Leos/Als Keys to the Game
Posted: Fri Jul 18, 2014 7:33 am
The Montreal Als travel west to B.C. Place tomorrow afternoon to play our B.C. Lions. The Als kicked our butts when we travelled east for our second game of the season. It was one of our most embarrassing losses in a decade of football and one of our most miserable offensive performances I can ever remember.
This is not just an opportunity for revenge but also an opportunity for our coaching staff to prove that they can take on a very skilled blitzing defense and be successful. The last time our Leos played a blitzing defense that was this good and shredded it was in 2003, when Steve Burratto surprised Don Matthews well-coached Als with double tight ends all game and made life miserable for the blitzing strategy.
Considering that we are last in the league in time of possession so far this season, our defense has held us in games for periods of time. If we can put some drives together, have a reasonable time of possession, and can run the football, we have a very good chance to win this game.
This game will not be about 'players making plays'. This game will be about 'coaches coming up with winning strategies to beat the blitz'. Here are my keys to the game.
1. Go Double Tights Almost All Game
This is not a game to just go double tights on first down but on almost every down. You can't run block six, seven, and even eight defenders blitzing with five offensive lineman. The defense penetrates and there are no holes. You can't pass block with five offensive lineman when there are six or seven defenders blitzing and coming from everywhere with stunts. A defender will have a straight line to the quarterback on most pass plays.
I will be disappointed if we go with the spread set on passing downs, even if we keep the back in to block. I will be disappointed if we go spread set and swing the back out of the backfield. Montreal will key Harris and Logan with a defender all game and will be prepared for us throwing the quick pass to the flat.
We need to run the football and pass the football out of double tights. Its the best way to attack the Als blitzing defense with both the run and the pass. The best way to use the tailback, if we want to utilize Harris or Logan out of the backfield is to put the back in motion and use a quick screen or send the back downfield.
2. Go Vertical
There are some who believe that you attack a blitzing defense with the short passing game. That is exactly what the Als want you to do and they often play press coverage. Going short passing attack is the only choice out of the spread. You only have time to have the quarterback catch the snap and throw it, ususally for a very short gain. A better way is the double tight formation. It provides the opportunity for better pass blocking. It gives the quarterback the opportunity to be able to throw short passes but also occasions to go vertical. Beating a blitzing defense vertically throws fear into defensive coordinators. Vertical doesn't always mean the deep ball. It means running seem patterns, skinny posts, slant patterns, hook/stop patterns, skinny corners, and the quick fly.
3. Use the Screen/ Motion/Tight End Game.
The full out blitz often means man coverage, sometimes with a deep safety, sometimes not. Using motion causes all kinds of problems for press coverage. The defender doesn't get the opportunity to set up and play press coverage. It creates assignment headaches. Wide bunch formations can also create problems so using three receivers to the wide side with a single receiver to the short side in one on one coverage with no safety help.
Our Leos will likely use Lumbala and Gore as tight ends but this is a game in which they should use Haidara as a tight end at times. He is a big receiver who can block and is a big target. Our Lions should not just use our tight ends as blockers but slip one of them out into a pass pattern at times. That will cause the Als some big problems. The tight end is close to the quarterback and can easily slip into areas vacated by blitzing defenders for quick passes. Using Haidara at times to block, rather than Gore, and using Haidara to pass receive at times, in place of Lumbala, on passing downs would make good sense.
Finally, the screen game is critical but importantly we need to run different screens. Stationary hitch screens are not the best strategy nor our tailback screens. Screens would be most effective when we have both backs in the game, when we utilize slotback screens, tight end screens, and motion screens.
4. Mix Coverages on Defense
The best way to play the Als offense is to mix coverages against an inexperienced quarterback. The Als have some big receivers and a quick passing attack that will go deep when they see one on one coverage. Blitzing the hell out of them is not the best strategy. Smith will lock onto his primary receiver. You want to avoid one on one coverages with those big receivers. This is a game to go with an import free safety and ensure there is double coverage deep while playing tight coverage underneath. It will provide opportunities for interceptions. We just need to create enough pressure up front to make sure Smith doesn't have too much time and a single blitzer, coming from different spots, should get that done.
With Khalif Mitchell likely not able to go and Westerman starting, we can anticipate the Als will attack the inside with the run game. Eliminian, Bighill, Jamal Johnson, and Josh Johnson will need to scrape and penetrate in the run game to narrow down the inside holes as well as create early disruption. We need to 'attack' the Als run game fromn the linebacker positions rather than defend it. Washington said he wanted to play aggressive defense this year. Aggressive defense against the Als offence means penetration against the run and tough underneath coverage against the pass, while taking away the opportunity for the deep play.
