Blog

Finding a Pass Rusher

I constantly roll my eyes when I hear people say about their favorite NFL team, "Why don't they just bring in a pass rusher?" when it becomes clear that they don't get pressure on opposing quarterbacks.  Some NFL teams regularly churn the bottom of the roster, working out players during the middle of the week that can help them with certain issues.  What teams know they won't find is a competent pass rusher.  Because they're treated like gold around the league.

To give you an idea of where pass rushers come from, I took the NFL top 10 in sacks from 2011-2013.  I have left the list nameless and instead only listed draft position.  The exercise is to show where teams are finding the top pass rushers in the league.

 

2011:

4th - 1st - 1st - 1st - 1st - 1st - 1st - 1st - 1st - 2nd

 

2012:

1st - 1st - 1st - Undrafted - 1st - 3rd - 3rd - 4th - 1st - 3rd

 

2013:

5th - 1st - 6th - 1st - 1st - Undrafted - 3rd - 4th - 1st - 1st

 

Totals: 18 of 30 positions filled by first round picks.  23 of 30 positions filled by top 90 draft picks.

If you want elite pass rushers you have to make them an organizational priority.  Typically you have to prioritize them with high draft picks.

-los

 

Enemy Lines - New York Giants TE Larry Donnell

Tell me if you've heard this one before...The Falcons are preparing to deal with an ultra-athletic tight end who has the ability to out-run linebackers, run past safeties, and post up smaller cornerbacks.

Atlanta has grown used to dealing with the likes of Saints TE Jimmy Graham over the years.  But experience has not always equaled quality results.  This week, the Falcons travel to New York for a matchup with the Giants and their newest toy, TE Larry Donnell.

The tight end position has been one that hasn't given the Falcons much trouble so far this year.  While Jimmy Graham went for 8 catches and 82 yards in the season opener, no tight end has managed to surpass 33 yards receiving against the Falcons defense.  If there is one area of concern, opposing tight ends have caught 20 passes on 25 targets thus far (80%).

In steps Giants TE Larry Donnell, who had a breakout performance against the Washington Redskins in catching three touchdown passes.  Donnell has four touchdowns on the season, to go with his 25 catches for 236 yards.  What makes Donnell such a touch matchup for this weekend is that he combines size (6'6' 265lbs) with the ability to run receiver quality routes.  Against the Redskins, the Giants dictated matchups all over the field with Donnell's alignment.

Donnell lined up slot-right, but tight to the formation during the first scoring drive for the Giants against the Redskins.  The Giants were looking to get Donnell isolated on a linebacker.  On this play, Donnell caught a five yard pass vs. LB Perry Riley.  The Giants went back to this formation on the very next play.

This time, the Giants got the same coverage against Donnell.  Riley does a better job of sticking with the athletic tight end, but Donnell's ability to adjust to the ball in the air makes this play an easy five yard touchdown reception.

On the Giants second scoring drive, Donnell was used to give the Redskins defense a different look.  On the play, Donnell lined up in the backfield and momentarily took a pass blocking posture.  As the Redskins linebackers were held by the play action, Donnell took off down the has mark and made the 14 yard catch in front of the Redskins safeties.

Larry Donnell also lines up as a traditional slot receiver.  On the play, the Giants expected a blitz from the Redskins.  Donnell became the hot receiver and quickly made a catch for a four yard gain.

Once the Giants get near the goal line so far in 2014, Donnell is often split out wide in order to take advantage of his size advantage against NFL cornerbacks.  The Giants passed for a six yard touchdown by using this alignment and also used it effectively against the Detroit Lions to open the season.

And to conclude this enemy lines piece, Donnell also lined up as a traditional in-line tight end in order to beat Redskins S Brandon Meriweather on the goal line.  For good measure, Donnell also lined up wide against CB David Amerson and beat him inside for a 14 yard reception. 

For the Falcons this weekend, they will have to vary their looks and the way they cover Larry Donnell on the field.  The Giants have proven so far in 2014 that they will adjust to any predictable coverage against Donnell and find a way to get him open for a big play.

