Dan Orlovsky On Rams’ Strategy: “Go Find 43”
September 23rd, 2021
Bucs CB Ross Cockrell.
It seems come Sunday when Bucs corner Ross Cockrell arrives at SoFi Stadium (does that place offer discounts for Sam’s Club members?), he better bring his work boots and lunch pail. He’s going to have a full day.
That’s the opinion of former Bucs backup quarterback Dan Orlovsky. Speaking on NFL Live, seen weekdays on BSPN, Orlovsky said his attack plan if he were Rams coach Sean McVay would be to attack Cockrell any time he steps on the field.
Since cornerback Sean Murphy-Bunting was lost for who knows how long in the first game with a dislocated elbow, Cockrell has been elevated to the Bucs’ No. 3 corner and he has struggled.
He didn’t play all that well against the Cowboys (though Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott was really going after Jamel Dean) and in the win over the Dixie Chicks, Calvin Ridley absolutely schooled Cockrell for a touchdown.
Orlovsky’s gameplan is singularly focused: Attack Cockrell.
“Go find 43,” Orlovsky yelped. “How many different ways can I get Cooper Kupp or Robert Woods on 43?”
Orlovsky likes the Bucs defense but added if they have any kryptonite, it would be the long pass. He cited last year’s Rams-Bucs game when Kupp pretty much was the difference.
So Orlovsky would “spread ’em and shred ’em” if he were McVay. Put everybody out wide and go deep early and often and made sure Matt Stafford goes after Cockrell.
You can see the full discussion of the Bucs-Rams game with Keyshawn Johnson, Marcus Spears and Orlovsky by clicking here.
September 23rd, 2021 at 9:25 am
And if that doesn’t work find 35.
September 23rd, 2021 at 9:30 am
No sh!t. I’m better than these people why don’t they pay me. Play man with Dean or he’ll get worked like vs Dallas.
September 23rd, 2021 at 9:33 am
Hard to admit, but I agree with Mr Orlovsky…..43 and 35 all day long……. That is why is SO important our front 7 puts the fear of god on Stafford, and make him play uncomfortable….But with this JPP misterious injury, who knows??
September 23rd, 2021 at 9:36 am
We can defend the spread and shred with man press when our pass rush shows up again.
September 23rd, 2021 at 9:43 am
Can we ease up on the “go get 35 too?” nonsense?!? Yes, Dean had A bad day against the cowboys, and we torched him for it in the comments. But, did he get beat once in Atlanta? I don’t think so. If it were once I would still say we didn’t see or hear about him all day (which is the benchmark of your cover guy doing his job and not being thrown at).
As for “target 43”. Ok. Bowles says, “hold my beer” and have you a nice helping of #32 instead. Cause Mike Edwards in the slot is an absolute must for us!!
September 23rd, 2021 at 9:46 am
Stafford 43-35 hut hut…….
The Bucs are going to have to out score them, pretty simple to me
GO BUCS!!!!
September 23rd, 2021 at 9:50 am
Greg, that’s a good point. No doubt will be seeing more three safety sets like we did last game. Edwards was known as a ball hawk even before his awesome game last week. Having him run some slot would be wise. It’s all about getting your best players on the field. Cockrell impressed in the preseason but he’s been impotent since then. The only thing I worry about is speed, but I believe Edwards is nearly as fast and certainly as quick.
September 23rd, 2021 at 9:51 am
Not sure how many times Stafford has beaten TB12, my guess is zero. This guy is way overrated we are talking about him like he’s Mahomes, Manning or Wilson. He is the equivalent to maybe Dak & Ryan. The DB’s were getting slapped around most of last season, they will figure it out and these covid cases could also be cleared. Bucs win 31-24. Another come down to last possession. Need Gronk to help keep Donald out like he did Chase Young.
September 23rd, 2021 at 9:59 am
Dean is actually a solid corner. In zone he plays too far off the ball. Don’t know why but he does. When he is in man, rarely do qb’s attack him. He gets caught looking in the backfield too much. I actually like Dean.
September 23rd, 2021 at 10:00 am
Sometimes you have to be careful what you wish for……lets hope this is one of those games///
September 23rd, 2021 at 10:01 am
Steven, agreed on Cockrell. It was so exciting to see how he showed out in camp and in the preseason. Seemed like he was going to be the answer to the lack of depth at corner/safety issue we were worried about. He’s a smart player, a great tackler, and he knows the scheme. But at the end of the day, I don’t think he has the overall speed to close the gap on the receivers, and in zone coverage that’s a pretty big deal. In man coverage, it’s kind of a nightmare.
I’d like to give our secondary (and Cockrell) credit though. For the most part they keep everything in front of them. We’re at the top of the league in yard/pass allowed. Which is impressive considering we’re also at the top of the league in pass attempts against us.
I REALLY just wish our front 7 was dominating the line more during passing downs. Not sure what’s going on, but the front 7 isn’t getting after the QB quite the same way we did at the end of last year.
September 23rd, 2021 at 10:04 am
No way Bowles lets Stafford sit in the pocket and throw it deep. We will blitz like crazy to get Stafford off his spot. He would be smart to get it out quick…short passes and see if our DB’s can make the tackle.
September 23rd, 2021 at 10:06 am
This game is going to come down to “Crunch Time” and the only QB I want during “Crunch Time” is TB12!
September 23rd, 2021 at 10:08 am
Defense giving up 27 a game so far, there is nothing great about that.
Until the front 7 gets consistent pressure on the QB’s, the secondary will be hung out to dry.
