Big Money and Recent Injuries

[ok2h8pep]

One thing that struck me about the Pittsburgh game is our scheme versus the first two weeks. If you look at snap count statistics it appears that we used a nickle or dime package between 75% and 80% of the defensive snaps in the first two games with only two linebackers on the field (Keek and TD).

 

In week 3 we had 3 linebackers on the field for a large majority of the snaps - we went with nickel/ dime packages for as few as 30% of the snaps.  I felt like I was watching a slower defense on Sunday and a look at these statistics tells me why.  AJ Klien and Chase Blackburn are ballers but they are not speedsters.  All the stuff that Pittsburgh threw at the flats early on to get their running game on track played right into the weakness of our personnel.    

 

Pittsburgh had a plan.  It called for short quick passes to get the running game going.  It worked.  In today's NFL you sometimes have to pass to set up the run.  Pittsburgh turned a weakness (their OL) into a strength.  I bet McDermott will learn from what he saw and we will quickly get back to our winning ways.

 

 

 

[UpstatePanther]

Get back to us when you have no class.

/Rodney Dangerfield

 

yes because college students have unlimited free time they can throw around. the point of the thread was to create discussion, not to spew my opinions haha. it wasnt really important to me to explain every nuance of my position. i just wanted to bring something up and see what the Huddle thought. after reading everyone's responses, they have changed my mind about the injury issues. i agree that TD is a huge loss whereas before i thought Blackburn/Klein could be at least sufficient while he heals.

 

as for CJ, Zod's comment below kinda blew a big whole in my perspective. unfortunately, i dont have the opportunity to watch alot of tape throughout the week so i have to trust what the media says about particular players (especially on the OL and DL) alot of the time. I've tried to weed out who in the media i can trust, and not surprisingly, i find myself gravitating toward the Huddle (Zod) and BBR (Voth). David Newton seems to have good articles once in a while, but i suppose i cant trust everything that comes from ESPN:

 

You should be careful when listening to the ESPN beat writer on detailed football specifics.

 

Johnson hasn't been double teamed much. He just isn't playing particularly well.

 

fair enough. i am still hopeful that CJ can make a comeback.

[PantherFeez]

To be fair to the OP I heard callers on WFNZ making assumptions that he was getting double teamed as well and the hosts were just rolling with that speculation. I doubt ESPN was talking about CJ (can't confirm, I don't watch it, but we're a small market team so doubt they go that in depth with us). This is all likely a case of assuming an O line has no one to worry about but CJ so they slide protection his way. Watching the play pack doesn't support that theory.

[Silent Majority]

WFNZ was saying CJ is still bothered by the hammy. not sure if that is the case or not. It's plausible, i'd suppose.