Focus on Carolina: Panthers @ Patriots

No matter how well a CB can cover a WR, if the play lasts 6 or 7 seconds, at least ONE of them will get open. That’s what’s been happening. QBs can hang out and let plays develop before making decisions.

fix one side and the other gets better

Fixable this year? Questionable. We’re missing Seymour because he usually could take up 2 linemen (along with Warren and Wilfork who held the same command). Now, his replacement doesn’t require that attention so our linebackers are being stopped at the line and can’t generate pressure. I’m positive we’ll address that in the draft.

…but he does such a great job in the middle of the field, I don’t know if i want him blitzing himself. He’s a great body who stops the plays. I don’t want to risk giving the big play because he’s in the back field.

Was that the DEs and OLBs and occasionally both could be counted on to get a decent edge-rush on. Tackles had to look outwards to see where the OLB was, and to see whether the DE was angling out and around; Guards had to keep an eye out for both DEs angling in and OLBs on stunts; the Centre got a Nose Tackle and maybe a DE. In other words, every O-lineman had to account for at least one, maybe two, and occasionally three guys, and that’s without factoring in the MLBs on blitz assignments. When a MLB came charging through, quite often they delayed a second to allow the O-line to pick the guy they’d normally block, allowing the MLB to sail through and hopefully hit the QB.

With no outside blitz, there’s very little reason for an inside blitz – the line can condense down into a tighter pocket because the Tackles don’t have to slide out to pick up the OLBs and the Guards don’t have to slide out to cover an inside rush by a DE or OLB. That means that where there might have been a MLB-sized hole, there’s a Guard, waiting for a player to come through. Not so conducive to blitzing…

Whether it’s a conscious decision by Pees to not really blitz Adalius Thomas and Burgess, or they aren’t really up to it physically, the Pats haven’t been able to generate a good edge-rush. Dropping a Safety down to the line at least puts some kind of rushing pressure on the edge – Chung’s got a handful of sacks purely because he’s strong, quick and balanced. If AD and Burgess aren’t capable, maybe Chung is. It might not be entirely traditional to sub out your supposed pass-rushing OLB for a Safety in order to pass-rush, but if it works… meh.

Safety blitzing requires an incredibly talented and intelligent strong safety, ie: Rodney Harrison. Get duped by a QB and you’re in the box when you should’ve been in coverage. It’s a dangerous game when our DB’s are struggling the way they are. Personally I’d rather see us bet the farm on a couple of young, talented pass rushers. Pressure changes everything. Just look what Dwight Freeney and Robert Mathis can do to an offense.

wish all the points I wanted to make were as clear-sounding typed out, as they were in my head, but… not always the case. Happens to all of us at times.

It’s all good.