The amoeba defense...

[InmanRoshi]

Browns defensive coordinator Rob Ryan's scheme made Brees periodically look like a wide-eyed rookie. A DVR review of the CBS telecast confirmed that Ryan and his band of thieves deserved their props for a job well done.

Yes, the Browns' trick plays crippled the Saints. Some timely first downs, especially in the fourth quarter, helped. But the meat on the dawg bone was Ryan's amoeba defense, whose various forms confused the Saints' offensive line and rattled Brees -- regardless of what the quarterback said afterwards. Brees needed 56 attempts to get his yards and was intercepted four times.

.....
Ryan's amoeba is designed to create confusion as to how many will be rushing, how many will be covering, and where everybody will be coming from. Players mill around as if in a shopping-mall food court until just before the snap. It is all about taking away the pre-snap read.

http://www.cleveland.com/dman/index.ssf/2010/10/upon_further_review_week_7_bro.html

Ryan devised a scheme where everyone stands around and doesn't get into formation until right before the snap of the ball so the QB can't make the presnap read as to where to deliver the ball.

Basically, you know that Wade Phillips play where Keith Brookings signals to the offense he's going to blitz as soon as they line up and he just stands there flinching over the gap for 20 seconds waiting for the ball to be snapped and then gets easily picked up? The opposite of that.


I promise you if he's hired, Andy Reid isn't going to like it one bit.

 

[Yakuza Rich]

When the local bakery told Reid they don't make bacon wrapped cannolis, he didn't like it one bit.







YR

 

[HoosierCowboy]

Ryan did not devise the amoeba scheme--it's been around a long time

 

[Chocolate Lab]

I remember Mangini doing the same thing with success his first year with the Jets, though. Whatever that year was that they were pretty good.

 

[menolian]

Funny thing is, the first time I saw that defensive formation was our very own cowboys and Wade in 07. Too bad he was to lazy to ever use it again.

 

[Aven8]

I don't care who designed it or whatever. I've wanted this style of defense here since Parcells switched us over. I've been so envious of Pitt, Baltimore, NE, and the Jets all these years!

I want Ware all over the field coming from every where. That's one problem this D has had IMO. They are not good enough to beat a lot of team straight up like PP or Wade's scheme, but when you have a scheme that confuses it can work without the best talent.

 

[RCowboyFan]

I don't care who designed it or whatever. I've wanted this style of defense here since Parcells switched us over. I've been so envious of Pitt, Baltimore, NE, and the Jets all these years!

I want Ware all over the field coming from every where. That's one problem this D has had IMO. They are not good enough to beat a lot of team straight up like PP or Wade's scheme, but when you have a scheme that confuses it can work without the best talent.

So you know a team in NFL that can beat a good team straight up one on one?

There is none, even Pittsburgh Steelers. So its everyones problem not just Cowboys.

Baltimore can barely sack a QB with straight up play and don't even talk about NE, which is really bad on passrush. Jets is laughable too.

All of them get pressure by blitzing or varing formations. Thats the way of NFL. Maybe Chicago probably is only team, slightly, that can get pressure with straight up players, even then thats iffy.

 

[superpunk]

It's something to wonder about.

Every year you see some team implement this strategy with a measure of success. A few years ago Buffalo used it against us and Romo attempted to set the single-game record for picks before rallying and giving Nick Folk a coming out party. The Jets did it to Brady when Mangini was there, the Pats would do it to Manning to an extent, and of course Cleveland to Brees and Brady this season. But it is only for one game or two, against a superior QB. I suppose if there was more tape on it, it would be alot easier for the opposing QB to figure out, and that's why you see it so rarely.

I guess the bottom line is that I don't think a coordinator's particular gimmicky defense that he cooks up for a game or two is an endorsement for a DC anymore than repurposing the wildcat for the NFL is an endorsement for Dan Henning having a job anywhere. I think Ryan is probably a fantastic coordinator, gimmicks or otherwise, and could work wonders with a front seven that actually has some decent talent. I definitely think he'd give our D a little more swagger than it's had under Dead-Fish Wade/Pasqualoni, too.

 

[tupperware]

Wouldn't be surprised to see our players turn it into an anemic defense.

But I'm trying to remain positive.

 

[dmq]

I remember Mangini doing this his first year in NY. It was pretty effective. Not sure why he seemed to go away from it in his second year.

 

[realtick]

Basically, you know that Wade Phillips play where Keith Brookings signals to the offense he's going to blitz as soon as they line up and he just stands there flinching over the gap for 20 seconds waiting for the ball to be snapped and then gets easily picked up? The opposite of that.

Lol, spot on.

 

[Aven8]

So you know a team in NFL that can beat a good team straight up one on one?