-los 


Game Review - Falcons vs Vikings

As everyone knows by now, The Falcons lost at Minnesota 41-28.  While the national media was consumed by the performance of Teddy Bridgewater, the focus of Falcons continues to be on the team's inability to handle the opponents run game.  The Falcons gave up 241 rushing yards to the Vikings, and currently rank 28th in the NFL at stopping the run.

But here is what I took away from this game review:

  • QB Teddy Bridgewater was very comfortable dealing with the Falcons games up front.
  • DT Paul Soliai is having a tough time anchoring the interior defensive line.
  • The Falcons interior LBs are consistently sub par.
  • With the injuries to the O-Line, the Falcons will have to be quicker in their pass game.

Let's take a look at a few plays:

 

3rd and 7 - 12:44 (1st QT) 0-0 score:

The Falcons decided to challenge Bridgewater and his offensive line on their first third down opportunity.  We've seen Mike Nolan show these sorts of pre-snap formations in the past in order to create the confusion that doesn't come from the pass rush.  The Vikings had a conservative solution to the Falcons defensive front, a simple screen pass to Wright.  The Falcons dropped into a Cover 2 look at the snap, and set themselves up perfectly for the Vikings blockers.   

 

2nd and 5 - 3:35 (1st QT) 7-7 score:

The big issue (pardon the pun) is that the additions to the defensive line are not playing well.  DT Paul Soliai has made an NFL career out of performing one of the most difficult jobs in the NFL: anchoring in against offensive guards and centers.  Soliai's job is to maintain his ground against a constant double team.  The Vikings were committed to the run against the Falcons and routinely had Soliai pushed 3-4 yards down field.  Opening up massive holes in the middle of the defense.  The Falcons 49 was the line of scrimmage on this play:

 

1st and 10 - 13:07 (2nd QT) 14-7 Minnesota Leads:

The Falcons had just pinned the Vikings down on the 8 yard line due to a terrific punt from Matt Bosher.  Trailing by seven, the Falcons had an opportunity to even up the game by creating a short field for their offense.  The Falcons decided to run blitz the Vikings on their first down play.  The defense lined up in a five man front and brought ILB Prince Shembo as a sixth rusher on the snap. The Vikings C quickly eliminates Shembo from the play.  As the hole opens up, only ILB Paul Worrilow is left to step up, shed the FB, and make the play.  Instead, Worrilow was blown up in the hole and blocked to the ground.  Falcons S Kemal Ishmael takes a poor angle as RB McKinnon takes off for 55 yards.

 

1st and 10 - 5:56 (2nd QT) 14-14 Score:

Let's be very honest about what the Falcons are currently playing at ILB.  They have a 2nd year player who wasn't drafted and a 4th round rookie.  Paul Worrilow and Prince Shembo are now starters as Shembo has moved ahead of Bartu.  In the play below, The Vikings are running a standard lead play.  Shembo (in blue) has moved into position to fill the hole and eliminate the running lane.  The play comes down to Worrlow (in red) taking on the FB and limiting the yardage on the play.     

But as you can see, Worrilow was once again removed from the play allowing the Vikings to gain seven yards on the play.

 

3rd and 7 - 7:29 (3rd QT) 27-14 Minnesota leads:

The final takeaway from this Falcons game is how the offense might have to change with the injuries to the offensive line.  Losing C Joe Hawley, RT Lamar Holmes and G Justin Blalock to injury over the course of the game forced the Falcons to play TE Toilolo at RT and quicken the pace of their passing game.  The Falcons decided that getting the ball out quickly to WR Devin Hester on the key 3rd down was the best option given the situation.  The picture below shows the setup of the play, just after the snap of the football:

On the play, Lamar Holmes is supposed to be the key blocker on the play.  Due to his foot injury, Holmes is basically useless on the play.  The ability for Hester to shed tacklers is why the play resulted in a touchdown.  Moving forward, I expect to see more of the short passing game until this line gets healthier.

-los