Arians Wasn’t Lying
December 13th, 2019
Promise kept.
When Bucco Bruce Arians took the job as Bucs coach, he made one thing clear and he continued to repeat it through training camp and preseason:
He was going to have his defensive coordinator Todd Bowles blitz early and often.
Arians wasn’t pulling anyone’s leg,
Per NextGen stats, data the NFL gathers and compiles from computer sensors on players’ equipment, only one other team in the NFL blitzes as much as the Bucs, and that is the Baltimore Crows.
In fact, the Crows blitz nearly half of their defensive plays, 49 percent. The Bucs blitz 43 percent of the time, per NextGen stats.
And here is the interesting thing: The blitzes may not be working as the teams have forecast.
What do the Bucs and the Crows have in common other than they blitz nearly half the time? The two teams are tied for No. 15 in the NFL in sacks.
Arizona, which is third in percentage of blitzes, is No. 18 in total sacks.
If a team is going to blitz like crazy, shouldn’t there be more sacks to show for the work?
December 13th, 2019 at 5:34 pm
It’s about Pressure and forcing the QB to make quicker decisions.. not everything is about Sacks.
December 13th, 2019 at 5:36 pm
Perfectly said R.O. But logic rolls off some like water off a duck’s back.
December 13th, 2019 at 5:39 pm
arians wears some pretty nice shirts on victory mondays…
i’m always eager to see his choice of cap with his shirt…
kinda like a mister rogers type thing from when i was a child
December 13th, 2019 at 5:41 pm
suh and vea are “pressure cookers”
December 13th, 2019 at 5:59 pm
It’s a beautiful day in the Defensive Neighborhood.
December 13th, 2019 at 6:07 pm
The point is to move a QB off his spot. Sacks are a nice byproduct, but the goal is to make the QB uncomfortable and force him to throw the ball before he wants to.
December 13th, 2019 at 6:34 pm
Blitzes are an indicator of man coverage (most of the time), so the blitzer has vacated the “help” area. If the QB identifies that as the initial read that becomes “hot” and the ball is out of the QBs hands ASAFP as the counter/check (QB 101 at “University” of Phoenix Online) to avoid the pressure/sack/loss of yardage. Remember when JW “read” blitz by the Indy Mike LB that then jumped back into coverage and picked the supposed “vacated” area? “Blitzes” aren’t always designed to get sacks. But then again…WT(H) do I know…?
December 13th, 2019 at 6:40 pm
Agree R.O. and to add it also gives the opposing QB much more to think about and to try to read. Makes his job tougher just having the threat of a blitz.
A vast difference from the Tampa 2 that features steady 4 man pressure all day every snap.
December 13th, 2019 at 6:44 pm
Totally Concur R.O. However, as DR said, some can’t see the forest for the trees
December 13th, 2019 at 7:00 pm
Well said R.O.
As our DBs grow and get more comfortable playing in the NFL either the blitzes will get home or we’ll see an increase in INTs. I’ll take this aggressive style D over what we’ve seen the past 5 years
December 13th, 2019 at 7:08 pm
Hey, SB
The trees ARE the forest & the grass IS the lawn…can we get JW to figure that out?! RayJay would be the 7th circle of hell if we could ever make 2+2=4! Too many roadkill armadillos, I guess…?
December 13th, 2019 at 7:17 pm
^^^^^^^^^
December 13th, 2019 at 7:27 pm
Same thing I said last year and the year before and the year before that – it doesn’t matter if you have Sapp and Rice playing on the d-line and getting pressure, if you have complete garbage like Ryan Smith and Chris Conte starting defenses are going to destroy you since you can’t even cover guys for 2.5 seconds.
Thankfully the young guys are finally starting to play a bit better – and if they actually become anything close to average NFL corners, then watch out.
December 13th, 2019 at 7:36 pm
Why complain? If you said over the previous three seasons that they woukd be tied for 15th in 2020 you’d happily take it!!!!!
Numbers should get better as the corners continue to improve and lock down recievers
December 13th, 2019 at 7:40 pm
Anywho….. I’m just glad the resident expert chimed in.
It makes me feel oh so fancy…. man.
December 13th, 2019 at 7:48 pm
Step 1, Blitz. Step 2, defend against the slant.
December 13th, 2019 at 9:55 pm
Doctor Stroud … “Step 1, Blitz. Step 2, defend against the slant.”
Interesting observation. In some cases though, depending upon who’s doing the blitzing, a quick slant can be the perfect call against a blitz.
December 14th, 2019 at 1:49 am
R.O. nailed it.
Also I’d look closely, I believes we’ve been blitzing a bit less since JPP came back, and have been a little more selective at the times we do blitz. The results have been more effective IMO, hence some of the splash plays by D White and others in recent weeks.
December 14th, 2019 at 2:03 am
NO. Blitzes can account for quick throws more than sacks. QBs, other than Jameis Winston, know how to get rid of the ball early and often. Whether they throw successfully or not, that’s another question. But, the blitz help keep the throws shorter, which gives LBs and DBs a chance to make a play on the ball or go for more tackles. Most deep routes don’t get time to develop, unless MJ Stewart is covering someone.
I would be more interested to see if the stats on our blitzes has lead to more tackles, passes defensed this season than in the past.
December 14th, 2019 at 7:36 am
Thats 100% R.O. just because joe has a website doesn’t mean he understands the game . Anyone who has been here awhile see he’s not that good….
December 14th, 2019 at 9:28 am
Sacks are not the only by-product of a blitz in modern defenses. They also lead to confusion on hot reads and increase the chances for turnovers on throws. They are also designed to help in the run game as well. It’s not just about sacks.
December 14th, 2019 at 10:45 am
Blitzing should give up more sacks – however the rest of the story is what was the other team’s 3rd down completion rate , TO’s (fumbles and INTs), Time of possession, Points scored by the blitzing team and probably numerous other things that can be achieved over just getting a sack
December 14th, 2019 at 11:34 am
Shaq barrett was the only true sack threat for most of the season so they had no choice things may be different with jpp