Started By
Message
re: Defensive adjustment
Posted on 1/14/20 at 9:34 am to LovetheLord
Posted on 1/14/20 at 9:34 am to LovetheLord
I wouldn't call this a schematic adjustment as much as coaching and technique, but what made Joe burrow so special this season and why I think he'll struggle early in the NFL is this-
His shots downfield, more often than not, are 50/50 balls. He's not throwing guys open, he's not throwing pinpoint passes to guys in stride that have a step on the defender, he's simply throwing it to really good players that are looking when their defender isn't. I bet he threw 20 touchdowns this season where the DB was in perfect coverage but never looked for the football. It takes balls to make that throw. It's a risky throw. But if you're confident in your scouting and know that the cornerback hasn't turned to find the football all year, it's really not a risky throw.
Against great QB's like that that realize the reward outweighs the risk, my message to the defensive backs would be pretty simple. Defensive backs know when they're beat or out of phase, you see them panic and start to grab. So, defensive back, if you think you're beat, just turn your head around.
Easier said than done because that has to be instinctive or coached into a kid one, but the difference in Derrick Stingley getting 6 interceptions on the year and leading the country in pass breakups wasn't athleticism of the ability to stay in phase, Diggs did that all year and #8 from Clemson did that all night last night. They both got torched against LSU because they might as well have been blindfolded. Chase and Marshall are looking at the ball and the DB isn't. If you're toasted, resign to punishing the arms and hands and separating the football, don't worry about finding it. If you're beat by a step between 15-40 yards, just turn your damn head around and catch the ball. You know it's coming because that's a good QB and your guy has a step on you down the field. It's the most maddening thing that Saban teaches to me. You need a WR mindset when the ball is in the air. It's fair game when the ball takes flight, find it and go get it.
From a "scheme" standpoint, the same thing will work now that has always worked against any balanced offense.
Be able to pressure the QB with 4 players. That's recruiting, scouting, and execution. Doesn't matter who is playing QB. If he's under pressure and you have 7 guys defending 4, you have a tremendous advantage.
His shots downfield, more often than not, are 50/50 balls. He's not throwing guys open, he's not throwing pinpoint passes to guys in stride that have a step on the defender, he's simply throwing it to really good players that are looking when their defender isn't. I bet he threw 20 touchdowns this season where the DB was in perfect coverage but never looked for the football. It takes balls to make that throw. It's a risky throw. But if you're confident in your scouting and know that the cornerback hasn't turned to find the football all year, it's really not a risky throw.
Against great QB's like that that realize the reward outweighs the risk, my message to the defensive backs would be pretty simple. Defensive backs know when they're beat or out of phase, you see them panic and start to grab. So, defensive back, if you think you're beat, just turn your head around.
Easier said than done because that has to be instinctive or coached into a kid one, but the difference in Derrick Stingley getting 6 interceptions on the year and leading the country in pass breakups wasn't athleticism of the ability to stay in phase, Diggs did that all year and #8 from Clemson did that all night last night. They both got torched against LSU because they might as well have been blindfolded. Chase and Marshall are looking at the ball and the DB isn't. If you're toasted, resign to punishing the arms and hands and separating the football, don't worry about finding it. If you're beat by a step between 15-40 yards, just turn your damn head around and catch the ball. You know it's coming because that's a good QB and your guy has a step on you down the field. It's the most maddening thing that Saban teaches to me. You need a WR mindset when the ball is in the air. It's fair game when the ball takes flight, find it and go get it.
From a "scheme" standpoint, the same thing will work now that has always worked against any balanced offense.
Be able to pressure the QB with 4 players. That's recruiting, scouting, and execution. Doesn't matter who is playing QB. If he's under pressure and you have 7 guys defending 4, you have a tremendous advantage.
2
Posted on 1/14/20 at 9:45 am to Riseupfromtherubble
quote:
Be able to pressure the QB with 4 players.
This is it. A good QB with good WRs will beat you most times if you have to commit more than 4 to the pass rush on a regular basis. There will just be too much open field to cover.
The well-time blitz is great, but being able to speed up the QB and make him uncomfortable/inaccurate with 4 guys while you have 7 covering the field and you are going to be in good shape.
Posted on 1/14/20 at 10:04 am to Riseupfromtherubble
quote:
So, defensive back, if you think you're beat, just turn your head around.
Agree, as that has been the biggest gripe I've had on our DBs. The last couple of DBs we've had that did that pretty consistently were Levi Wallace and Dee Milliner. Wallace had outstanding technique but also he always seemed to know where the ball was. Milliner's junior year was one of the most impressive I've seen from a Bama corner; he only had 2 INTs (his hands weren't that great) but he had something like 22+ passes defended (led the nation).
I also think, if you have the time to implement it (such as bowl/play-off prep), throw a scheme that they haven't seen all year. In the CFPCG game last year, Venables threw a defense at us they hadn't played all (cloud coverage); all the game film we studied was useless. I also think back to the 1993 Sugar Bowl; Brother Oliver's plan was brilliant and their Heisman QB was confused all game. Many times, we had 10 or all 11 men playing up around the LOS; some times, we sent 7 or 8, sometimes we only sent 3. We hadn't done that all season long...
But the rules still heavily favor the offense; until the refs consistently enforce both the ineligible receiver downfield rule (or they change it to the NFL rule) and holding, as well as keeping the flag in their pocket on ticky-tack PI calls, the deck will still be stacked against the D...
Page 1 of 1
Latest Alabama News
Popular
Back to top
Follow SECRant for SEC Football News