Pressuring Ben may not fit the traditional "pressure the QB" paradigm
by bigmaq on Sep 12, 2009 1:33 AM EDT
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PrintMuch has been made today in the Titans post mortem by pundits about the TItans apparent failure to bring pressure on Ben led to the loss. I've been wondering if that is the case given the unique attributes (not athletic talent) of Ben. Trying to analyze this game, and by extention the Steelers with the traditional "pressure the QB" paradigm may not apply to this situation and to this QB for the following reasons.
Generally, teams do not continue to blitz for the following reasons a) blitzing is risky putting your DBs in man coverage and the blitzed team capitalizes - the almost universal reason for not continuing to pressure when coupled with b) blitzing continually is more tiring on the D than the O, which happened last night, leaving the O able to capitalize (see a)or c) the QB is not effected by the blitz even when successful (this is rare and might only apply in today's NFL to Roethlisberger).
Rationale c) does not fit the traditional paradigm which is pressure the QB and eventually he will change his play, become more cautious, more averse and less agressive. This is the primary reason for blitzing. Sure it is about sacks and disrupting the play at hand, but, the paradigm is about disrupting the plays when you are not blitzing. It is about changing the play of the QB with the threat of the blitz. This paradigm doesn't apply to Ben.
Both the DC of the Titans and Vandenbosch (sic) their rush end admitted as much. They brought all they had against Ben, then the were played out, but, Ben did not act like the other QBs after getting banged about (including Brady and Peyton) his "game" in the fourth quarter was not negatively affected. Vandenbosch said it best: "Ben is the most fearless QB in the league (he never folded as all the others would have given the pressure on them). The Ravens Suggs had a similar thought when he said that Ben was the best at playing "playground football and will kill you with" (He's the best and only true practitioner, because all of the other QBs become shells of themselves coming under similar pressure). In fact, he has the unique ability to not just not "cave" to the pressure, but, play even more inspired as the game wears on.
Any thoughts?
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Good observation
especially since defense is a head game (thank you LeBeau!) as much as a physical game.
Ben is a freakin' stud!
Did you see the play where Kearse blind-sided him at full speed? Didn’t even phase the guy. Not your average QB, that’s for sure!
Much has been made of Ben being an intense competitor. Coaches, players and media have pointed to his “go for the kill” approach. Most of the really great players have “it”. Combine that mentality with his unique physical gifts and you have a QB for the ages.
Still, your observation is an astute one. We have seen Defenses disrupt his game and derail the Offense. In those games, they win some and lose some. Yet, success breeds confidence and #7 has been stacking those decks for 6 years running. I don’t think there is another NFL QB that even comes close. This was “put on tape” during the final drive of the SB and during the second half against the Titans when he elevated his play and led his team to victory.
To maintain that he has thrived in the Steeler system is an understatement. He is a winner and he is getting better. It is so fun watching a game when your teams’ QB has a license to kill.
No one like him
Apparently after learning we had won the toss in overtime, Ben told a Ballboy, “Get me my hat”. In other words, “Oh, we have the ball first? This game is over!”
13 years and no playoff wins for the Dallas Cowboys... SWEET!
Saturday morning laziness
I wrote this in another thread in response to the Titan’s lack of adjustment in the 4th quarter. Too lazy to rephrase, but I think it adds another angle on why they didn’t pressure BB.
Yeah, that was a coaching mistake. Collinsworth was just calling it like it was.
The Titans knew they didn’t need to fear the run. They knew the pressure was going to be on their backfield. So, rather than make the most of the pass rush, the coaches spent their efforts try to shore up the D-Backs.
I can sorta see why.
If their D-line gets near a QB, D-Backs get sloppy. They may take their attention off the receivers and watch for the sack. If they’re near the LoS, they might leave their coverage position and run in to help finish the QB off. When a defense gets guys in the opponent’s backfield, it’s like having blood in the water. Players can’t help but be pulled into the frenzy. The coaches know this. They train their guys not to do it, but it’s almost human nature. They also know that Ben will escape half of the time and make a play through the air.
So, in a twisted way, it makes sense to put more guys in the secondary and not try to flush Ben out of the pocket. Obviously, it didn’t work. But I can see what the Titan’s might’ve been thinking.
I actually disagree
Pressuring Ben is the only way to stop him. But, live by the pressure die by the pressure, it’s the best way to open the possiblity that he makes a huge play.
The games we lost last year were a direct result of constant pressure to the QB.
Many of the games we won, especially the close ones, were a result of pressure to Ben and he broke loose and made a big play.
Bottom line, ease of on the pressure and Ben will eat you up 12 yards at a time.
Bring the pressure, and it’s 50/50, or better, that Ben makes a big play at some point and eats you in one bite!
Only a life lived for others is a life worthwhile - Albert Einstein.
I recommend a post by SteelerBuddha in
relation to this fine post. When the oppo has more than 7 guys in the box (watch the vids, at times the Tuxes had 9!) you throw the damn ball. You audible out of BA’s fantasies and go for the throat. We have the weapons, and that threat makes the run game a whole lot easier.
My heros have always been Steelers...
Blitzing is a high risk strategy. Otherwise teams would blitz on virtually every down. Of course, there are obvious passing downs which almost mandate blitzing. But, even in these instances draws, screens and dumps to the spot the blitzer came from can produce negative results for the blitzing team.
D coordinators must balance these risks against the rewards which are two-fold. First, is to disrupt or negate the play at hand. The Second is to disrupt the QB’s actions during the rest of the game as he now contemplates the blitz. This is the traditional risk and reward paradigm to which the decision to blitz is applied.
Much has been made of Ben’s ability to shake off and/or still perform when a seeming successful blitz has not produced the desired result. In Ben’s case he has lessened the reward and increased the risks for the first rationale. Ben is particularly unique in this way.
This seems to be what “fanofsteel” is addressing, and I don’t disagree that if a blitz is successful against Ben then that particular play will turn out positive for the D. However, that is not the sole rationale going through the DC’s mind, as he weighs the risks and rewards.
My premise is that Ben also lessens the reward and, therefore, increases the risks for the second premise justifying calling a blitz – meaning the rest of his game is not negatively affected as a result of having been previously sacked and pressured. Here is the big “aha” in that Ben is also particularly unique in this way.
Obviously, if “fanofsteel” were the DC he would accept both risks and continue to blitz I tend to think in the risk averse culture that the NFL breeds that most DCs would not be such gamblers.
Not blitzing and dropping more into coverage used to work against Ben, it doesn’t now. Pressuring Ben didn’t work before, it works now because the O-line isn’t what it used to be, and you can get multiple guys to him where as in the past we picked up those blitzes better, and you know the first guy to hit Ben has a 20% chance of sacking him, you need the second and third guy or he’ll kill you.
If we can pick up blitzers and get Ben less gang rushes he’ll be able to make those plays.
So yeah, blitzing Ben is the better choice, but only because our O-Line and backs aren’t what they used to be in pass protection. (even if they are improved.)
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