CBS NFL Analyst · Former NFL Safety · Coach · Speaker · Sun Devil HOF · Glory to God · Built, Not Born. Dad to @JettArchuleta0 DB/WR - Class of ‘27
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Ravens used had a great plan to run the football by using their 3 tight ends. Clever use of formation and motion to create an extra gap and give Derrick Henry easy access to the end zone. Playing defense today is harder than ever!
@NFLonCBS #ArchesAngles @Ravens
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Bijan Robison's speed shows you why "track the inside hip" isn't always the best advice.
It sounds good in theory, and looks in neat little tackling drills, but speed like that changes the math.
What if the runner is faster than you? Then what?
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Wish we had a chance to talk about him on the broadcast more, but yes. He’s playing great ball. He’s one of the rare guys who can be good in any scheme. Smart, tough, versatile safety.
A guy we probably haven't talked about enough over the first 2 weeks is Justin Reid. Physicality he's been playing with has been elite.
How many safeties make this tackle on Derrick Henry with a head of steam (and a blocker)? Easily could've been a 61-yard house call. #Saints
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Margin for error is slim in the NFL and the tiny details matter. Really well executed by the Saints on this play (design, execution), but smallest of details are the difference between winning and losing on a play.
I know there are different ideas on how to play C/4, but nothing drives me crazier than when a single WR backside route holds a safety in zone coverage and QB looking away.
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I know there are different ideas on how to play C/4, but nothing drives me crazier than when a single WR backside route holds a safety in zone coverage and QB looking away.
Saints using Divide and it working to perfection. Notice the details on the play like having the corner route on the other side to occupy the field Safety.
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Quinnen is a penetrating 3-technique. He wants to get off the ball and play the run on the way to the QB. He is not a 2 gap or gap1/2 DL. He is a good football player and will still make plays, but this scheme significantly limits his upside and impact.
Obvious caveats given the small sample of only 2 games this season, BUT I'm starting to wonder whether this scheme is the BEST fit (doesn't mean it's a bad fit) for Quinnen Williams.
In Eberflus' scheme, Big Q was able to shoot gaps and play upfield, which made it easy to transition from defending the run to attacking the pass in base downs. In this scheme, however, he has to do more reading and playing into blocks, which slows the transition from playing run to pass.
Last year, Williams earned a 13.2% pass-rush win rate, per PFF. This year, it's only 7.3% thus far. Last year, his average get-off was 1.07 seconds, but this year, it's fallen all the way to 1.21 seconds (87th out of 92 qualified DTs this season), per NFL Pro.
For more discussion on this subject, check out the Blue Star Bulletin substack! #Cowboys
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Watching the Jags at Broncos game. Davis Webb/Sean Payton designed and called great game. Almost all of their schemed plays worked to perfection. Jags secondary played soft outside, had bad eyes and couldn't win one on one.
Denver Post reporter @TroyRenck: Broncos, Nix plant flag in win over Jaguars | #BroncosCountry
milehighsports.com/renck-bro…
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Brandon Staley called a great game. He didn't try to get tricky, exotic and creative. He played primary zone, and forced Jackson to play the patient game. He brought pressure from his linebackers but in smart spots. Ravens had their plays, but his defense was based on sound fundamentals betting that eventually his guys would make one or two key plays when needed.
There is a time and place to be fancy, but it's less often than people think.
Unless you are Brian Flores.....
"The New Orleans Saints defense really threw the Ravens offense off..
They really countered Lamar Jackson being under center" ~ @danorlovsky7 #PMSLive
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The coverage was ok. But silly mistakes on 3rd and long. Late in the game it became a 1 on1 game. Saints players just won with effort. after the catch and that was the difference.
One thing that is looking familiar with the Ravens is the conservative, 3rd down soft coverage.
This is very similar to Mike Macdonalds first year as DC for the Ravens.
I won’t overreact to the issue just yet but I expect it to be better next week. This is fixable & I trust the staff to get it right.
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Beyond impressed with Shough. I’ve seen and talked to a lot of young QB’s and he’s has the stuff. Fantastic demeanor and doesn’t flinch.
Tyler Shough led a huge 4th quarter comeback to take down Baltimore
27/34, 252 PYDS, 23 RUYDS, 2 Total TD, 0 INT
New Orleans entered the 4th down 17 to 9 before Shough threw the tying TD and scored the go ahead touchdown himself.
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Looks simple, but people don't know how sick that is. Zone defense is predicated on reading QB and cheating. The throws he's made by looking off in the 1st 2 games is beyond elite
Watch Josh Allen move Jack Campbell out the way with his eyes and shoulders to get this window open. Body is pointing towards potentially a dig coming across, but as soon as Campbell opens his hips Allen fires it to Shakir. Sick play
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You mean they just played good sound ball? Hmm. Who would have thought that still works?
I'm fascinated by the Cardinals' defensive game plan against the Chargers. They barely switched their coverages post-snap, and when they did, it was more subtle than OMG. They also rarely blitzed. This against a Chargers team that used motion 66% of the time. And the Chargers were... bollixed by it.
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One of the best things about the road is a great smoke. Doesn’t get better than Davidoff Grand Cru at The Elk Room in Baltimore.
@DavidoffCigars @theelkroom
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Lamar was all smiles today. Looks like a guy who feels good.
Players are locked in to Jesse Minter and his staff. You can feel it in the building.
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Watching the Lions/Bills tape.
A lot of 3 deep 2 under hot blitz. Buffalo smashed it, run and pass. They kept calling it. Can't count how many time contain to Allens right was gone. Fundamentals were MIA.
The 2 minute before halftime was solid. Base coverage, guys saw it and played fast. Played better the few times they just lined up and just played defense.
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There is a trade-off in how the Lions are getting their pressure. In the first two weeks they have a high max-blitz rate, with a lot of C/0 and “hot blitzes” that can leave defensive backs isolated, counting on pressure as the help.
Blitzing that much can also put a big mental burden because of all the adjustments it brings. It is even harder when backups are in and almost impossible when a QB is seeing the field and throwing like Allen is.
It's a shame because the Lions put a lot into fixing their pass rush this offseason, and it's working. They're generating pressure, but they're getting no help from the secondary. If it's not one thing, it's another.
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One main reason BJ does this: Flores often uses a check w/ me type system based offense’s formation. Harrison Smith gives them a unique player/coach combo that helps them get the optimal defensive look. Watch the Vikings and you’ll see they rarely blitz when an offense has the right protection or can block it up.
Ben Johnson quick snaps the football more against Brian Flores (his Week 2 opponent!) than any other coach.
What that means and why he does it:
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Just to be clear. I have ZERO inside knowledge of what goes on in the meeting rooms and how things are being done. I simply go by what I see on the tape. I look for players who are looking at the right thing, believing what they see and playing with conviction.
Indecision is the mortal enemy of high performance.
Really interesting note here from Adam. I asked Brian Schottenheimer yesterday if they would consider simplifying the defense or having a simpler contingency plan in place. While he said they consider all contingencies, he said they didn’t plan to simplify yet,
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Going through the Dallas tape this AM. The back 7 is seeing too much and trying to do too much. Lots of running around, not enough leverage or eye discipline. You can't play every route in every coverage. Parker's challenge is not forcing his year 3 defense into year 1.
Here we goooooooo (again?)
The Cowboys are talking about defensive communication issues from Sunday, just like last season. Can they fix it, unlike they did a year ago? They’re confident it can happen soon.
“It’s different when it’s a lack of talent. It’s not a lack of talent.”
dallasnews.com/sports/cowboy…
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