a young wr corps. It worked beautifully, despite Ben playing well. Now Bell was out, but DeAngelo is still a very good rb

Now Ryan is not Ben, he doesn't handle pressure as well, but he has Julio and 2 rb's that can make plays. I think we'll see more blitzes depending on the Falcons sets, but i expect 6-7 in coverage again and force them to beat us with the run.

 

[SalemPats]

I think BB will scheme to not allow Freeman/Coleman to kill us in the passing game. Freeman is a good runner, but he's not a 3+ yards guy, he's a 0, 1 and then 12. This bodes well for us because if we can get Atl into 3rd and 4+ we can control the game

 

[Tony2046]

I thought it was interesting that the approach against the Steelers was to not blitz and play 6-7 in coverage, allowing us to smother A Brown and force Big Ben to dissect us with a young wr corps. It worked beautifully, despite Ben playing well. Now Bell was out, but DeAngelo is still a very good rb

Now Ryan is not Ben, he doesn't handle pressure as well, but he has Julio and 2 rb's that can make plays. I think we'll see more blitzes depending on the Falcons sets, but i expect 6-7 in coverage again and force them to beat us with the run.

There's a clip with Bruschi before the game explaining how the Pats would just hold the line and the linebackers would wait until Bell committed to a run path during run plays.

In this clip Van Noy hovers behind the D line mirroring Bell's moves until he commits to a lane.

A few clips from the same play.

Watch how Van Noy bounces behind the line and how the D-line maintains outside containment.



You can barely see Bell's helmet in this shot. Van Noy never commits rather just mirrors Bell. McClellon holds his position (doesn't commit to inside or outside). Same with Sheard on the left side.


Can even see less of Bell's helmet in this shot. Notice Van Noy reverses direction so quickly that Pittsburgh's can't effectively clear him out of the hole.


Amazing pocket awareness by the D. As soon as Bell commits to a lane the entire Pats D closes the lane. Branch just backs into the hole. Van Noy was there to plug whatever was left of it. You can't see Bell in this shot as he's directly behind Branch.


This is what they did to slow Bell down. Smart patient run defense.