Looking forward to reading Lionbackers posters keys to the game because Lionbackers always get it right.
This is not just an opportunity for revenge but also an opportunity for our coaching staff to prove that they can take on a very skilled blitzing defense and be successful. The last time our Leos played a blitzing defense that was this good and shredded it was in 2003, when Steve Burratto surprised Don Matthews well-coached Als with double tight ends all game and made life miserable for the blitzing strategy.
Considering that we are last in the league in time of possession so far this season, our defense has held us in games for periods of time. If we can put some drives together, have a reasonable time of possession, and can run the football, we have a very good chance to win this game.
This game will not be about 'players making plays'. This game will be about 'coaches coming up with winning strategies to beat the blitz'. Here are my keys to the game.
1. Go Double Tights Almost All Game
This is not a game to just go double tights on first down but on almost every down. You can't run block six, seven, and even eight defenders blitzing with five offensive lineman. The defense penetrates and there are no holes. You can't pass block with five offensive lineman when there are six or seven defenders blitzing and coming from everywhere with stunts. A defender will have a straight line to the quarterback on most pass plays.
I will be disappointed if we go with the spread set on passing downs, even if we keep the back in to block. I will be disappointed if we go spread set and swing the back out of the backfield. Montreal will key Harris and Logan with a defender all game and will be prepared for us throwing the quick pass to the flat.
We need to run the football and pass the football out of double tights. Its the best way to attack the Als blitzing defense with both the run and the pass. The best way to use the tailback, if we want to utilize Harris or Logan out of the backfield is to put the back in motion and use a quick screen or send the back downfield.
2. Go Vertical
There are some who believe that you attack a blitzing defense with the short passing game. That is exactly what the Als want you to do and they often play press coverage. Going short passing attack is the only choice out of the spread. You only have time to have the quarterback catch the snap and throw it, ususally for a very short gain. A better way is the double tight formation. It provides the opportunity for better pass blocking. It gives the quarterback the opportunity to be able to throw short passes but also occasions to go vertical. Beating a blitzing defense vertically throws fear into defensive coordinators. Vertical doesn't always mean the deep ball. It means running seem patterns, skinny posts, slant patterns, hook/stop patterns, skinny corners, and the quick fly.
3. Use the Screen/ Motion/Tight End Game.
The full out blitz often means man coverage, sometimes with a deep safety, sometimes not. Using motion causes all kinds of problems for press coverage. The defender doesn't get the opportunity to set up and play press coverage. It creates assignment headaches. Wide bunch formations can also create problems so using three receivers to the wide side with a single receiver to the short side in one on one coverage with no safety help.
Our Leos will likely use Lumbala and Gore as tight ends but this is a game in which they should use Haidara as a tight end at times. He is a big receiver who can block and is a big target. Our Lions should not just use our tight ends as blockers but slip one of them out into a pass pattern at times. That will cause the Als some big problems. The tight end is close to the quarterback and can easily slip into areas vacated by blitzing defenders for quick passes. Using Haidara at times to block, rather than Gore, and using Haidara to pass receive at times, in place of Lumbala, on passing downs would make good sense.
Finally, the screen game is critical but importantly we need to run different screens. Stationary hitch screens are not the best strategy nor our tailback screens. Screens would be most effective when we have both backs in the game, when we utilize slotback screens, tight end screens, and motion screens.
4. Mix Coverages on Defense
The best way to play the Als offense is to mix coverages against an inexperienced quarterback. The Als have some big receivers and a quick passing attack that will go deep when they see one on one coverage. Blitzing the hell out of them is not the best strategy. Smith will lock onto his primary receiver. You want to avoid one on one coverages with those big receivers. This is a game to go with an import free safety and ensure there is double coverage deep while playing tight coverage underneath. It will provide opportunities for interceptions. We just need to create enough pressure up front to make sure Smith doesn't have too much time and a single blitzer, coming from different spots, should get that done.
With Khalif Mitchell likely not able to go and Westerman starting, we can anticipate the Als will attack the inside with the run game. Eliminian, Bighill, Jamal Johnson, and Josh Johnson will need to scrape and penetrate in the run game to narrow down the inside holes as well as create early disruption. We need to 'attack' the Als run game fromn the linebacker positions rather than defend it. Washington said he wanted to play aggressive defense this year. Aggressive defense against the Als offence means penetration against the run and tough underneath coverage against the pass, while taking away the opportunity for the deep play.
Looking forward to reading Lionbackers posters keys to the game because Lionbackers always get it right.