The Key to Sunday is Pressuring Sam Bradford

[Nation]

Kind of a blanket statement for any game - if you make things difficult on the quarterback you're going to have an easier time winning the football game. But Sam Bradford this season has been dominant when allowed a clean pocket and terrible when pressured. The stats according to PFF:

No pressure: 47 for 47 for 502 yards, 5 TDs, 2 INTs and a 110.7 rating.
Under Pressure: 12 for 30 for 149 yards, 0 TDs, O INTs and a 56.1 rating.

That's a massive drop-off and is about double what one would expect. Brady/Brees/Peyton are all around a 30 point difference in rating under pressure, Romo is only 12 points different. The Rams have an average offensive line and we should be able to impact the game there.

 

[Chocolate Lab]

Yep, when I've watched the Rams the last couple years, what I notice is that Bradford is very accurate when he has time, but he's absolutely helpless when pressured because he has concrete feet. For a young guy he doesn't move well at all. He's kind of the opposite of Romo -- if a defensive lineman wins at the line and gets any penetration, the play is almost dead.

 

[MrMom]

With Selvie/Spencer going against Barksdale in place of Saffold I like our chances of bringing consistent pressure. Just hope Ware's shoulder stinger isn't too serious.

 

[big dog cowboy]

More concerned about our offense.

 

[erod]

The key is protecting Romo.

They get great pressure with just their front four.

 

[EMMITTnROY]

Not to nitpick here, cause I think it's a great post...

...but how can he be 47/47 if he's thrown 2 INTs?

 

[Machete]

The key is protecting Romo.

They get great pressure with just their front four.

Romo, for the most part, was protected in the KC game, how did that end up.

 

[Nation]

Not to nitpick here, cause I think it's a great post...

...but how can he be 47/47 if he's thrown 2 INTs?

Good spot - it is 47/63. Too late for me to edit the post though.

 

[EMMITTnROY]

Good spot - it is 47/63. Too late for me to edit the post though.

Ahhh okay, that makes WAY more sense!

 

[reddyuta]

I would be shocked if the Rams dont blitz a lot,we can handle the 4 man rush but we have no answer for the blitz.

 

[Supercowboy1986]

So you're telling me in order for the opposing team's QB to have a bad game you have to send pressure and hit him? Wow! Who would of knew!

 

[Nation]

So you're telling me in order for the opposing team's QB to have a bad game you have to send pressure and hit him? Wow! Who would of knew!

Nope not saying that at all, actually the obviousness of that was addressed in the very first sentence. It's the monumental difference in Bradford's play when pressured compared to the difference in other quarterbacks which is the interesting part.

 

[KJJ]

Bradford has put up some very good numbers the first 2 games. He lit up the Falcons defense last week for 352 yards and 3 TD's. This is definitely not the same Rams team we saw 2 years ago. The Cowboys better keep their eye on Tavon Austin he's a 70 yard play waiting to happen.