The Pass Rush

[CCBoy]

I will not make any one game judgements, but let's see what happens when they play a good QB with a quick release. Or a team with a healthy offensive line. In a few games, OCs will catch up with Zimmer's plans and they will prepare for them. That's when the guys up front have to do a better job.

I assess play performance by players and how positional groups interact.

 

[CCBoy]

He creates havoc because he's a good athlete, but he also creates havoc because others are taking up blocks....that alleviates the double teams. Hopefully, they can keep that up. Parsons was double teamed too much last year.

The box area is bigger, stronger, and more aggressive. Now look straight down the center of the field.

 

[conner01]

All of this sounds beautiful, but what happens when we're ON the QB, right near him, and CAN"T actually bring him down to the ground, and he gets away to run away or is able to step up and make clear viewed passes????

I don’t think that’s an issue with most QB’s . Watson is a big athletic guy. But time will tell

 

[conner01]

The big thing to keep an eye on moving forward is 1st down success, as that is key to letting that pass rush fly on later downs. The Cowboys went through funks defensively last year when they consistently gave up 5 yards on the ground on 1st down. The negative plays this week happened because Ford/Strong were mostly held in check before Cleveland fell behind big and was forced to air it out. The major damage came on downs with distances needed of at least 6 yards.

Sacks

2nd and 10 - DLaw
3rd and 11 - DLaw
4th and 6 - Overshown
1st and 10 - Sort of a sack, it went for 0 yards, Kendricks
3rd and 10 - Parsons
1st and 20 - Parsons

Interceptions

2nd and 14 (Kendricks)
2nd and 8 (Diggs)

This team is clearly talented enough to keep the sack production up, but it starts with winning 1st down and forcing teams into obvious passing situations where they need those 3 second plus routes. This is where we should be optimistic as fans of what this team can do, but need to understand that we need to see this defense perform in a tighter game where offenses wont be one dimensional in the 2nd half.

Any idea on how much we blitzed? Didn’t seem like we blitzed a lot but watching live I get caught up in watching the QB more than the rush lol

 

[thunderpimp91]

Any idea on how much we blitzed? Didn’t seem like we blitzed a lot but watching live I get caught up in watching the QB more than the rush lol

I don't have a specific answer to that, and really its a tough because do you consider it a blitz if Parsons rushes even if he is technically lined up as a backer? In general I think you're right though that they really didnt seem bring more than 4 guys very often (which seems to be a reasonable definition of a non blitz play most of the time), you just didnt always know which four would rush, which all falls in line with Zimmers history. LBs/DBs not named Parsons rushed the passer as follows:

Liufau - 3 times
Kendricks - 3 times
Overshown - 2 times
Lewis - 2 times
Vigil - 2 times

 

[conner01]

I don't have a specific answer to that, and really its a tough because do you consider it a blitz if Parsons rushes even if he is technically lined up as a backer? In general I think you're right though that they really didnt seem bring more than 4 guys very often (which seems to be a reasonable definition of a non blitz play most of the time), you just didnt always know which four would rush, which all falls in line with Zimmers history. LBs/DBs not named Parsons rushed the passer as follows:

Liufau - 3 times
Kendricks - 3 times
Overshown - 2 times
Lewis - 2 times
Vigil - 2 times

Typically I count a blitz as more than 4 coming. But Zimmer will send a backer and drop a lineman into a passing zone. Looks like he was creative and sending guys from every where which with a make shift oline was really smart. I love the LB’s sliding up even when they don’t come because the oline has to account for them

 

[thunderpimp91]

Typically I count a blitz as more than 4 coming. But Zimmer will send a backer and drop a lineman into a passing zone. Looks like he was creative and sending guys from every where which with a make shift oline was really smart. I love the LB’s sliding up even when they don’t come because the oline has to account for them

Yeah, several plays where Watson motioned a player lined up out wide to come in and help block, only for the backers to drop back out into coverage too. Offenses are going to start to catch up with what Zim is doing, but he dominated the chess match week 1.

 

[conner01]

Yeah, several plays where Watson motioned a player lined up out wide to come in and help block, only for the backers to drop back out into coverage too. Offenses are going to start to catch up with what Zim is doing, but he dominated the chess match week 1.

Their oline was beat up so less experienced guys playing. But even with vets you will win some lose some with his scheme. Hopefully you win more than you lose. And the win gets you a sack or turnover and loss is just a few yard gain lol