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Our old style of Defense ...
by uknowwho » Mon Dec 14, 2009 3:44 pm
Hey guys, just wondering if anyone else has watched NFL Network's replay of the '02 playoff win versus Cleveland this week. They replayed it a bunch (I guess because we were playing the Clowns Thursday).
Anyway, it was kinda like when you live with someone, you don't notice how much weight they've gained, or how much your kids have grown, til' you see an old video, or pictures ... you don't notice the difference because you're with them all the time. But grandma see's them at Christmas, and makes a huge deal out of how big they are, or how much weight your wife has gained!
Well, our defense back then WAS NOT the same defense we're playing now. It seems like we rely more and more on just the 2 OLB's to apply pressure and get to the quaterback. In which case, we can be at a disadvantage with our OLB taking on the tackles AND chip blocks from RB's, one-on-one, or one-on-two. Since we play a 3-4, relying on our OLB's to constantly take on the other teams tackles in a predictable rush patterns (as if we're a 4-3, and our outside rushers are 6'6" 275 lb. DE's) seems to not be producing the constant pressure our defense needs to be successful.
Watching that game again reminded me just how much pressure we used to bring from all over the place. Safeties, corners, other LB's ... we were coming from all over. Now, in that game, the Clownies got lucky on some deep throws early and we fell behind. But each big play was sandwiched around hellacious pressure from us on every down. And eventually their luck ran out, as our pressure kept forcing them to give us the ball back and goofball Maddux brought us back. If anything, showing how much that pressure allowed us to never be out of a game. Even last year's SuperBowl team didn't bring that much pressure. For whatever reason, last year we seemed to have our best "cover" year that I can remember, (something to do with McFadden and a healthy Troy?) which compensated for the lack of blitzing and pressure we put on the QB. I realize we also got a MONSTER year out of Harrison, but I'm not sure you can rely on individual performaces like that all of the time ... especially all the strip sacks ...
Anyway, starting to believe Mill is correct, maybe Dick's gotten long in the tooth, and ready to hang em' up ... this is NOT the same defense we used to play. He's supposedly the creator of the 3/4 zone blitz D, but I seem to like the other versions we ran when he wasn't our coordinator. It definately seems like we've become much more passive year after year. Who knows, maybe it's Tomlin inflicting some of his defensive philosophies from that weak as cover-2 BS that he believes in.
Anyway, it was kinda like when you live with someone, you don't notice how much weight they've gained, or how much your kids have grown, til' you see an old video, or pictures ... you don't notice the difference because you're with them all the time. But grandma see's them at Christmas, and makes a huge deal out of how big they are, or how much weight your wife has gained!
Well, our defense back then WAS NOT the same defense we're playing now. It seems like we rely more and more on just the 2 OLB's to apply pressure and get to the quaterback. In which case, we can be at a disadvantage with our OLB taking on the tackles AND chip blocks from RB's, one-on-one, or one-on-two. Since we play a 3-4, relying on our OLB's to constantly take on the other teams tackles in a predictable rush patterns (as if we're a 4-3, and our outside rushers are 6'6" 275 lb. DE's) seems to not be producing the constant pressure our defense needs to be successful.
Watching that game again reminded me just how much pressure we used to bring from all over the place. Safeties, corners, other LB's ... we were coming from all over. Now, in that game, the Clownies got lucky on some deep throws early and we fell behind. But each big play was sandwiched around hellacious pressure from us on every down. And eventually their luck ran out, as our pressure kept forcing them to give us the ball back and goofball Maddux brought us back. If anything, showing how much that pressure allowed us to never be out of a game. Even last year's SuperBowl team didn't bring that much pressure. For whatever reason, last year we seemed to have our best "cover" year that I can remember, (something to do with McFadden and a healthy Troy?) which compensated for the lack of blitzing and pressure we put on the QB. I realize we also got a MONSTER year out of Harrison, but I'm not sure you can rely on individual performaces like that all of the time ... especially all the strip sacks ...
Anyway, starting to believe Mill is correct, maybe Dick's gotten long in the tooth, and ready to hang em' up ... this is NOT the same defense we used to play. He's supposedly the creator of the 3/4 zone blitz D, but I seem to like the other versions we ran when he wasn't our coordinator. It definately seems like we've become much more passive year after year. Who knows, maybe it's Tomlin inflicting some of his defensive philosophies from that weak as cover-2 BS that he believes in.
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