Thanks dnespins. I love defense. Not ours particularly, just in general.
1st series
1st play: 4-3 Under, Man Free vs 1x3. The Under shift is generally a new look for the Fins with J. Jones in the overrated wide 9 but the 6 man pressure doesn't get home. This is despite Alonso coming free on a 3 step drop & hitch and it was rarely effective all game long b/c of the shortened drops. Jones at FS is not ideal. He's a great SS but playing deep zones is not his forte. +13
2nd: Big Nickel, Cover 1 vs 1x3, RB weak. We're in the NFL's base defensive package already and why the **** we only have 5 total CBs and 9 total DBs is beyond my comprehension. Alonso gets owned by the guard's seal block and is pinned outside opening up the hole for a 10 yd rush. Jenkins makes a nice effort scraping down the line in an attempt to save the blown gap fill by Alonso and at least trips the RB up. +10.
3rd: Big Nickel, Cover 1 vs 2x1 split backs. Very nice job by Phillips and Suh in holding their ground vs double blocks as Jenkins shoots the gap as the TE goes for a backside trap block and makes a stop behind the LOS. -1
4th: Nickel, Cover 2 Press Man vs 2x1 split backs. Pass to the RB in the flats who is Alonso's man. Howard breaks from his man and he converges with Jones to make a nice play. +2
5th: Big Nickel, Solo/Robber vs 3x1 Bunch Wing. Maxwell has MEG (Man Everywhere he Goes) responsibilities on the fieldside and there is Robber coverage on the boundary over trips. Maxwell is easy pickings here. He's playing 8 yards on off on 3&9 and sinks another 8 before stumbling forward and allowing the first. Cameron is doubled (check that out Awsi, NE doubles Wake) and the rest of the rush is nullified despite the high percentage passing down. +11
6th: Big Nickel, Cover 1 Man Free vs 2x2 Tight Wing right. NE does a nice job of the PA fake here against the weakside blitz and gets the LBs flowing in the wrong direction. The TE again appears to go again for the backside trap block and the line blocks down accordingly much like the 3rd play of the drive. But here Bennet then drags underneath and heads up field with no defender in sight. Jones collides with Jenkins. Terrence Fede with great hustle and the tackle. +26
7th: Nickel, Cover 2 vs 1x3 RB weak. Warmsley and C. Jones do an excellent job of absorbing the double team blocks which allows Jenkins to shoot the A gap as the defense converges to make a short stop. +2
8th: Big Nickel, Cover 1 PM vs 3x2. I'm not going to pretend to know the specific coverage here. Empty sets are usually covered by some manner of pattern-match and it can vary greatly depending on the coach, the field/boundary side, and/or and passing strength. We'll get a better idea as the season unfolds and we get more looks from VJ. According to the LB movement it appears to be zone principles as both Jenkins and Alonso are fooled simultaneously by the QB arm fake and drift outside as Amendola breaks inside and up for the score. +12 TD
There were a lot of issues that I had with this defense that came to light in this game, especially the first half. One is the absence of a true FS, another is the poor play of the LBs and CBs and last but not least the decisions to keep only 9 DBs.
Notice the only time in this drive that the Fins were in a traditional base defense was the first play. 7 of 8 plays the Fins were in their Nickel package which is the new NFL base. Last year defenses were in Nickel/Dime packages over 60% of the time. I expect that to continue to increase as coaches are incorporating more hybrid type players as safeties play backer, backers play safety, safeties play corner . . you get the drift. The reasoning behind it all is so to combat HU and HUNH offenses that don't allow the defense to substitute. Defenses can now use these hybrid players to align them in situations vs the offenses different looks you wouldn't normally be able to with static players.
All concerns were exposed to their limits as 24 points were yielded in the first two quarters alone. There was also a severe lack of pass rush from the front 4 here in this first drive. I'll attempt to sort thru the other clips when time provides. Thanks again dnespins for the post.
