Why can't we blitz?

[dragon_mikal]

This is one thing that stood out for me yesterday. When we brought the house, and by that I mean nine freakin' guys, we couldn't get to the quarterback. Don't get me wrong, the Cowboys' defense played well. I was impressed with the young guys in particular, but for some reason it seems that our blitzes can't get to the quarterback. We send four rushers, they get to the quarterback. We send nine guys, the fumble and bumble over each other and fail to get to the QB.

 

[dbair1967]

This is one thing that stood out for me yesterday. When we brought the house, and by that I mean nine freakin' guys, we couldn't get to the quarterback. Don't get me wrong, the Cowboys' defense played well. I was impressed with the young guys in particular, but for some reason it seems that our blitzes can't get to the quarterback. We send four rushers, they get to the quarterback. We send nine guys, the fumble and bumble over each other and fail to get to the QB.

this isnt a problem just from yesterday you know right?

save for a brief stretch in 2003, this has never been a good blitzing team under Mike Zimmer...too many times its perfectly blocked by the opposition and way too many times we fail to even knock the QB down...with the athletes this team has, we shoudl be better at it

David

 

[TwentyOne]

this isnt a problem just from yesterday you know right?

save for a brief stretch in 2003, this has never been a good blitzing team under Mike Zimmer...too many times its perfectly blocked by the opposition and way too many times we fail to even knock the QB down...with the athletes this team has, we shoudl be better at it

David

I wasn't going to bring up the name. But i think the guy who is planning those blitzing plays may have to take some responsibility for it?! But then..... i may be wrong....

 

[lcharles]

note to Zim. watch game film of denvers blitzes and use them.

 

[Doomsday]

note to Zim. watch game film of denvers blitzes and use them.

Zimmers' blitzes would look alot more effective if he was going vs our Oline

 

[MiStar]

It's more the fault of the blitzers than the scheme. Roy and the late Woody are the only good blitzers that we've had in recent years. There's nothing wrong with the scheme on those zero blitzes. You send more guys that they can block, so you occupy the first available blocker so that they guy behind you gets a free shot at the QB.

 

[LarryCanadian]

I was frustrated and having feelings of deja vu watching the blitzes again yesterday. I do give Zimmer a ton of credit for adjusting to the 3-4 and having our defense play solid general football, but man oh man, our blitzes leave a lot to be desired.

Denver ran two corner blitzes and both worked great. We blitz 9 guys and there is no creativity what so ever. Guys taking terrible angles, everyone leaving at same time, etc etc. It doesn't seem to me that there is any thought to the process. One blitzer doesn't seem to know what the next is doing so one offensive players seems able to pick up 2 to 3 guys or at least slow them down. If you have a blitz designed where you are bringing 5 people or 6 people, shouldn't your DE or somebody try to make a move that opens a gap for your blitzer to shoot through? It just seems everyone is bull rushing the QB and we don't think to create a lane to get to QB at all. Some blitzes are like oline blocking where our front 3 or 4 should try to drive/block the oline out of the way so others can get to qb or rb depending on blitz. We don't seem to have this down though. Very frustrating. Our improved talent and fresh legs from depth is improving our pass rush for sure, the blitz design could still really improve though IMHO.

We need to bring in a coaching specialist for this one area. Someone who is creative with the blitzes. He could work with Zimm who seems to be very strong in other areas. Run defense for one.

Larry

 

[bbgun]

This has bugged me for years. We throw everything at the QB and every single guy gets blocked. Meanwhile, the opponent is coming free and clear at Bledsoe. Zim, you SUCK.

 

[dragon_mikal]

Our blitz packages just lack any sort of creativity. The opposing teams always seem to know when we are bringing the house. It's just a little frustrating seeing the Denver defense shoot through our line while our blitzers get blocked by each other more than the opposing team's offensive line.

 

[Hollywood Henderson]

This has bugged me for years. We throw everything at the QB and every single guy gets blocked. Meanwhile, the opponent is coming free and clear at Bledsoe. Zim, you SUCK.

Yes, thats painfully obvious to most who actually know football!
The play before the last long run, zimmy wuss had Ware outside covering a WR...
He has no clue how to attack, he never has, never will...
Its not something he has ever known how...

I hear he has a gig in the remake of Laverne & Shirley as SQUIGGY!
That will give him something to do, he sure is always overmatched as a DC...

