The kind of blitz that everyone hates lol, but worth a watch
https://www.nfl.com/games/buccaneers-at-chargers-2024-reg-15?active-tab=highlights
Great example though of the stuff mentioned in JosH Q's artile last week about creepers and fake pressure
Zone blitz where
1) JTS sets up very wide and doesn't really rush as much as he just draws the RT out to create the gaps where the two blitzers enter
2) Great pre-snap chess match with "creeper" Izien gets the RB to move over to him by walking up to the line. The RB gets back over to block on the other side but there are TWO free blitzers
3) Nelson dropping into zone underneath
4) LVD and Smith BOTH getting to Herbert almost UNTOUCHED
5) Dean in MAN coverage (while the rest of the DBs are in zone?)
Herbert was on the verge of breaking Brady's record for passes without an INT.
Same type of blitz we run often, but one reason it works and results in a CRITICAL INT is just the circumstances, which include the defense stepping up AND the offense pouring it on.
Herbert could probably sense the game slipping away:
White fumbles the ball before the half but the defense holds for a punt and then we get 3 to go in down 13-17.
THEY GET THE BALL FIRST THOUGH and the defense not only holds AGAIN, we get a TD, a stop again, and then a FG, so we are pulling away
and then we get a 0 run 1st down and then 2 and 10 becomes the INT
cool pay all the way aroun and good complementary football. the offense kept the ball for 36 minutes
1) JTS sets up very wide and doesn't really rush as much as he just draws the RT out to create the gaps where the two blitzers enter
you see this quite a bit from the Bucs
The question is whether that is by choice or compensating for guys who cant get to the QB
Knife in the chest.the 54 yd run was another big play
I think we got pretty lucky that Herbert was banged up and couldn't scramble
I think we got pretty lucky that Herbert was banged up and couldn't scramble
That's part of it. But imo the loss of Dobbins hurt them more. That offense is predicated on the run, and Dobbins was their most explosive player. Then, McConkey is their most reliable pass-catcher. Realistically, LAC's offense is very limited right now. They're short a speed/explosive play WR and a pass-catching TE, at the very least.
Bottom line, they were outgunned from the start. What is interesting is that TB was able to score 40 on the best scoring defense in the league. Gives us more insight as to just how good Coen's offense really is, and how good TB's OL is, especially at OT.
Also tells us something about Baker and his command of the offense, considering that he dissected that defense in the second half.
