Blitzes and Pressure

[Proudiddy]

Before the game and even during the game I heard how we actually gameplanned and implemented some actual plays and schemes that we'll be using this season on both sides of the ball...

Also, Collinsworth mentioned during the game that we added some of our blitz packages in for this game so that we could practice them live, and get the guys used to getting the play in and executing it. Yet, the Jets didn't.

Taking that into account, something I noticed during the game seriously troubled me. I only remember one legitimately successful blitz with our first team defense in there, and it was the TD sack. I'll go back and look at it later and double check, but that's the only one I remember off the top of my head. Martin also got one, but I'm not sure the first team was in there.

Regardless, just from watching the game live, it seems we aren't very successful on most blitzes. On top of that, when we don't send blitzes, our DL doesn't appear to create significant pressure that makes the QB uncomfortable. Even last season, the sacks CJ got seemed like anomalies compared to what happened on most passing plays.

Of course, sacks don't come easy, but pressure on the QB shouldn't be as hard to come by.

The key thing that I attribute to this is that for whatever reason, we seem to bring pressure from the outside on both blitzes and regular 4-man rushes. I don't know if we're encouraging our guys to go wide on non-blitzing plays, but there is no way a guy that has been cut 3 times should be able to push CJ that far off his line every time. And it made me remember back to last season as well... So often I remember feeling so frustrated that we seemed to leave the middle of the field wide open, and usually, our linemen would go so wide that we'd leave the middle of the pocket clear for the QB to step up and throw.

We did it a ton tonight, but thankfully we only bent and didn't break. Then again, this is the Jets offense... I don't understand why we're not trying to pinch in on the pocket, especially against less-mobile QBs who prefer to climb the pocket? As you could see with TD's sack, when we brought more than they could block up the middle, it causes confusion and usually pressure.

It just felt like the pocket was just too clean on a lot of their pass plays, especially the early drives, and I started having flashbacks to last season's defense. Yes, I know the left side of their line is awesome, and in regards to the run defense, we ARE AMAZING... But, the lack of pressure contrasted against the amount of blitzes and pressure we are supposed to execute in this Jim Johnson-styled defense is troubling.

Just an observation but wondered what you (knowledgeable) guys thought?

[fieryprophet]

I don't know where you heard we were running anything extensive, we probably played base coverage about 85% of the snaps tonight. The offense was pretty vanilla as well. Rivera seems to talk up what we'll do before preseason but then only run a bit of it. Cam has played fewer snaps then expected every game too.

[pantherclaw]

Preseason.

[Actionman0z]

Smokescreen

[koolkatluke]

7. The Panthers have apparently elected to go with slow and steady over athletic ability at free safety.

Former Ravens backup Haruki Nakamura (who was stuck behind some guy named Ed Reed) got the start and took all the work with the first offense.

Former second-round pick Sherrod Martin, who unlike Nakamura has range, is now a bench warmer.

This was initially a competition, but it appears the Panthers have made their decision. Martin’s such a better athlete it’s comical, but he had a series of gaffes in coverage last year that even had the owner cracking on him.

Basically, they’re electing to go with a limitation they can plan on rather than guessing where the more talented Martin will be.

By Gnatt.

[Proudiddy]

I don't know where you heard we were running anything extensive, we probably played base coverage about 85% of the snaps tonight. The offense was pretty vanilla as well. Rivera seems to talk up what we'll do before preseason but then only run a bit of it. Cam has played fewer snaps then expected every game too.

Collinsworth specifically mentioned the bit about installing some blitzes in the game tonight to see how our guys did with them.

I also listened to our pre-game show on the radio before the game and RR said they approached this game like an actual regular season game and game planned accordingly as well as added some new stuff in.

I didn't see the CJ thread until after I posted this, because I fully intended to mention it here while I was watching the game, but someone in there mentioned that most linemen (offense and defense) don't go all out in the preseason. So, maybe that is all it was. But, Sanchez hasn't looked that at ease all preseason and I've seen all of their games thus far. And as I said, the DL issues seemed to happen quite often last year regardless and not to just any one guy.

[ElkinPanthersFan]

I am about as thrilled as you are with the way things are going.