 

[Wolverine]

Yes, thats painfully obvious to most who actually know football!
The play before the last long run, zimmy wuss had Ware outside covering a WR...
He has no clue how to attack, he never has, never will...
Its not something he has ever known how...

I hear he has a gig in the remake of Laverne & Shirley as SQUIGGY!
That will give him something to do, he sure is always overmatched as a DC...

The defense is doing good IN SPITE of Zimmer not because of him. Our blitzes are so easy to read. And it is not just Denver that can read the it is whoever we play no matter how good or bad they are....they always can read them.

There is a reason why Shawn Merriman is becoming a dominating player and Ware is going nowhere. Ware has Mike Zimmer as DC while Merriman has Jim Mora.


All I ask for this off season is this -

1. Impove the OL
2. Sign Terell Owens
3. Fire Mike Zimmer.

 

[Kilyin]

Ware has Mike Zimmer as DC while Merriman has Jim Mora.

Jim Mora? Playoffs? Playoffs? You mean Wade Phillips?

 

[Wolverine]

Jim Mora? Playoffs? Playoffs? You mean Wade Phillips?

My bad. Wade Phillips is right.


My guess is if we had Phillips as our DC Ware would have 10 sacks already and look like the next great thing. I hope BP has a real DC in mind after this season cuz Zimmer is holding this D back.

 

[Future]

It's more the fault of the blitzers than the scheme. Roy and the late Woody are the only good blitzers that we've had in recent years. There's nothing wrong with the scheme on those zero blitzes. You send more guys that they can block, so you occupy the first available blocker so that they guy behind you gets a free shot at the QB.

I beg to differ. Zimmer blitzes at the worst times, and opposing offenses seem to know when it is coming so they max protect. When there is 9 blitzing and 8 blocking it just makes a log jam. 2 guys can block one and it doesnt work. I think we should try to overload one side and blitz like 7 rather than 9 everywhere.

 

[JonJon]

I was frustrated and having feelings of deja vu watching the blitzes again yesterday. I do give Zimmer a ton of credit for adjusting to the 3-4 and having our defense play solid general football, but man oh man, our blitzes leave a lot to be desired.

Denver ran two corner blitzes and both worked great. We blitz 9 guys and there is no creativity what so ever. Guys taking terrible angles, everyone leaving at same time, etc etc. It doesn't seem to me that there is any thought to the process. One blitzer doesn't seem to know what the next is doing so one offensive players seems able to pick up 2 to 3 guys or at least slow them down. If you have a blitz designed where you are bringing 5 people or 6 people, shouldn't your DE or somebody try to make a move that opens a gap for your blitzer to shoot through? It just seems everyone is bull rushing the QB and we don't think to create a lane to get to QB at all. Some blitzes are like O line blocking where our front 3 or 4 should try to drive/block the O line out of the way so others can get to QB or RB depending on blitz. We don't seem to have this down though. Very frustrating. Our improved talent and fresh legs from depth is improving our pass rush for sure, the blitz design could still really improve though IMHO.

We need to bring in a coaching specialist for this one area. Someone who is creative with the blitzes. He could work with Zimm who seems to be very strong in other areas. Run defense for one.

Larry

I agree with everything you said. The Blitzes are so predictable. You can see the blitz coming for 5 seconds before the ball is snapped. The blitzers are all jumping up and down all jittery and they just run in a straight line hoping someone will get through. News to Zimmerman: Only one man needs to get through for a blitz to be successful, not every single blitzer. If every blitzer is working separately to get through, no one will. But if you have designated players that you want to get through, you must use the other blitzers and line men the same way you would an O-line creating holes for a running back. You have the D-line pull some and block in a certain direction to get the desired blitzer through. You can't just have everyone running, pushing, and yelling, and hoping someone will get through because it ain't gonna happen. And please, just because you show blitz doesn't mean you HAVE to blitz. Watch the fill from last night; many times, Denver showed blitz but backed out into zone coverage. This will confuse the O-Line and the QB and set up big defensive plays later using the same defensive front.

 

[DMOB]

What ever happened to the corner blitz? We have one of the fastest corners in the league and we don't send him, especially when he is covering the slot.When you send nine all up through the middle its alot easier to pickup and/or see its coming.

 

[Yakuza Rich]

I thought the blitz and the pressure was pretty decent yesterday. They were knocking around Plummer quite a bit and still had 2 sacks. Remember, Denver is second only to Indy in sacks allowed. They have a very good O-Line and a mobile QB. So, I can't complain about the blitzing in this game.


Rich.....