Deans problem is Dean, it not ability, it is confidence.
He has good speed but lines up and concedes first downs.
That is playing scared. Again it is not about ability, it is his confidence that needs to increase.
So this weeks shootout is at the SoFi Corral.
GO BUCS!!!!!!
September 23rd, 2021 at 10:09 am
We’re gonna lose sometime….and these CB’s will gel. probably moreso after getting an L
UNLESS the pass rush finally comes out of the basement.
September 23rd, 2021 at 10:21 am
I’d like to see the team find a way to get creative in coverages. Everyone is going to want to use this plan, but if we can disguise coverage and use 43 as bait and window dressing it should but enough confusion to allow the pass rush to affect the game. Just please don’t assume he can hold up in man coverage all game.
September 23rd, 2021 at 10:30 am
Just have Edwards lurking around 43….or we could simply blitz 43 on every play.
September 23rd, 2021 at 10:54 am
Edwards needs to be our starting nickel until SMB gets back, Cockrell has been awful.
September 23rd, 2021 at 10:59 am
Last time Matt Stafford played a Bowles defense he threw like 5 picks.
Why is everyone thinking he is so great?
The defense will do what it needs to.
Plus they found something special with Edwards in the slot last game.
You can just double Cupp.
Come on guys really?
Bucs win by 10
September 23rd, 2021 at 11:05 am
I’d be trying to get them to launch deep. Give the pass rush time to get home. I’d be jamming the crap out of those WRs at the line. Like, seriously, prevent them from running downfield at all (best you can) and then send blitzes galore.
September 23rd, 2021 at 11:08 am
43 gonna get a pick keep testing him.
September 23rd, 2021 at 11:13 am
Actually we’ve been one of the best teams in the league at not giving up the long pass so I don’t know what he’s talking about when he says that’s our weakness. If he watched the games he’d realize our problem has been defending the short, quick passing game. Teams have been dinking, and dunking us, not beating us so much over the top. Our pass rush has been good enough to keep teams from going long. I expect teams to continue with the short game. Moving the chains, and keeping our offense off the field.
September 23rd, 2021 at 11:13 am
we have people on this thread asking when has stafford beat brady? That has to be the dumbest question ever. News flash, this is a TEAM GAME. HELLO!!! Are you new to the game of football? Name one lions team that was half as good as the patriots. Stafford is on a whole new team with far superior weapons on offense and far superior defense then he has EVER played with. And dont give me that megatron crap. Megatron is only one weapon. The rams have aplenty. I will take aplenty weapons over 1 weapon. How can anyone surmise that because Stafford lost with the lions to brady and the pats that that has any bearing on Sunday’s game? How dumb is this fan base?
September 23rd, 2021 at 11:25 am
Danny O’…football savant…running out of the back of the end zone while leading a team to a 0-16 finish.
September 23rd, 2021 at 11:44 am
l don’t understand why so many are bad-mouthing our CBs. Yes they’ve given up 4 TDs as a group, but that was against 2 very good QBs and our Safeties should be shouldering part of that blame IMO.
Our 4 CBs (Davis, Dean, SMB & Cockrell) have a combined pass defense percentage of 62.7%. Not all that bad, and a heckuva lot better than our LBs are allowing (over 90%), and even better than our safeties (72%).
The CB numbers aren’t as bad as many seem to say:
o Davis: 19 targets – 11 completed – 57.9% – 0 TD – 1 INT
o Dean: 11 targets – 7 completed – 63.6% – 1 TD – 0 INT
o SMB: 6 targets – 3 completed – 50% – 1 TD – 0 INT
o Cockrell: 15 targets – 11 completed – 73.3% – 0 INT
The Rams use primary 3 CBs, and their combined pass defense percentage is 61.4% (pretty close to our 62.7%). Ours would probably be better if we hadn’t lost SMB in Game 1.
o Ramsey: 14 targets – 8 completed – 57.1% – 0 TD – 1 INT
o Williams: 22 targets – 14 completed – 63.6% – 1 TD – 0 INT
o Long: 8 targets – 5 completed – 62.5% – 0 TD – 1 INT
Not very much difference in the CBs in terms of performance through 2 games. Our safeties look to be doing a bit better than theirs, but our LBs are doing much worse in terms of pass defense. And their DLine has produced 6 sacks in 2 games versus our 2 sacks. But ya, let’s pick on the Secondary.
September 23rd, 2021 at 12:00 pm
Think we need to have Mike Edwards at the Nickel and just have Cockrell play special teams , he’s the weak link in this secondary with SMB out
September 23rd, 2021 at 12:12 pm
Shootout is what everyone wants to see. Raheem Morris is not going to out scheme us. This is not the 2020 rams defense, they giving up the booty too. You let Carson wentz and their receivers get off then I expect us to light it up as well
September 23rd, 2021 at 1:11 pm
They probably should’ve lost against the Colts if they didn’t blow some redzone opportunities. They’re running a new defense, and this is Stafford’s 3rd game in a new offense. If we don’t beat ourselves with mistakes, we’ll beat the Rams.
September 23rd, 2021 at 2:46 pm
Cockrell is not bad, and if you give him help he will be just fine. He doesn’t have the juice to run with the faster WR’s, so you can’t leave him 1 on 1 and expect him to be able to stay tight with his man for very long.
September 23rd, 2021 at 4:57 pm
Orlovsky had some interesting comments on Josh Freeman on the Dan Patrick show yesterday.
September 23rd, 2021 at 7:17 pm
I feel the D shows up this week n TB has a complete game… I took them-3.5