[Peppers90 NC]

Our middle linebackers dont seem to be very good at blitzing. i've never even thought of beason as a successful blitzing lbr. A knock on luke is that he didn't go after qb's very often. We seem to bring more pressure from the nickel and one of the safeties, but if i can tell we are about to blitz watching the tv, im sure the opponent can also recognize this and we get burnt. Davis is really our only capable LBr and I would say Anderson has had some success as well, but I just think we need to work on disguising the blitz better. Again, if I can see it coming before the snap, I would have to imagine the opponents can, and with their success against it, I'm almost sure of it.

[KendrickPanther]

Let's not get too worried. We just held them to 4 field goals. That Jets line has talent and the backs/tight ends did a great job helping out. Our defense is a work in progress. I know we have high expectations because of Cam but the reality is it will take time for all the pieces to fall into place. The Jets converted 4 of 15 3rd downs. That's not exactly a juggernaut.

Collinsworth's statement was dumb because the Jets threw plenty of blitz packages at us. They may have done it from base personnel but the 3-4 defense blitzes by definition. You saw it in the first game and you saw it tonight, the Panthers oline needs to clean up it's protection. Especially Amini Silatolu. He let a blitzing linebacker waltz past him down near the goal line. I have confidence when the game is on the line we can put it together. Just need healthy players.

[Urrymonster]

The Jets OLine is one of the best

[Tarheels23]

Let's not get too worried. We just held them to 4 field goals. That Jets line has talent and the backs/tight ends did a great job helping out. Our defense is a work in progress. I know we have high expectations because of Cam but the reality is it will take time for all the pieces to fall into place. The Jets converted 4 of 15 3rd downs. That's not exactly a juggernaut.

Collinsworth's statement was dumb because the Jets threw plenty of blitz packages at us. They may have done it from base personnel but the 3-4 defense blitzes by definition. You saw it in the first game and you saw it tonight, the Panthers oline needs to clean up it's protection. Especially Amini Silatolu. He let a blitzing linebacker waltz past him down near the goal line. I have confidence when the game is on the line we can put it together. Just need healthy players.

Yeah this was probably Amini's worse game to date. Coples ate his lunch a couple of times. I've notice that Amini leaves his area at times to go help out Gross, which is fine, but he vacates his area too soon some times. I remember one passing play were he had Coples blocked, and then he just let Coples go free to go assist Gross. It was almost like he was intentionally trying to chip Coples over to Kalil, so he could go help out Gross. The only problem though, was that Kalil was already engaged with someone, and Coples just went free. I also wonder if it's because he's so use to burying guys with one blow.

I think we're scheduled to play about five 3-4 defensive teams this year. None of which will be as good as the Jets, with their overall pressure, so we should be fine.

Cowboys, Redskins, Charges, Raiders, and Chiefs.

[Tarheels23]

Another thing I noticed after watching the game again in regards to Thomas Davis sack.

We were in our Nickel package with Thomas Davis and James Anderson at the LB spots.

Also we were in our Wide 9 defensive front with Applewhite and Hardy lined up inside at the DT spots, and CJ and Alexander lined up outside at the DE spots.

TD was actually manned up on the running back (Powell), but Powell stayed in to block, because Hardy was doubled, leaving no one on Alexander, so Powell had to stay in to pick up Alexander.

Now when the guy you're guarding stays in to block it normal gives you the option to blitz or help out in coverage, and that's why TD blitz looked delayed, which was a headsy play on his part, because most LB's would choose to help out in coverage, and end up getting lost in space.

[mj4life]

i'm about to watch the game again but i don't remember blitzing a whole lot. we did show alot of pressure looks up front but it looked to me like we sent 4 & dropped off into mostly zone coverage after the snap

[rayzor]

Yeah this was probably Amini's worse game to date. Coples ate his lunch a couple of times. I've notice that Amini leaves his area at times to go help out Gross, which is fine, but he vacates his area too soon some times. I remember one passing play were he had Coples blocked, and then he just let Coples go free to go assist Gross. It was almost like he was intentionally trying to chip Coples over to Kalil, so he could go help out Gross. The only problem though, was that Kalil was already engaged with someone, and Coples just went free. I also wonder if it's because he's so use to burying guys with one blow.

I think we're scheduled to play about five 3-4 defensive teams this year. None of which will be as good as the Jets, with their overall pressure, so we should be fine.

Cowboys, Redskins, Charges, Raiders, and Chiefs.

i heard the cowboys lost their DT/NT jay ratliff...not sure how long he's out, though.