It's the scheme and the personnel

[John Hammonds]

I've been thinking about this for a while.  Why is it that the other teams can run against us with abandon?  Is it our defensive scheme?  Or is it our personnel?

I propose that it's both.

 

Here's what I mean.  In the base Cover-3 scheme, the corners turn and run, setting up the 3-deep zones.  The outside linebackers cover the zones in the flats.  This sets up the middle linebacker and the strong safety to make all of the tackles.  Now, if the offense uses multiple receivers, the defense has to take a linebacker off of the field and replace him with another defensive back.  This means that, if the remaining linebackers continue to have their zone responsibility, it leaves no middle linebacker to make the tackles.  It falls to the safety to do it all.  is it any wonder that Nick Cross is leading the league in tackles?  Of course he is.

 

So, how is this working?  Or, rather, how is it not working?  Something I've noticed is that the majority of the successful runs come against the weak side.  Who is playing weak side defensive end?  Either Tyquan Lewis or Laitu Latu.  We already know that Latu is far better at rushing the passer than defending the run.  It's no surprise that he is not yet capable to seal the edge.  Tyquan Lewis has been a backup his entire career for a reason.  He's one of the toughest guys around.  Just not the most talented.  You want a guy you can stick in the line and feel ok about it.  But he's not starter material.

Thus, on offense, you have your weak side receiver run a short route on his side, keeping the linebacker on that side busy, and you run against the defensive end that can't seal the edge.  Result?  8 yards.  Easy.  Every time.  If the Colts never change their scheme, this will work.  Against this scheme and personnel.

 

Now -- how do we deal with this?  I propose that we run either Cover-2 or even a Bear defense on first down.  Regardless of offensive formation, or how many receivers are on the field.  Make sure that there are three linebackers on the field, and that the weak side 'backer is free to make the tackle.  Limit any first down run to 2 yards or less.  Sell out on this.  Put the offense into long yardage in the later downs.  As Gus said, earn the right to rush the passer.

 

What I would do is line up with all three linebackers, a single high safety, and Kenny Moore to cover the extra receiver.  Make sure that third linebacker is specifically over the defensive end.  Shut that lane down.  Make the offense do something else to beat you.

 

Anyway, that's my suggestion.  I'm not a defensive expert.  I sit in the cheap seats.  But that's how I see it.

[chad72]

The edge is not being set well and now the middle goes vacant with Buckner on IR. Water is coming into the boat through several holes, so patching up one hole will allow it come another way anyways. We can only limit the bleeding.

 

Unless AR and the offense bail the D out with some time of possession, the D is going to bleed a little for sure.

[RollerColt]

You would think this week would be the perfect time to disguise coverage to confuse the rookie QB, since... you know... rookie QBs generally struggle with that sort of thing. 

 

Too bad we're not like most teams...