No Pass Rush? Raheem Morris Raises Hand
September 28th, 2010
Part of the reason Pittsburgh quarterback Charlie Batch played like Sammy Baugh against the Bucs Sunday was that he had plenty of time to get off a pass.
Yesterday in his weekly Monday press conference dealing with the previous game, Bucs coach Raheem Morris confessed that was a problem.
His problem; not the Bucs defenders. Good guy Stephen Holder of the St. Petersburg Times explains why Morris, also the Bucs defensive coordinator, decided not to bring the kitchen sink at Batch.
Coach Raheem Morris, also defensive coordinator, said he drew up a defensive game plan that called for a minimal pass rush, ignoring the urge to blitz or attempt creative methods of bringing pressure after such tactics worked well at Carolina.
“Some of that was by design by me,” Morris said.
Morris said Batch’s history indicated the Bucs should have protected against quick throws and draw plays, the sort of calls that can burn a defense that blitzes. The problem was, the Steelers took advantage on a couple of occasions, using the lack of pressure to get WR Mike Wallace downfield, where he caught touchdowns of 46 and 41 yards.
This is understandable. Batch was the fourth string Steelers quarterback for crying out loud. No one dreamed he would go Dan Marino on the Bucs.
But Batch’s play sort of reinforced the old NFL saying that if you give any quarterback enough time, he will pick a defense apart.
September 28th, 2010 at 8:05 am
Just means Ra Ra was out coached by Tomlin….. 2 years vs. 4 years experience.
September 28th, 2010 at 8:18 am
Still can’t believe that we passed on Peppers for that clown at RE that hopes to get 10 sacks. What a joke.
September 28th, 2010 at 8:28 am
Who knew that Batch was cable of that kinda game?? But I’ve never seen so many lucky bounces, tips, and deflections in one game! Wow! And man, the Steelers ate Beast! Tomlin has done a great job in The Steel city!
September 28th, 2010 at 8:29 am
We were bringing it against Cleveland and Carolina and won. So he thought that game plan was going to be a good one? With a rookie LB converted to Safety in his first NFL game?
I like Raheem, but stick with what works. Bring the heat and force mistakes.
September 28th, 2010 at 8:34 am
And why did Ra Ra not make adjustments? Remember that whole halftime thing…..
September 28th, 2010 at 8:41 am
Hey, Where is Tampa 2 to say that Raheem will blame someone else?
Bring on the Bagels, and turn up the heat! I agree with Jeff!
September 28th, 2010 at 9:04 am
I think another reason Rah probably decided to take away short passes and screens instead of blitzing, was because the Steelers have the biggest offensive line in the NFL. Thier average size is 6’4″ 338lbs. Even there main backup they use like we use Zuttah is 350lbs. We woulda just tired our guys out and got no pressure anyways.
Exactly why I say we need to draft bigger O-linemen. John Moffitt? Yes please!
September 28th, 2010 at 9:06 am
Atrain WD40 Says:
“September 28th, 2010 at 8:34 am
And why did Ra Ra not make adjustments? Remember that whole halftime thing…..”
We’ve still only allowed 3 points in the second half all year long.
September 28th, 2010 at 9:16 am
JDouble:
The Steelers scored 10 points in the second half Sunday.
September 28th, 2010 at 9:17 am
JDouble: Pitt went to clock management offense…. Basically they only ran the ball and passed only when absolutely necessary.
September 28th, 2010 at 9:19 am
Guess all the hype about Kyle moore was overdue.
September 28th, 2010 at 9:23 am
Joe, I think KDouble meant offensive scores, the TD was a defensive score. Rgardless, Pitt pulled back, I think they could have scored again if they chose to.
No worries though, off to the next game. They need to focus on the Bangels.
September 28th, 2010 at 9:23 am
Jbouble that should have been
September 28th, 2010 at 9:28 am
did anybody see the rookie Pouncey from flordia making holes against are rookie mccoy
September 28th, 2010 at 9:43 am
How many sacks do we have for the year? How many does McCoy have?
Why wouldn’t you want to pressure a guy who had not started since 07?
