I Heard Our Defensive Gameplan Is...

[CalvinSmoke]

Today i heard on the radio (Hacksaw Hamilton) that the Ravens are preparing what is called a "Green Dog" defense, which is man to man coverage and blitzing 5 or 6 players every down. I've been watching the Patriots vs Steelers game from this season and i can assure you that i saw the Steelers do this exact same thing quite a few times. What do you guys think? This just makes me excited.

[1/28/01]

I need game time!!!!!!!

[Ravenslifer]

I'm sure Pags has watched both the Bills and Steelers extensively and figured out a game-plan that will be effective vs. the Patriots offense. That's not my concern. What Cam Cameron is doing, especially since he scouted the Texans last week and his offense came up with nada, is what really bothers me.

[patfanken]

I think that your probably correct, though I think the Ravens won't blitz as much. I expect they will try and play physical man to man underneath with one or 2 safeties to protect over the top and to double the TEs over the middle. That's the usual strategy. Its what Rex uses most of the time. Not so successful this year (30 and 37 points) I

Its interesting that in the playoff win he did just the opposite. He played mostly zone, rushed just 3 or 4 and tried to smother the Pats. It worked very well because that night Brady was impatient and didn't dump off to the wide open RBs and kept looking for Welker or Hernandez who couldn't get open, and the Pats refusal to run the ball. I can safely say it was one of the few times in the BB era the Pats were out coached.

[flynismo]

That's exactly how you stop them.

Keeping Brady hurried, it doesn't matter how talented the rest of that offense is if Brady has to get rid of the ball before they can win their one on one matchups.

In other words, the exact same plan the Texans used against us.

[jus'_crAzy]

"Green Dog" defense? Green as in Go? Dog as in Linebackers? If it's true, Cover 1 or Cover Zero all day... I like it.

[PuRock]

[quote name='CalvinSmoke' timestamp='1327091476' post='960342']
Today i heard on the radio (Hacksaw Hamilton) that the Ravens are preparing what is called a "Green Dog" defense, which is man to man coverage and blitzing 5 or 6 players every down. I've been watching the Patriots vs Steelers game from this season and i can assure you that i saw the Steelers do this exact same thing quite a few times. What do you guys think? This just makes me excited.
[/quote]

That's right. The defense is letting out all their information right before game time. I doubt we will be blitzing 5 or 6 guys every down. Tom would smoke us. The happy medium is rushing four. Sometimes 3, sometimes 5 but mostly 4.

[izvoodoo]

I expect a lot of man. Not to be cute or confusing, but New England can't beat man. The big problem is Gronk in the open field.

[PuRock]

[quote name='izvoodoo' timestamp='1327092664' post='960379']
I expect a lot of man. Not to be cute or confusing, but New England can't beat man. The big problem is Gronk in the open field.
[/quote]

We must bracket Gronk. LB (BA?) chipping on him all day to give way to Pollard. Slow down Gronk just enough to allow enough time for the rush to get to Brady. I see Gronk getting his catches, but we must bring him down.

[H8R]

Simple, 2Deep, man under.

[PurplePollock]

Man coverage sounds good. Our DBs are physical enough. Crowd up the center of the field and the flats to slow down Gronk and Hernandez.

[Blex64]

[quote name='H8R' timestamp='1327092924' post='960386']
Simple, 2Deep, man under.
[/quote]

I hope we don't run a cover 2. I want Pollard much closer to the LoS.

[PuRock]

[quote name='Blex64' timestamp='1327093144' post='960393']

I hope we don't run a cover 2. I want Pollard much closer to the LoS.
[/quote]

Agreed. We would be very vulnerable in the middle of the field, especially with our LBs having to cover their TEs. The Pats thrive down the middle.

[H8R]

[quote name='Blex64' timestamp='1327093144' post='960393']

I hope we don't run a cover 2. I want Pollard much closer to the LoS.
[/quote]


I didn't say who would be the under...... : )

[RavensAllTheWay]

Problem is the Pats have seen this before.

[patfanken]

[quote name='PuRock' timestamp='1327092865' post='960384']

We must bracket Gronk. LB (BA?) chipping on him all day to give way to Pollard. Slow down Gronk just enough to allow enough time for the rush to get to Brady. I see Gronk getting his catches, but we must bring him down.
[/quote] There are 2 problems with that strategy, though it isn't a bad one. One - if you "chip" the TEs with your outside rushers, it slows them down. 2- The Pats have many ways to avoid it. - bunching and motioning are just 2 successful ways to try to avoid tight man coverage and "chipping"

[PWNEDbyDEANO]

[quote name='H8R' timestamp='1327092924' post='960386']
Simple, 2Deep, man under.
[/quote]

I don't think we should play a mainly 2 deep defense. We'll have to double Gronk on most plays and they don't have a true deep threat.

[H8R]

Not to mention, when they flex Hernandez...it creates even more problems

[Gordo52]

We have to tackle and not let a lot of yac

[Suggs Package]

Simple defense. Pretty much man coverage. Whoever receiver stays to block, you you get the green light to blitz. Since NE can't send more than 5 on any given play. That gives us the option to blitz up to 6.

