Beating the Short Passing Game

[OLD SCHOOL SMASH BALL]

Just noticing Pats stats, 19yards was the deepest pass through the 3rd quarter, with Edelman gaining 80 yards on the short stuff.

I cant say its going to be much different vs Manning on Sunday. That being said, its pretty obvious we went out in the off season and addressed this after Brady shredded our secondary in the playoffs last season.

My question, is mainly how would you attack this short passing game? Its like teams have seen it for years, yet have a tough time stopping it? Imo, it seems that its more about having the right players to match up, unless you guys can think of any scheming that can be done? Thoughts?

[RaineV1]

The best defense against the short pass game is letting the safeties play closer to the line and having ILBs that can cover over the middle.

[redrum52]

You need the right players or a potent offense. Corners who can jam, lbs who and cover and front that can pressure without extra men. Interior pressure KILLS. The more I think about it, the more you realize why the Dolphins went after a guy like Suh. Not only pressure in the pocket, but helps take away passing lanes.

[codizzle]

Quick Pressure up the middle and a decent rangy safety to cover deep holes so you can press up a CB to help short

So Timmy Jernigan, will hill and Webb/Kyle?

I can see it

Edited September 11, 2015 by codizzle

[Tru11]

you need an Ed reed or Earl thomas type of player who can play centre field and has the range to cover side line to side line and the intelligence to predict where the pass might go.

 

 

if you dont have this type of player you will be forced to have more then 1 player take responsebility for covering deep.

this will take a player away from covering underneath which will leaves holes uncoverd.

[berad]

DL has to be cognisant of putting their arms up to deflect passes. Chances are they won't get to the QB on a 3-step drop and quick pass. As people have said, if you can get fast interior pressure it will mess with timing and footwork. A shallow drop also means the QB is closer to the interior defenders. If not, stick those arms up.

 

Zone blitzes can also be useful. Dropping an athletic lineman into a zone and bringing an unexpected rusher can fool an OL/QB and lead to a free rush. We saw a Steelers DB get a big sack on Brady using that.

 

Your LBs and DBs have to be confident in coverage. Seems obvious, yes, but the Steelers Mike MItchell and Lawrence Timmons were getting toasted.

 

IMO, a zone or man-to-man (or combination) can work. Granted you shut down the obvious outlets. The Steelers left the field beyond the yard numbers basically uncovered in their zone so we saw easy completions to Dion Lewis and Edelman. The more I think about it, zone may actually work better. But a tight zone. DBs and LBs can still attempt to disrupt receivers off the line on their way to their zone.

 

For short passes, I don't necessarily think less rushers is a bad thing. It's probably tiring and frustrated to rush a 3-step drop every down and get no where.

[rmcjacket23]

you need an Ed reed or Earl thomas type of player who can play centre field and has the range to cover side line to side line and the intelligence to predict where the pass might go.

 

 

if you dont have this type of player you will be forced to have more then 1 player take responsebility for covering deep.

this will take a player away from covering underneath which will leaves holes uncoverd.

Thomas yes. Reed no.

 

Reed played 15 to 20 yards off the ball for most of his career at FS. When you're throwing 10 yard or less passes all game long, its basically like playing with 10 men on defense if you've got a safety playing 20 yards off the ball.

 

You need safeties who can cover TEs or even slot receivers in man coverage somewhat successfully, just like you need linebackers who can do the same thing. Ed Reed was never great at coming down into the box and covering TEs in man coverage. His job was to make teams pay who tried to test our defense over the top, which he did at a HOF level.

 

Earl Thomas is very much a different type of safety than Ed Reed. Safeties that played the field like Ed Reed did are largely obsolete against a Patriots type offense.

[Edgar]

Great topic.

This has been and will continue to be a must if we are to beat a team like the patriots or even the bengals. We see the bengals and dalton twice a year and seem to have absolutely no clue as to how to stop their passing game. Especially in crunch time.

We seem unprepared or unable to defend this type of offense.

Edited September 11, 2015 by Edgar

[Gordo52]

Quick Pressure up the middle and a decent tangy safety to cover deep holes so you can press up a CB to help short

So Timmy Jernigan, will hill and Webb/Kyle?

I can see it

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