Keys to victory….it’s obvious.
- Dak need to play well. He does not need to be superman; he just needs to distribute the ball and take what the defense gives him, avoid putting the entire game’s pressure on every pass play.
- Dan Quinn needs to do something different. Quinn’s pathetic record vs Tom Brady (0 wins) and why has been playing in the media for several days. Quinn stubbornly continues playing man coverage with 1 deep middle safety on first down. This allows teams to throw short quick passes and recently to throw on almost every first down at the CB opposite Diggs. Teams stay in 2nd and 3rd and short.
In my opinion, Quinn must either play 2 deep safeties or cheat the safety to the left side and leaves Diggs on an island. Also,if you want to bring pressure, stop playing man 8 yards off the darn receiver. This allows him to run any route he wants with the CB giving ground. When Quinn goes all out with pressure, he needs to have the CB in press man coverage in order to make the QB hold the ball just a little longer and allow the pressure to move Brady off his spot. The TB team does not have much speed; do not give those huge cushions which beg them to hit 6-7 yard easy completions and invite the double move on the defender who naturally comes up hard because he was playing off.
Keep everything in front, tackle well, DTs need to get penetration against the TB OL.
I have confidence that Dak can play more conservatively and protect the ball if the defense doesn’t allow TB to do what they haven’t done all year.
I have confidence that our players on defense can swarm and play at a fast, effective level that the TB offense cannot match, and I believe that our secondary can hold its own IF Quinn will play to their strengths and weaknesses and not ask our left CB and safeties to do things they aren’t good at.
This game hinges on Dak playing within himself and Quinn allowing the defense to play in a way that doesn’t put that Left CB in a no-win situation.
