Blitzing Aaron Rodgers
January 21st, 2021
Getting fried by the blitz.
Something has to give.
So to try to envision how the Bucs-Packers game plays out, the NFL turned to NextGen stats to cobble together a preview.
We all know Bucs defensive coordinator Todd Bowles likes to blitz, right? Well, he may just be playing right into the hands of Aaron Rodgers on Sunday in the NFC Championship game.
We all know how Bowles’ defense blitzed, jostled, mocked and robbed Rodgers back in October. Take away that game, and Rodgers has been a damn assassin against the blitz.
Rodgers has 15 touchdowns with one interception facing a blitz when not playing the Bucs. And here is where it could get ugly.
In the past 10 weeks, no defense has coughed up more touchdowns in the NFL on blitzes than the Bucs. Tampa Bay has allowed 13 touchdowns and gotten one interception off the blitz since playing the Packers.
Yeah, Joe knows Bucco Bruce Arians told SiriusXM NFL Radio he is expecting a shootout. But these are lopsided stats in favor of Rodgers. And the way the Bucs offensive line has dominated and the run game has come alive, combined with Packers’ soft run defense, Joe would not be surprised if Arians’ comments Wednesday night were a smokescreen.
January 21st, 2021 at 8:17 am
Rodgers this Rodgers that, Green Bay this Green Bay that. No one give a sh!t about Rodgers and the Packers. Bucs will crush Rodgers and the Pack. It’s time to drink the cool-aid. We have a bad a$$ team ourselves Go Bucs!! Bucs win by 17.
January 21st, 2021 at 8:25 am
We have Brady.
Not worried. Wish I could fly down when we play in the Superbowl.
January 21st, 2021 at 8:27 am
we will find out in about 67 hours, go bucs
January 21st, 2021 at 8:35 am
Packers stud left tackle david backhtiari out of course
Now they have sent praises to his backup but backhtiari was one of best in league so good for JPP matchup
Green bay will go on a run at some point so we will have to keep up
And Have devin white spy on rodgers (cause he can run ) and running back in the backfield all game.
Bucs have shown they can win all kinds of ways – offense usually/ defense/ and ugly.
Big game sunday in lambeau
Cant wait
January 21st, 2021 at 8:36 am
I think they’ll be ready for White….should fake blitz and drop into the middle of passing lanes. Or at least until it doesn’t work. Let jpg and shaq earn their keep. They better be on point.
January 21st, 2021 at 8:38 am
@JAMES WEST
Did you mean 77 hours?
And…I agree that BA is BSn…..again….no telling what we will do as far as the blitz….I assume we will use LBs instead of DBs for most blitzes.
January 21st, 2021 at 8:50 am
In the cold weather, I expect the Bucs to try to pound the rock, then slice the Packers with play-action.
Hard to say what the D game plan may be.
January 21st, 2021 at 8:57 am
The key for me is running the ball to set up play action. Kind of like we did to Washington. And on defense throw double coverage when you can on adams because besides he and Rodgers no one else is too scary on their offense. None of their twos can beat our defense reliably enough to win if adams is shut down IMO
January 21st, 2021 at 8:57 am
29. Tampa Bay (11-5) — Daviyon Nixon, DL, Iowa, Jr.
Ndamukong Suh, Rakeem Nunez-Roches and Steve McLendon will all be free agents. Nixon, the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year, was named a consensus All-American. Top needs: Edge, WR, DT
…………..
I have to side with Joe on his take on Mock drafts.
What IDIOT thinks that WR is a ‘Top need’ for the Bucs?
January 21st, 2021 at 9:02 am
NO was 4th vs the run, we did ok. ATL was 6th, NYG was 10th.
Packers are 13th vs run, and 7th vs pass. If we don’t run and thereby keep AR off the field, it would be a crime against humanity.
BA/Brady will take their shots (hopefully not on too many 3rd and 2 situations). And I pray to the football gods that some of those connect. PLEASE. Squeeze the rock Godwin!!! Be ready Scooter! Post up ME!
January 21st, 2021 at 9:15 am
as long as bucs dont beat bucs we’ll come out with a W….
GO BUCS!!!!
January 21st, 2021 at 9:18 am
“No offensive line can be ready or prepare for Devin White pass rush
because he goes right down the line to fine the hole or gap
you cant find him when the play starts and everybody stands up
DW is 5 10′ and the Oline cant find nor reach down to get a good engagement
add the quickness and speed
DW is passed them by very easily and consistently
**Now that Fatboy VV is in the way, it will get harder”
Kobe Faker
January 21st, 2021 at 9:27 am
Both teams win when they run.
BALANCE.
The Packers have been rushing for 160+ yards a game the last several weeks. That is why they are on this big run.
Just like last week and every week, whoever wins in the trenches will win
January 21st, 2021 at 10:20 am
The Defense has to block his line of vision. Not come at him from the side.
Once he gets hit, he folds.
Hit him. Legally.
January 21st, 2021 at 10:34 am
Cobraboy … I agree with you about pounding the rock, but also think that the key on offense will be having an overall BALANCED ATTACK. Running the ball works most effectively IMO when we do it in such a way that we keep the defense off-balance by using play-action in conjunction with our running game. IOW catch ’em with their pants down on a cold Wisconsin night. (That gadget play that the Saints pulled on us for a TD was a great example of catching someone with their pants down, but those are RARE).
QBs like Brady & Rodgers are BOTH masters at keeping defenses off-balance (that’s probably why they’ve had such great careers?). The ‘threat’ of them using play-action or throwing deep must drive DCs nuts when they game-plan against them. IF their OLines protect them, BOTH of them can rip just about any defense a new one with the weapons they have. Best way our offense can help our defense this weekend is to control the game & keep Rodgers on the bench.
January 21st, 2021 at 10:43 am
JP09 same. Go Bucs!
January 21st, 2021 at 11:46 am
It is …. They will run Rojo and Fornette heavy to start and get the pack up to the line… That’s when you got the p.a. passes… I would run on first down every time in the first half even if it’s not successful then about the middle of the 3rd (long as game is close of course) start that p.a. passing on 1st that Brady is so good at…. And they really didn’t blitz allot in the traditional sense of the word against them last time… They were bringing their linebackers and corners and dropping jpp and Barrett into coverage a lot… I think they mark that a blitz but it’s still only 4 or maybe 5 rushing the passer
January 21st, 2021 at 12:02 pm
Well if they still can’t get pressure from rushing 4 (likely), they won’t have much of a choice.
But Bowles better come up with some new looks for the blitzes though, because Rodgers won’t fall for the same stuff twice.
January 21st, 2021 at 3:40 pm
Kobe Faker=Oath Breaker
January 21st, 2021 at 4:12 pm
Rodgers is terrified of Suh blitz outside of Suh free him up to bury Rodgers.
January 21st, 2021 at 7:20 pm
I wish the starting defensive lineup would be GMC playing with VV instead of Suh. If the Bucs play the same intelligent/perfect game against the Pack they played in the regular season, it will be something historical. Go Bucs!!
January 21st, 2021 at 9:40 pm
Brady will find a way to get to the Super Bowl and win it! The Bucs have good confidence too. We have had Rodgers number this year and he will be playing scared. We need to sack him hard often and get him shook up and then intercept some of his passes which makes him crazy!
January 21st, 2021 at 9:42 pm
Oh and I agree we need to double his one good receiver the entire game.