Honest question about 3 step drops...

[newlander]

I noticed that Eli did this A TON vs. Tampa because they were missing their center and were worried about pressure I guess......so here comes the obvious question guys: How do we stop this? Steve Smith has become a lot better in the slot for them lately and it's awful friggin' hard to pressure someone who gets the ball out so quickly. He's going to Toomer and their 2nd string T.end alot only 5-10 yards downfield. I seem to remember our teams in the 90's just punishing west coast offenses like SFran and G.Bay with vicious, repeated hits and dynamite tackling. Let's be honest: we don't have that kind of defense right now. So.....what will be the plan be against NY and hopefully G.Bay? (I suppose someone will say: "outscore them" but we did that earlier in the year when our offense was clicking better than right now)

 

[Zimmy Lives]

I noticed that Eli did this A TON vs. Tampa because they were missing their center and were worried about pressure I guess......so here comes the obvious question guys: How do we stop this? Steve Smith has become a lot better in the slot for them lately and it's awful friggin' hard to pressure someone who gets the ball out so quickly. He's going to Toomer and their 2nd string T.end alot only 5-10 yards downfield. I seem to remember our teams in the 90's just punishing west coast offenses like SFran and G.Bay with vicious, repeated hits and dynamite tackling. Let's be honest: we don't have that kind of defense right now. So.....what will be the plan be against NY and hopefully G.Bay? (I suppose someone will say: "outscore them" but we did that earlier in the year when our offense was clicking better than right now)

The LBs will need to do a great job of flooding the passing lanes. Sounds simple but a good QB can make the pinpoint accurate throws that can still beat you.

Oh, and you have to make sure tackles!

 

[Clove]

LBs drop into a shallow zone at times. Mix up the blitzes... You must blitz him, but also drop guys into soft zones to make him look elsewhere.

 

[joseephuss]

The d-line has to get penetration and get their hands up. Anything to disrupt the passing lanes.

 

[Future]

We have struggled against 3 step drops all season if I'm not mistaken. I'm pretty sure its all Eli has done against us for the most part.

I think we need to try some press coverage, that would help IMO.

 

[Hostile]

I'll only add 1 thing to the responses you've already received. 3 step drops create another potential problem for the offense...picks for six. If the QB isn't careful it will go the other way in a hurry because the ball has almost not loft on it and if a defender gets a jump it is hard to catch him at full speed when you have to react to it.

It's hardly a recipe for our disaster, though I don't think you were thinking it is.

Also, no team does 3 step exclusively. You have to mix it up some and when they do it brings the pass rush back to the forefront.

 

[SkinsandTerps]

Defenses have to be very careful when blitzing LBs against an offense like that, if they see you start to creep up further and further, they are going to light you up down the sideline.

Part of what made Tom Brady's success early in his career. They protected his inexperience with all that short stuff. Really built his confidence and the rest is history.

 

[newlander]

Maybe you're right Future, it definately makes us susceptible to getting beat deep: but that would mean a 7 step drop and hopefully Ware and co. could get to him. We've got fresher legs and I sure would like to see this. We've been conservative in our coverages this season due to injuries and the fact our offense was clicking. Now, we're healthy-it's the playoffs and our offense probably won't score as much so...............we'll see.

 

[khiladi]

I believe the Giants employed a lot of 3 step drops against us. One way to counter-act this is effective disguising of a blitz. Fake a blitz, and drop off defensive lineman into zone-coverage to close the passing lane.

Wade, in the second game, as Breer pointed out, confused Eli plenty with certain packages. I remember that Breer also brought up, in one of his articles, how Ratliff is even dropping back sometimes in zone coverag. Eli had plenty of DoG penalties, because Dallas did a good job of confusing him.

I expect a lot more of this tactic. I think the best way to really make Eli play crappy is having him think too much. Even most TV analysts were pointing out that when Eli plays through instinct and doesn't think too much, he plays better.

 

[newlander]

Thanks for the other comments guys...nice to talk football again and not front office moves, injuries, etc.........

 

[Hostile]

Thanks for the other comments guys...nice to talk football again and not front office moves, injuries, etc.........

Meaning Jessica and if she is a jinx.

 

[Zimmy Lives]

Meaning Jessica and if she is a jinx.

She's a harpy. The Cowboys are doomed!

 

[Hostile]

She's a harpy. The Cowboys are doomed!

Sadist. Opportunist. Judas.

 

[EndGame]

I would think another way to defend three step drops would be to get a good jam on the receiver right off the line. Those quick passes are based largely on timing, and if the receiver isn't where he's supposed to be, obviously it causes problems.

 

[Zimmy Lives]

Sadist. Opportunist. Judas.

Sorry, couldn't resist. :

I think we're all tired of speculating about possible influences and are ready for this game to be played.

 

[Zimmy Lives]

I would think another way to defend three step drops would be to get a good jam on the receiver right off the line. Those quick passes are based largely on timing, and if the receiver isn't where he's supposed to be, obviously it causes problems.

The key is still good tackling. If Manning is on his game he can squeeze the ball into tight spots regardless of timing and good coverage. The Cowboys must make sure tackles if the passes are completed.

 

[Doomsday101]

I noticed that Eli did this A TON vs. Tampa because they were missing their center and were worried about pressure I guess......so here comes the obvious question guys: How do we stop this? Steve Smith has become a lot better in the slot for them lately and it's awful friggin' hard to pressure someone who gets the ball out so quickly. He's going to Toomer and their 2nd string T.end alot only 5-10 yards downfield. I seem to remember our teams in the 90's just punishing west coast offenses like SFran and G.Bay with vicious, repeated hits and dynamite tackling. Let's be honest: we don't have that kind of defense right now. So.....what will be the plan be against NY and hopefully G.Bay? (I suppose someone will say: "outscore them" but we did that earlier in the year when our offense was clicking better than right now)

I think the 3 step drops against the Tampa 2 cover is important, you want to attack with the short routes and allow the WR to gain yards after the catch. Eli numbers while not overly impressive did account for 2 TD and 0 ints so while some have mocked his outing I would gladly take a 185 passing day with 2 TD 0 ints and a win.

 

[Wolfpack]

Everyone has hit the main points here.

The only other item to consider is that it takes alot of dinks & dunks to get you 6 points.

 

[Doomsday101]

Everyone has hit the main points here.

The only other item to consider is that it takes alot of dinks & dunks to get you 6 points.

True and yet while those passes are very high percentage it is also the easiest to return for a TD when the CB jumps the short route nothing but white lines between him and the goal line

 

[kmd24]

I think the keys against defending 3 step drops against the NYG are:

• Stop the run: short completions won't enable them to sustain drives if they are constantly facing 2nd and long
• Drop the OLB's more often: the drop is designed to keep the pass rushers from getting to the QB, so let them do something more useful.
• Play more press coverage: the injury to Burress and Shockey mean that the overall speed of their receivers won't be enough to consisently get open deep.