I would prefer to see us keep Ed in a deep zone, but besides that, I don't see much of a problem with it. Good thing Brady isn't that mobile or else this strategy would backfire big time.

[H8R]

[quote name='PWNEDbyDEANO' timestamp='1327093891' post='960413']

I don't think we should play a mainly 2 deep defense. We'll have to double Gronk on most plays and they don't have a true deep threat.
[/quote]


I'm just concerned about the YAC , and dont be surprised if Branch and Ocho Cinco TRY to work the sidelines. If they do, it essentially has them doubled my scheme alone.

[Ed_Reed20]

[quote name='H8R' timestamp='1327093930' post='960414']
Not to mention, when they flex Hernandez...[b]it creates even more problems[/b]
[/quote]

Not to downplay the impact Hernandez can have. But I really think Jimmy could limit him if given the opportunity.

[PuRock]

[quote name='Ed_Reed20' timestamp='1327094277' post='960424']

Not to downplay the impact Hernandez can have. But I really think Jimmy could limit him if given the opportunity.
[/quote]

I'm in agreeance. I feel like if they put Hernandez in ths slot or out wide, Jimmy can hold his own in this matchup. I'll take this matchup over V-Jax anyday of the week.

And I can only hope the Pats run the ball with Hernandez up the middle.

[H8R]

[quote name='Ed_Reed20' timestamp='1327094277' post='960424']

Not to downplay the impact Hernandez can have. But I really think Jimmy could limit him if given the opportunity.
[/quote]


I agree, we'll probably be in Nickle and dime most of the day... I look for BB to try those HB delays and misdirection plays to see if our corners can tackel.

[Suggs Package]

[quote name='Ravens<3' timestamp='1327094076' post='960417']
We have to tackle and not let a lot of yac
[/quote]

Tom Brady won 3 SBs dinking and dunking. Personally, I think you take away the short passes and force Brady to throw deep. That'll give time for the pass rush to get there and make the NE offense take the lower percentage play. Plus we have Ed Reed back there to make things fun. They make get big plays, but its less likely they'll sustain drives.

[wayne]

One thing for sure, Pagano has plenty of film on how to attack the Patriots successfully and he even has great adjustment film on them after halftime to see how they adapted and what teams failed to do in the second half on them ( Dolphins and Buffalo was both up by like 17-21 points at halftime in the Patriots last two regular season games but the Pats made adjustments and Buffalo and Miami obviously didn't ). He even needs to look at the playoff game a few years back when we stomped them with Greg Mattison as our DC. Take all those film studys with Pagano, Ed, and Ray also studying them and its like 3 DC's and they will have a great feel of how to attack every formation the Patriots throw at them. Lots of Cover 1's with a mixture of Cover 2's and mostly man, but throwing zone out there every now and then. Ed will be a major key in this game, probably the biggest factor of the game b/c Brady will be looking to hit his TE's of course and Ed will be lurking.

Our CB's has to be up for the task which I'm sure they will be b/c with the Patriots TE's being so potent, it will mean less babysitting for them.

[gabefergy]

I highly doubt we see a ton of blitzes. Not to say we wont blitz at all, but when we do it will be done creatively like bringing a DB or using some zone blitzes where we drop a Dlineman and overload to one side. I anticipate a lot of stunts as well to try to bring some pressure up the gut.

Most importantly is winning the battle at the LOS. Guys like Ngata, Redding, and McPhee have to be able to collapse the pocket and disrupt Brady's timing. The same is true with the secondary. They are going to have to jam the WRs and TEs and disrupt the timing of their routes.

[flynismo]

This is a game where I think we'll see Ed blitzing a few times.

And I completely disagree with the idea that we should stick to a 4 man rush.
In simple terms, it is much easier to focus on Brady than to try to account for all those weapons. Stop this offense at its source. Send 5 - 6 men in, sell out if need be. We'll give up a few big plays, but you dont think thats going to happen anyway if we let Brady sit nice and comfy in the pocket?

[The Raven]

[quote name='flynismo' timestamp='1327095873' post='960454']
This is a game where I think we'll see Ed blitzing a few times.

And I completely disagree with the idea that we should stick to a 4 man rush.
In simple terms, it is much easier to focus on Brady than to try to account for all those weapons. Stop this offense at its source. Send 5 - 6 men in, sell out if need be. We'll give up a few big plays, but you dont think thats going to happen anyway if we let Brady sit nice and comfy in the pocket?
[/quote]

Thats true. IF we decide to go with the 4 man rush, it better be on. If we can't get to Brady with 4 he'll eat us up. Personally, I want a mixture against the Pats. Keep Brady on his toes, and stay unpredictable.

[wayne]

Just mix everything up. 4 man rushes, 5 man rushes, sometimes 6, every blue moon 3 man rush. Cover 1, Cover 2, every blue moon Cover 0. Mix it up and don't try to be too creative or fancy, keep it simple. Best success we had against Brady, we kept it simple and you can get creative every blue moon but Brady going against Rex Ryan twice a year, the last two games their O has scorched Rex Ryan defense so Bellicheck and Brady have caught on to the fancy, creative stuff. Occassionally blitz Ray Lewis up the A gap.