Witness to a Car Wreck
I wanted to send a friendly "heads-up" to the Raider Nation who plan to tune in to the game this Sunday vs. Philadelphia. Be prepared to crane your neck to view a ghastly car wreck collision.
Last week the Eagles blitzed the Bucs on 60% of their offensive snaps (45 blitzes on 75 snaps). This is not a typo. New Defensive Coordinator Sean McDermott has taken a page from former DC Jim Johnson's (RIP) playbook. The Eagles blitzed more in this 1 game than the Raiders will blitz for the entire 2009 season but that is another blog entry for another day.
Why did the Eagles blitz so much vs. the Bucs? Quite simply, DC McDermott realized that his Eagles defense was facing an inexperienced QB in Josh Johnson. When is a blitz effective? When you've got a QB who is indecisive with his reads, holds on to the ball to long, runs an unsophisticated offense, and has a leaky OLine. Sound familiar?
I hate to say it after such an embarrassing dismantling last week vs. the Giants but this upcoming game is where the wheels really fall completely off the vehicle. McDermott dials up a very diverse set of blitz packages in every conceivable game situation. It doesn't matter if it is 1st down, 2nd down, or 3rd down. It can be a red zone blitz, run blitz, all out blitz. If the opponent isn't able to handle and capitalize on the blitz pressure then he serves up even more blitzes.
Factor in a QB whose confidence is reeling, a team struggling to churn out 200 yards of offensive production, 2 rookie WRs who are not reliable to read and react, and you've got yourself a seat to a full on, no holds bar gore fest. The over/under on total sacks, interceptions, and QB fumbles has to be close to a +/- 12. Are these what Cable would call "explosive" defensive plays? Can you say "Dynamite, Tom!"
I would like to think that Cable is doing everything humanly possible as the Head Coach to prepare the offensive unit for the inevitable onslaught of a "Super Sunday Blitzkrieg" in terms of scheme, personnel groupings, play calling, and group prayers to get ready for Sunday.
I would love to see the the entire team to play with a sense of pride, purpose, aggression, and conviction.
Being a realistic optimist (hoping for the best outcome but grounded in reality), my view is that this is the type of match-up that is no better than bringing a parka jacket to hell.
posted by Calico Jack at 9:35 PM
14 Comments:
Can't go well Sunday. Sigh.
How well do you think Cable will have the offensive unit prepared for an onslaught of blitzes? If you don't see Russell throwing quick slants ... there's your answer.
this is one very boring blog
Free will is a beautiful thing, anonymous 5:35. No one has a gun to your head to visit this blog.
I will gladly apoligize for not entertaining you when you say your sorry for not having a spine. Oh, my bad ... boring Calico Jack shouldn't have an opinion about the upcoming Raiders game on a Raiders related blog.
I dig your blog,alot of thought goes into it,and time, and as bad as we are these last 6 years and as optimistic as your remain i commend you keep up the good work!!!i say fight fire with fire blitz there ass just as much!!!hell we got nothing to lose.I say screw all the haters i dont think we can get much worse what goes up must come down and vice versa hopefully.Peace Easy.
Thanks RP. If you haven't already done so, I highly recommend checking out "Raider Take" and "Across the Silver and Black Pond".
I just checked out across the silver and black pond as you reccomended. I prefer this blog and Raider tAke because it is hard to take a blog seriously of a guy who does not or is not able to watch the games. Susan Jackson in Oaktown.
CJ, you need to predict dire results for the Raiders more often, it seemed to help
Regards
Florida Raider
Susan
We have TV's, and the internet in the U.K. too you know and both make it possible to watch Raiders games quite easily, honest.Oh and we have aeroplanes too, they allow guys who can't watch games to well,go and watch games.Isn't the 21st century amazing.
That defensive showing this week was fun to watch and took everyone by surprise not least the Eagles.Lets hope Marshall gets to do it his away next week!
Leighraider, so have you been able to watch every Raider game this year?
FLR - I have never been so happy to be so wrong about a prediction.
CJ,
Our boys can still win one now and then. Thank you, defense! And of course Miller and his blocking boy wonder. Made me almost forget JaMRuss's 2 int's.
All of a sudden, the Jets seem within reach. But they will be like a pissed off hornet's nest. Has the makings of a good game...
Tooz:
The difference from this game being an aberration or us gaining tangible traction ... if DC Marshall continues to call a dynamic, unpredicatable, aggressive game plan where QB pressure is a primary objective.
This is the first time I can recall seeing us blitz so much AND use more than 30% zone coverage.
Yes Anon unfortunately I have seen every game, it's called NFL Gamepass.
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