Bringing' the Heat?

I have been thinking about the lack of pressure we seem to be getting on the opposing QBs,even going back to last year. It seems the consistant pressure just isnt there. I know many of you will point to the fact that Harrison and Woodley haven't spent much time on the field together and even though I realize that is a major factor ,there has to be other ways we can create more pressure than we have been. I realize that the job of our DL in our 3-4 is to eat up blockers creating space for our LBs to make plays, but could a slight change in philosophy be the answer. It always seems that our DL only keys on the run,just holding up at the point of attack and never just tries to penetrate the backfield and get to the QB,even on obvious passing downs. I feel we have the talent and athleticism along the DL to be more than just lane cloggers. I think a combination of different techniques would make our defense less predictable and more opportunistic. Thoughts ? One last thing we really need to do something other than that blitz straight up the middle,teams have adjusted to that so well it has become so easy for them to block,our guys just get all stacked up in the middle....it used to work when we had the ILB big enough to blow it up ,but not no more.

 

I've made several of you points on other posts. It seems they don't draft defensive lineman that can rush the passer. None of them were known to rush the passer in college. Just good run stuffer. I would like to see a change in philosophy. It seems like every team has designated pass rushers. The Giants are known to have several guys that just rush the passer. I've been saying for years we need a DE that can get pressure on the quarterback. Bruce Smith comes to mind as a 3-4 DE that can get to the quarterback. If we had one in the mold of him we would be outstanding.

Inside linebacker is another area that i've made comments about. The same ones you made. We need a "thumper" in the middle. Levon Kirkland was one of a kind. Big enough to blow up the middle and fast enough to cover. But with today's NFL going to more spread offensive, you will see lighter ILB. I think the running game throughout the NFL will get better because we don't have the beef in the linebackers to stop them. The offensive lineman are not getting any smaller so you got a 230lb linebacker going up against a 330lb offensive lineman. Look at Shady McCoy from the Eagles. He gets most of his yards in the spread offensive when you got the defense in their nickel package.

 

The 3-4 is not effective if none of your D-lineman can push the O-line back. Ours cannot. Plus, the scheme is kind of worn out now and less effective IMO than the 4-3. DL does an ok job with what he has, but his schemes don't fool anyone anymore and our D-line is too slow to make a difference. Not sure the solution tho as we do not have personnel for 4-3, or a coach that would ever switch to it.

 

the 4-3 is coming. probably not this year, but it wouldnt surprise me if we see it next year.

not sure if DL will be back for another year. also dont know about Harrison coming back. if he isnt than they are down 1 OLB anyways and they are not loaded at LB anymore like in years past. maybe the time will be right for a change.

they are still a top 10 defense and their bend but dont break approach still works, but they have been breaking a bit more than they did in the past. that coupled with the fact that they dont force many turnovers either is also a concern.

they are the oldest defense in the league and its shown the last 2 years. they are loaded on offense and i believe Haley has them heading in the right direction, but now the defense is becoming the weak link. i hope they have enough left in the tank for a run this year with this group, but i can see some changes coming next season.

 

Yeah, our D-line isnt getting the push needed to get a pass rush, Kiesel-old past his prime-Hampton-old and past his prime...Hood not playing like the 1st rounder we thought we had, he cant move anyone back on the line, it looks like we need to retool this weak area, and do it pretty soon because our seconday cant carry this defense, they can barely do their job with a good pass rush, let alone the one we have....

 

I know it's early but the draft will tell if we are going to a 4-3. We need those passing rushing DEs if we are. Spence, timmons, Foote as our linebackers and maybe use Woodley as one of our DEs.

But I would prefer we use the 3-4. I've always loved it since we switched to it when Cowher came aboard. You have more versatilty as long as you have the right personnel.

We really haven't struck gold in converting these college DEs into outside linebackers. Carter, Worilds, Gibson,Bruce Davis, Alonzo Jackson have been a waste. Woodley has been the only one in years.

 

A bit early to call Carter and Worilds a waste, don't you think? I know people have been saying its time for Worilds to show what he's worth - which it is - but give the guy more than 2 games...

 

Exactly James Harrison didn't even really get good till he was older. He was cut numerous times and he turned out good don't you think.

 

Historically, even under Capers, a good bit of pressure came from DB's....Corner blitzes, safety blitzes...That is what I've noticed a lack of over the last few seasons. Could be a result of a lack of confidence in coverage ability, as well as so many offenses utilizing a quick, three step drop. I think the confidence in coverage should be higher this season than it has been? Whacha think?

 

Good point. I believe our top CB blitzer in the last season or two was William Gay.

 

our def lineman can 't penetrate they keep pushing around

 

Here's the problem. For the most part quarterbacks are gettign rid of the ball faster than we can physically get to them. People complain about the pass rush, but the days of the 7 step drop are long gone. Most offensive schemes function on a 3-5 step drop and let it rip. We can continue throwing grease on a fire or try to disguise coverages and drop lb'ers and hopefully coming up with int's in the process. We all know the offensive game has changed in the process that has changed the defensive game as well.

 

Agreed, but you know the team is not going to wait that long any more for players to shine. Especially if they were drafted high. They expect them to make a substainial impact sooner rather than later. Harrison was a gem. Undrafted free agents that finally come around are harder to come by. Even though we had three. (Parker, McClendon and Harrison).

 

You're probably right. Might be a little early but I hope they show something because Harrison might not be here next year.

 

You make a good point, but what about the NY Giants DL? Again just my opinion,
340 pd OL skilled in pass protection have NO PROBLEM with 250 LB, especially if the OL
can get away with holding lke they do on James Harrison. These OL DO have problems
with 290 LB DL that know how to rush the passer, Hence the NY Giants success.
I agree with most posters that the real problem is we have NO DL that have Pass Rushing Skills,
untill we fix this problem or our DL shows us that they can get pressure, we will continue using
250lb LB against 340LB OL. Is this a mismatch?

 

If your defensive line can put a half decent rush on the QB, it makes the DB's job a lot easier. (as mentioned the giants). We have no pass rush anymore. Last year and the second half of the year before that, when Harrison and Woodley were on the field at the same time, they couldn't get to the QB anymore. This is why our defense stinks now. :-D

 

i think ziggy ought to be the backup to heyward. heyward,mclendon,keisel. ziggy has no second move. he bullrushes and thats it. what made aaron smith so good was his ability to control his man with the bull rush and then he knew when to discard that blocker and make the tackle. ziggy can't get off blocks. our DL is not creating space for the LB'ers to make plays. o-lines seem to stand shoulder to shoulder and clog the pass rush lanes while tying up our d-linemen. i think ziggy is to much of a tweener. he lost weight and gained stregnth to be quicker off of blocks but it hasen't given him any advantadge in discarding blockers yet. as i said tying up blockers is one thing but the timely shedding of those blockers has not. i hate to pick on one guy like this and i have always liked ziggy, i'm just not seeing improvement from him. i think he would work better as a DT for the giants in a 4-3 defense. cam should get starting field time.