Saban & the delayed blitz

That's one of the elements of his defense from back in his NFL DC days that he picked up from Belichick that used to be wildly successful. The delayed blitz is one of those plays meant to confuse the QB and the OL but it needs the right personnel. Its more effective with a faster rusher

quote:

---

When Shane Lee is the rusher, every blitz is delayed.

---

This was one big problem with it. Harris and Kaho are fast enough to make it work. Lee is not. The other problem with it was that we waited too damn long all season. Delayed blitz doesn't mean count to 3 after the ball is snapped and then come after the QB. You wait for the initial rushers to be engaged by the OL and then take off. The idea is to get a free run on the QB by a linebacker or in the box safety, but there's no point in doing it if the ball is out of his hand when the unblocked rusher is still 10-15 feet away from him.

quote:

---

It's exactly what Clemson did last season and we didnt have an answer.

---

Venables is great at disguising where the blitz is coming from...he'll show blitz from one side but it'll come from the other side or up the middle and it's hard for the QB to read...

I saw a video once where Gus Malzahn broke down the delayed blitz Alabama uses and exactly how to make them pay. That was 8 years ago.

Hate to say it, but it may be time for Saban to go hire a star DC and let the dude run HIS defense. Saban’s defense seems to have been passed by by elite modern offenses.

Absolutely what needs to happen.

There are too many years of film on Saban's defense and it's time for an upgrade.