Posted: Friday, January 16, 2009, 10:09 AM | 12 comments |
 

To blitz or not to blitz...
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We all know the Eagles' defense loves to blitz. We know it is part of defensive coordinator Jim Johnson's genetic code. We have seen it. We have seen the quarterbacks doubled-over as a result.

But here's the question:

Do you blitz Kurt Warner?

Everybody knows the downside, about how a quarterback who can get rid of the ball quickly can beat a blitz -- and often with drastic consequences. That remains Warner's reputation, even though he's a hundred years old. No, he doesn't like to get it. Yes, he gets skittish when he gets thrown around a little bit. But if you blitz and don't get there, he will take out the fillet knife.

Some stats for the conversation. The Eagles and Cardinals both have thrown the ball a bunch this season, and they had almost identical pass attempts while being blitzed, which makes for a decent basis for comparison. With that, these are the stats for Warner and Donovan McNabb when they were blitzed this season.

Warner: 64.5 % completions, 7.86 yards per attempt, 14 TDs, 4 INTs, 103.8 rating.

McNabb: 54.9 % completions, 6.62 yards per attempt, 10 TDs, 5 INTs, 81.9 rating.

The difference is clear enough. The question is, if you are the Eagles, what do you do about it? The first time they played, it seemed as if Johnson released the hounds in the second half after the Eagles had built a big lead. Before that, he was more willing to let his four down linemen handle the pass rush alone.

What to do this time? Same thing. I wouldn't go crazy on the blitz. There is no question that they have to get to Warner -- it is the key to the game for the Eagles -- but I think you try it with the four linemen first. You can adjust later and take more chances if the game dictates. But in the beginning, they should use their eight-man defensive line rotation to its fullest and see if they can build the pressure.
Posted by Rich Hofmann @ 10:09 AM  Permalink | 12 comments
12
Comments   
  • Comment removed.
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 12:44 PM, 01/16/2009
    Rich makes the point I made in another posting. The D will set the pace for the O. So, let us see how James runs against Bunk and Pat. If Warner starts to pick apart the defense, then I am sure Jim will change his tactics.
    — KGKoons
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 12:47 PM, 01/16/2009
    If Clemons, Howard and Cole cannot get to the QB in the 1st few attempts - then BLITZ, BLITZ, BLITZ, BLITZ, BLITZ I'd love for Warner to meet #20 and #55 often... and btw, what ever happened to Gocong rushing the passer since last yr's Pats game? Blitz him too!
    — AllDawk_AllTheTime
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 12:51 PM, 01/16/2009
    First couple of plays I send all the dogs. It'll make Warner nervous and edgy. Then settle back and send only 5 rushers.
    — greenflyer
  • Comment removed.
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 1:57 AM, 01/17/2009
    if they can generate a consistent 4-man rush, DeSean Jackson will be getting a lot of work in the punt return game. Of course, the same can be said about literally any football game -- thus highlighting the importance of quality defensive line play. That's how the Giants were able to beat the Pats. You've gotta love the way Bunkley, Patterson & Cole are playing. They're young, but not overly inexperienced.
    — tdcuse
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 2:09 AM, 01/17/2009
    No need to be blitz crazy. Pick your spots Jim johnson. 5 and 6 DB's, hard tackling, pressure up the middle from the tackles and the Eagles create at least 3 turnovers on defense . Eagles win easily. 41-3. The Cardinals were 1 win and 5 losses against playoff teams this year and their playoff turnaround will be ended by the vicious Eagle defense!
    — Robbie1980
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 9:49 AM, 01/17/2009
    JimboMagoo is not a chessmaster. Jimbo Johnson is!!
    — mick314
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 5:19 PM, 01/17/2009
    I’ve been looking at the Cardinals schedule, wins/losses. Look. After their bye, they haven’t beaten anyone outside their division! Two losses were at Home! And lost by progressively higher scores by their opponents. Most of whom the Eagles have beaten. Atlanta didn’t take them serious enough until too late, Panther’s QB just kept throwing them the ball. The Eagles will be SERIOUS from start to finish! No cold, wind, rain. Also, don’t forget the ‘football gods’ who gave them ‘gifts’ on their first drive of the SB and they still continued to do the same thing. Unforgivable insult to the gods. But they have been forgiven as you saw – the fumble ‘sticks’ to the ground instead of rolling out of bounds as if a ‘hand’ was holding it down, the defender who ‘trips’ on the turf for no reason…the last possible Eagles tackler dives for a tackle on the guy with the ball heading for the end zone, hits him with his pinky on the tip of the heel and the runner tumbles down. Watch for these things tomorrow. No…go get the mortgage papers and bet the ‘house’ on this one…Eagles win comfortably.
    — joemash
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 6:07 PM, 01/17/2009
    I'd like to see zone blitzing throughout the game. Drop some d-linemen off the rush into a short zone. Don't give Kurt much room to throw in to. That way, if Edge gets past the blitzers, his gain will be short.
    — ItalianSausage
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 10:49 PM, 01/17/2009
    Hey Jimbo, you're so slick with your "master of the obvious" shi. I guess you had McNabb and Warner's blitz stats memorized, so this article gave nothing to you? Go get some action at perez Hilton, ya twit-fluk.
    — steverawthar
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 8:42 AM, 01/18/2009
    I gotta give rich his props here. This little blurb actually is pertinent to today's game, and he even included some relevant stats. Typically, I agree with Jimbo, that Rich is the master of the obvious and writes shallow articles, but today, Rich actually makes a good point and has given us readers some information to chew on regarding today's game. I hope they blitz the hell out of Warner. I think the Cards line won't be able to hold it off all day, our secondary is ready, and we can force a couple picks.
    — thingfish


12 comments
About Rich Hofmann
Rich Hofmann arrived at the Daily News in 1980 for a job whose status was officially designated as "full-time, temporary." A senior at Penn at the time, he was hired to fill in on the copy desk during a staff illness. The notion of him covering the Eagles or being a columnist did not exist in anyone's imagination. It was supposed to be six weeks and out, but he never left. It is only one of the reasons why so many people have concerns about him as a potential house guest. Rich has blogged the postseasons of the Flyers and Eagles. E-mail Rich at hofmanr@phillynews.com

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