September 28th, 2010 at 10:02 am
McBuc Says:
September 28th, 2010 at 8:41 am
Hey, Where is Tampa 2 to say that Raheem will blame someone else?
He has you to do that for him! It’s sort of hard to make excuses for that sorry a$$ defense, though isn’t it McBuc? That run stuffing, violent defense by the amateur only showed on thing! That it was designed by an amateur! “Some of that was by design by me,” Morris said.”
You’ve had 2 cupcake teams to gloat over. Now the real teams are coming. Real team #1 simply spanked the amateur led rookies. Lets see what the Bengals do for them! I have a feeling it will be spanking #2.!
September 28th, 2010 at 10:09 am
In theory, the coache’s plan addressed the Steelers offensive ‘strengths’ and their starting QB…
In reality, there should of been a half time adjustment to push Batch into bad situations… but 35 was still out there and they were targeting him.
Sucks being a rookie FS and playing against the big boys.
Overall – I thought they played respectable… barely.
Never saw so many bounces go 1 teams way… that was frustrating to watch.
In the rear view mirror now – got some extra time to get Blount, Benn, Huggins and Bennett some quality time at their positions in an OTA format.
It will be interesting to see how the starting lineups change for this one.
Bengals are patently middle of pack thus far… They are going to be a better test for these youngins’…
September 28th, 2010 at 10:16 am
T.O. or Ocho vs #35 = not pretty.
September 28th, 2010 at 10:23 am
I believe some pass rush might be beneficial this game, Coach Morris.
September 28th, 2010 at 10:25 am
man we are going to be really really young as the season goes on. With Blount, Huggy, Grimm, and Benn with more playing time I am expected us to play worse before we get better honestly.
All I want is for us to play competitively with CIN with all those players.
You gotta hand it to Rah, he really does start whoever give the best chance to win no matter who his favorites are. Things like this are why the players are behind him 100%.
September 28th, 2010 at 10:36 am
Just a question for all you D Coordinator Geniuses .. What adjustements should be made at half time when the score is 28-6 ?? How many passes did the steelers throw in the 2nd half ?? Barely any .. It was too late to make Pass Rushing adjustments plus the Bucs held the Steelers to 3 points after half .. The other 7 points was the INT TD …
September 28th, 2010 at 10:37 am
Oh yeah Joe .. What happened to the (Charlie Batch?) following every time you mentioned his name .. I thought it was funny as hell as everytime I thought about the game the same thing popped in my Head … Charlie Batch??
September 28th, 2010 at 10:45 am
Hey Tampa 2…Jump off the bandwagon, the Bucs do not need jokers like you.
September 28th, 2010 at 10:47 am
Keep McCoy and Price in the middle – McCoy is bouncing around too much and Price needs more snaps.
Less Moore, more Crowder.
Those were the adjustments I would of made…
September 28th, 2010 at 11:19 am
@McBuc, Bite me! I have been a fan forever. And a UT fan, that played in the old Sombrero before that! Instead of the Glazers kool-aid, why don’t you drink some of the Jim Jones kool-aid. That way we can have conversations about what is Real, not fantasy. You and tug-boat Timmie need to come back to earth! Maybe the Bengals will convince you in 2 weeks.
September 28th, 2010 at 11:25 am
Players are behind him a !00% except when defensive tackles are running 95 yards for touchdowns.
And I think Grim is playing because oh Jackson’s indiscretions. Bount is a desperation move due to dismal running game.
September 28th, 2010 at 1:01 pm
Because a guy who hasn’t played since 07 should not have been throwing the damn ball. We expected them to run it! And we were ready! But the threw it. Then we changed to slow the pass, and they ran it down our throats!! That, ladies and Gentlemen( and Erics) is how you become favored to win the Superbowl. Obviously, we aren’t there yet- but we are headed there! McCoy is supposed to maintain his gap and collapse the middle. DT ussually don’t get many sacks. McCoy, like Sapp, will, but it will take a year or two- also like Sapp! His job is to hold the middle. He’s doing it,
September 28th, 2010 at 1:42 pm
Your right Tampa 2 “THE SKY IS FALLING”!