There is none, even Pittsburgh Steelers. So its everyones problem not just Cowboys.

Baltimore can barely sack a QB with straight up play and don't even talk about NE, which is really bad on passrush. Jets is laughable too.

All of them get pressure by blitzing or varing formations. Thats the way of NFL. Maybe Chicago probably is only team, slightly, that can get pressure with straight up players, even then thats iffy.

I honestly don't. But, we tried to do that with Parcells defense, Zimmers, and Wade's. We always had great stats, but could never get a stop when we really needed it.

You're right about Chicago. They only rush 4. But they do have two of the best LB's in football to help!

 

[SaltwaterServr]

Why do runners set in the blocks? Because being in that four point stance gives them an advantage to speed and acceleration as compared to someone starting the same race standing up.

What's harder to push over, a piece of plywood standing straight up or one leaning against you?

Food for thought.

 

[SilverStarCowboy]

Wouldn't be surprised to see our players turn it into an anemic defense.

But I'm trying to remain positive.

Not sure there is a better hire, Singletary? Nope!

Ryan will DEMAND a higher level of play and would have got one hundred trillion X to the 2nd power as much from his Safties and Corners than Dallas Defensive Coaches did for 2010.

:starspin MARK IT DOWN:starspin

 

[theebs]

I remember Mangini doing the same thing with success his first year with the Jets, though. Whatever that year was that they were pretty good.

that was 06, and the bills defensive line coach in 07, I forget his name but he was in houston this year also ran it, against us.

This constant analysis of what brady did against the browns is kind of pushing it.

Brady has always played poorly against the dolphins, going back to wanstedt being the coach in the early part of the decade, does that mean anything?

If he is coming here I will be behind the guy but I really cant stand it.

and just like with wade, if we are going to be a blitzing team we are going to have to find better safeties and much quicker and agile inside linebackers.

 

[BAT]

that was 06, and the bills defensive line coach in 07, I forget his name but he was in houston this year also ran it, against us.

This constant analysis of what brady did against the browns is kind of pushing it.

Brady has always played poorly against the dolphins, going back to wanstedt being the coach in the early part of the decade, does that mean anything?

If he is coming here I will be behind the guy but I really cant stand it.

and just like with wade, if we are going to be a blitzing team we are going to have to find better safeties and much quicker and agile inside linebackers.

The best thing about Rob Ryan is that his specialty is actually the secondary. He has consistently had decent to very good secondary play. Like I said in another thread, if Rob Ryan goes down in flames in 2011, then the Cowboys can just fire his big butt and go after Capers (or Dennis Thurman ).

 

[theogt]

It's something to wonder about.

Every year you see some team implement this strategy with a measure of success. A few years ago Buffalo used it against us and Romo attempted to set the single-game record for picks before rallying and giving Nick Folk a coming out party. The Jets did it to Brady when Mangini was there, the Pats would do it to Manning to an extent, and of course Cleveland to Brees and Brady this season. But it is only for one game or two, against a superior QB. I suppose if there was more tape on it, it would be alot easier for the opposing QB to figure out, and that's why you see it so rarely.

I guess the bottom line is that I don't think a coordinator's particular gimmicky defense that he cooks up for a game or two is an endorsement for a DC anymore than repurposing the wildcat for the NFL is an endorsement for Dan Henning having a job anywhere. I think Ryan is probably a fantastic coordinator, gimmicks or otherwise, and could work wonders with a front seven that actually has some decent talent. I definitely think he'd give our D a little more swagger than it's had under Dead-Fish Wade/Pasqualoni, too.

You don't see it often because players are generally incredibly stupid people so there's a high risk of confusion and it not working properly.

It's the constant struggle between being too complex for your players and being too simple for your opponents.

 

[MarionBarberThe4th]

Why do runners set in the blocks? Because being in that four point stance gives them an advantage to speed and acceleration as compared to someone starting the same race standing up.

What's harder to push over, a piece of plywood standing straight up or one leaning against you?

Food for thought.

Who would win in a race? Usain bolt w/ a cold wearing a fruit basket hat running out of the blocks? Or Usain bolt w/ a cold wearing a fruit basket hat starting at full speed?

 

[InmanRoshi]

Why do runners set in the blocks? Because being in that four point stance gives them an advantage to speed and acceleration as compared to someone starting the same race standing up.

What's harder to push over, a piece of plywood standing straight up or one leaning against you?

Food for thought.

So we should keep the Brooking "epileptic seizure in the gap for 30 seconds before the snap of the ball" blitz?

 

[Wimbo]

Who would win in a race? Usain bolt w/ a cold wearing a fruit basket hat running out of the blocks? Or Usain bolt w/ a cold wearing a fruit basket hat starting at full speed?

What kind of fruit is in the hat?