Defending screens and quick throws

[BoysfanfromCanada]

We all saw what this defensive line did with Hardy out there. He was just a beast who dominated Solder, and he was even driving double teams into Brady's lap. On the other side, the 2 Crawfords, Mincey & Lawrence were getting in on the action, not to mention blitzes by McClain. After the bye we should add Randy Gregory to the mix which will add all that much more depth to the pass rush. All well and good, especially if we have a lead and the other teams are forced to pass......however....

We won't have the lead very often with Romo out. And if this defense causes as much problems as it did to the Pats, the easy counter is simply screens and quick passes. These are the two things that have been issues for us all season. We're not rallying to the ball like we did last year, and it's the one thing we have to fix on D to stand any chance of keeping scores low (which they'll have to do to give Weeden or Cassells a chance).

So how do we game plan for this? Manning did some damage today with quick screens to Vereen and ODB. It's the only thing that can stop us from being a really solid D, since a pass rush doesn't matter if the team is still dink and dunking all the way up the field to score.

 

[TonyRomo17]

They are still rallying to the ball,. they are just missing the tackles

 

[RS12]

Secondary, particularly Safties have to play WAY better.

 

[Seven]

Pick plays are supposed to be illegal.........can't defend those.

That's why they're illegal.

Except for the pats, obviously.

 

[PoundTheRock]

Pick plays are supposed to be illegal.........can't defend those.

That's why they're illegal.

Except for the pats, obviously.

They don't call picks on anyone consistently. The NFL wants scoring. It's okay to do it now.

 

[DallasCowboys2080]

Where have you gone Tony Romo? Cowboys nation turns its lonely eyes to you...

 

[Philmonroe]

They don't call picks on anyone consistently. The NFL wants scoring. It's okay to do it now.

Basically. The one thing I don't understand is why teams don't do like you'd do in basketball on picks and just switch men at times when they do it. That's what me and my teammates do esp when players are about the same like the pats. I'm pretty sure there might be a scheme reason why just looking for a way to counteract them.

 

[RunDMC]

If pick plays aren't gonna be called then I'm not sure what we can do. Tackling has to be better in the secondary. They also have to do a better job on those crossing routes that was a big problem. Edelman really ate that up. They keep rallying to the ball and that's all well and good, but too many times they still overpursue and the safeties continue to take poor angles. Barry Church is done. It's a shame. This guy looked like a solid starter a few years ago, but he can't tackle anymore. He's never been good in coverage, but when you're right there on the edge or down in the box and you whiff and whiff it's time to make a change.

 

[Zman5]

Pick plays are big part of the new NFL offense. It seems like every good team are taking advantage of it except us. That's the bigger question. Why aren't we running them as much as other teams?

 

[Tenkamenin]

Basically. The one thing I don't understand is why teams don't do like you'd do in basketball on picks and just switch men at times when they do it. That's what me and my teammates do esp when players are about the same like the pats. I'm pretty sure there might be a scheme reason why just looking for a way to counteract them.

Defending a pick in football is near impossible unless you're playing zone. Moreover the game moves differently in basketball allowing people to roll off screens easier.

 

[AzorAhai]

Basically. The one thing I don't understand is why teams don't do like you'd do in basketball on picks and just switch men at times when they do it. That's what me and my teammates do esp when players are about the same like the pats. I'm pretty sure there might be a scheme reason why just looking for a way to counteract them.

The simplest answer to this is usually pick plays are crossing patterns that are moving away from each other. The players are in man coverage following their assignment and the pick player is running in the opposite direction. Usually in order to switch, the player will have to completely change the direction all their momentum is going to switch and cover the other player. Basically giving a player a free run or what equates to a blown coverage.

 

[Yakuza Rich]

I was more upset at the Saints pick plays. The refs let those go without being called and they were dangerous and hurt the defensive players. At least with the Pats pick plays, they weren't dangerous to defensive players' health and when they were...they were flagged.

The one big pass play to Edelman...not sure what the *exact* rule was. I'm thinking the pick wasn't called because the WR never did touch the defender with his hands. But, it's still a 'block'. If you are set to block but don't actually touch the defensive player and impede his progress...that's still a block, IMO. I think the rule needs to be more along the lines of the receiver has to be actually running something that resembles a pass pattern. The receiver on that play (I think it was Amendola) was not running a route. He was running to get in the way of the defender.

The WR screens are more about recognition and getting corners to fight off blocks. Even if they can't shuck the block....simply backing up the blocker causes problem for the play because it clogs up the space.




