It's not stop the run, but attack the run.

[Camshaft]

I apologize if this quote has already been mentioned, but a documented explanation of Dennis Green's position on defense pretty well explains the release of our two overweight "run stoppers."

Per 1995 publication "Football Coaching Strategies," Part II Defense, Emphasis on Defense, Chapter 'Getting Linebackers to the Point of Attack' by Dennis Green (chapter author), " 'Getting to the point of attack,' is a phrase we all use in discussing defensive football. To me it applies to every defensive player once the ball is snapped." The three page chapter discusses use of LBs against the run and the pass. The often-used key word for run defense is "attack." The often-used key word for pass defense is "rushing." He used the word "stopping" once (the last sentence of the chapter), and when doing so, it referred to group effort, not an individual.

Paraphrase: "Getting to the point of attack applies to EVERY defensive player once the ball is snapped." Get ready for excitement. You might want to bone up on etiquette for winners.

 

[azdad1978]

 

[vikesfan]

I apologize if this quote has already been mentioned, but a documented explanation of Dennis Green's position on defense pretty well explains the release of our two overweight "run stoppers."

Per 1995 publication "Football Coaching Strategies," Part II Defense, Emphasis on Defense, Chapter 'Getting Linebackers to the Point of Attack' by Dennis Green (chapter author), " 'Getting to the point of attack,' is a phrase we all use in discussing defensive football. To me it applies to every defensive player once the ball is snapped." The three page chapter discusses use of LBs against the run and the pass. The often-used key word for run defense is "attack." The often-used key word for pass defense is "rushing." He used the word "stopping" once (the last sentence of the chapter), and when doing so, it referred to group effort, not an individual.

Paraphrase: "Getting to the point of attack applies to EVERY defensive player once the ball is snapped." Get ready for excitement. You might want to bone up on etiquette for winners.

Great find! DG knows defense.

 

[JeffGollin]

The often-used key word for run defense is "attack."
A valid defensive scheme - but only if well executed. The Cards have experimented with "attack the run" defenses in the recent past - only to have our rush guys (who were long on aggressiveness and lacking in discipline) overpursue so that they'd wind up too far upfield and allowed the RB to cut underneath them to daylight.

I have a different take on strategy (regarding both sides of the ball):

Although it's desirable to have an identifiable "approach" to the way your team plays offense and defense, the NFL is all about strategy, counter-strategy, counter, counter-strategy etc. etc.

Beef up the interior with 360 pound tackles and opposing OC's will attack your flanks. Put 11 fast, light guys on the field and opposing OC's will attempt to pound you. All the time, OC's will scrutinize tape and probe for weaknesses.

By all means have a "base" defensive philosophy. But you'd better set up your team to be flexible enough to have "answers" when the opposing offense counters you.

If we don't have an answer in the form of one or two beefy interior DT's - even if they remain in backup roles for most of the season, we may be leaving ourselves exposed to big physical offensive teams.

 

[azdad1978]

If we don't have an answer in the form of one or two beefy interior DT's - even if they remain in backup roles for most of the season, we may be leaving ourselves exposed to big physical offensive teams.[/COLOR]

We don't have any beefy DT on the depth chart to make this work Jeff.

 

[vikesfan]

I think the successful teams play their game no matter what. Look at a team like STL they are going to pass no matter what. You know they are going to pass you can prepare for them passing but they are still going to pass. The Ravens are going to run a 3-4 no matter what. You know they are going with that and they stick to it.

 

[slanidrac16]

I agree with Jeff AND Vikesfan.
The really good teams have depth and the ability to counter act any....counter act. We don't have that type of depth, nor do I think Tanner and/or Bell would have given us the manpower to stuff the inside run. They didn't before, why does anybody think they would have this year?
When you don't have the type(s) of player(s) needed to handle certain situations, then you have to adjust by scheme. As an example, you wouldn't ask a 200 lb WR to play tight end.
So if we don't have or fail to obtain a run stuffing DT per say, then we have to adjust with stunts and run blitzing. Will that work? Not all the time. But asking a speedy but perhaps under sized DT to hang in there and stuff the run will never work and sets up a player to fail.

And how often have we seen that in the last few years?

 

[joeshmo]

Beef up the interior with 360 pound tackles and opposing OC's will attack your flanks. Put 11 fast, light guys on the field and opposing OC's will attempt to pound you. All the time, OC's will scrutinize tape and probe for weaknesses.

[/COLOR]

Here is the problem you cant just stuff in a 360 lb DT and have the OC only attack the flanks. If that 360 lbs DT cant hold up at the point of attack or get the right leverage by getting off of the ball quick enough he will be destroyed all the time.

The oline and dline isnt about weight it is about leverage, ask any lineman that has ever played the game and they will tell you the same. A 300 lb DT can easily push around a 360 lb OG if he has the leverage. Dont get me wrong weight does play apart but it isnt the biggest part of the formula of a successfull linemen. It goes leverage, quickness off of the snap, hands, then weight IMO.

 

[azwulf]

The often-used key word for run defense is "attack."
A valid defensive scheme - but only if well executed. The Cards have experimented with "attack the run" defenses in the recent past - only to have our rush guys (who were long on aggressiveness and lacking in discipline) overpursue so that they'd wind up too far upfield and allowed the RB to cut underneath them to daylight.

I have a different take on strategy (regarding both sides of the ball):

Although it's desirable to have an identifiable "approach" to the way your team plays offense and defense, the NFL is all about strategy, counter-strategy, counter, counter-strategy etc. etc.

Beef up the interior with 360 pound tackles and opposing OC's will attack your flanks. Put 11 fast, light guys on the field and opposing OC's will attempt to pound you. All the time, OC's will scrutinize tape and probe for weaknesses.

By all means have a "base" defensive philosophy. But you'd better set up your team to be flexible enough to have "answers" when the opposing offense counters you.

If we don't have an answer in the form of one or two beefy interior DT's - even if they remain in backup roles for most of the season, we may be leaving ourselves exposed to big physical offensive teams.

I totally agree, eventhough our main focus of improvement may be the pass rush, you can not defend the pass alone. If an opponent consistently runs at our interior DL you may ask yourself if you'd rather have a run stuffing backup or a pass rushing starter.

IMO we need to pick up a wide body for the season or the releases of Tanner and Bell are hard to explain. And he'd better be there before camp opens ;-).