YR

 

[Philmonroe]

Defending a pick in football is near impossible unless you're playing zone. Moreover the game moves differently in basketball allowing people to roll off screens easier.

The simplest answer to this is usually pick plays are crossing patterns that are moving away from each other. The players are in man coverage following their assignment and the pick player is running in the opposite direction. Usually in order to switch, the player will have to completely change the direction all their momentum is going to switch and cover the other player. Basically giving a player a free run or what equates to a blown coverage.

It moves differently I agree but most picks I see are done at the beginning of a play where its not as much momentum where the change of direction is much if a problem. I do agree its easier in basketball to switch but there has to be a way to combat that play or make it harder to complete outside of,the take out picks which are the equivalent of a moving screen. Thanks for the reply people

 

[CyberB0b]

The simplest answer to this is usually pick plays are crossing patterns that are moving away from each other. The players are in man coverage following their assignment and the pick player is running in the opposite direction. Usually in order to switch, the player will have to completely change the direction all their momentum is going to switch and cover the other player. Basically giving a player a free run or what equates to a blown coverage.

So this begs the question. Why are we at least a month out from the new trend in NFL offenses? If a 5' 0" white wideout can have a field day against the Cowboys offense, surely a guy like Terrance Williams should have a career day, right?

 

[Bay10]

Cover 2 will take care of screens.

 

[CyberB0b]

Cover 2 will take care of screens.

"God Marinelli" helped invent the Tampa 2. Next?

 

[AzorAhai]

So this begs the question. Why are we at least a month out from the new trend in NFL offenses? If a 5' 0" white wideout can have a field day against the Cowboys offense, surely a guy like Terrance Williams should have a career day, right?

I've been begging for changes on the offense for a long time. Pick plays. Dez in the Slot, in motion, more crossing patterns. I was one of the few calling for less 1st down runs last season and still want it. I also want more shotgun runs/draw plays. I hate offenses that require a player to always win one on one. I would much rather scheme our best players into favorable situations and then let their talent create even more favorable outcomes, but I just don't see it happening. Seeing the way the team has struggled so mightily on offense, I wonder just how much Romo was covering up the flaws in the Garrett/Linehan offense.

 

[Bay10]

I've been begging for changes on the offense for a long time. Pick plays. Dez in the Slot, in motion, more crossing patterns. I was one of the few calling for less 1st down runs last season and still want it. I also want more shotgun runs/draw plays. I hate offenses that require a player to always win one on one. I would much rather scheme our best players into favorable situations and then let their talent create even more favorable outcomes, but I just don't see it happening. Seeing the way the team has struggled so mightily on offense, I wonder just how much Romo was covering up the flaws in the Garrett/Linehan offense.

Dez is perfect for drags and crosses just get the ball in his hands and he will do the damn thing.They don't do that for some reason.

 

[AzorAhai]

Dez is perfect for drags and crosses just get the ball in his hands and he will do the damn thing.They don't do that for some reason.

He's used as a decoy for half the game. And the other half he's running mostly 7, 8 and 9 routes. If he was in a Bellichick offense, he would be putting up numbers never seen. I've never liked Garretts offense, but thought it was serviceable with everything else he brought to the organization. Now, I'm not so sure that his entire offense lives and dies by Romo and he covers up so many flaws we don't realize how bad his offensive philosophy really is.

Edit: I would like to see Dez running way more plays designed to get him the ball quick and in space. Slants/Screens/In's/Outs. Then run him on a deep 8 or 9 route once everyone is sucked in. Putting him in the slot also makes it so much harder to jam him at the line and giving someone with Dez's RAC ability a free release is deadly.

 

[Bay10]

He's used as a decoy for half the game. And the other half he's running mostly 7, 8 and 9 routes. If he was in a Bellichick offense, he would be putting up numbers never seen. I've never liked Garretts offense, but thought it was serviceable with everything else he brought to the organization. Now, I'm not so sure that his entire offense lives and dies by Romo and he covers up so many flaws we don't realize how bad his offensive philosophy really is.

He's used as a decoy for half the game. And the other half he's running mostly 7, 8 and 9 routes. If he was in a Bellichick offense, he would be putting up numbers never seen. I've never liked Garretts offense, but thought it was serviceable with everything else he brought to the organization. Now, I'm not so sure that his entire offense lives and dies by Romo and he covers up so many flaws we don't realize how bad his offensive philosophy really is.

I agree with all that you said.