Just so you know it is not technically considered a blitz unless you bring 5 or more. If there are 2 down linemen and you bring 2 linebackers or a LB and a safety it is still a 4 man rush. Personally I think it is dumb but this past summer I read/posted an article in the Press Gazette or Sentinel Journal that defined what construes a blitz. Some of the sages (I think one was Zombie) on this board confirmed it.
The benefit to having 2 or 3 down linemen is that the OL doesn't know where the pressure will come from. It is also easier to overload one side of the ball. I wouldn't mind it if they considered anyone other than one of the big chubby guys to be a blitzer.

Originally Posted by: wpr 

DT is the two middle lineman in a 4 - 3 where a NT is the middle lineman in a 3 - 4, correct? I believe Raji spent a good deal of time at DE while Howard Green was NT.

I'm pointing this out because I think I might be misunderstanding something.

Originally Posted by: Zero2Cool 

No worries my friend. I'm still baffled on how a SACK can be remotely considered a pressure. A pressure I thought was something HAPPENING and a SACK is a result of something. Fucking English language sucks.

Originally Posted by: Zero2Cool 

Two defensive linemen doesn't mean that only two people are rushing the QB. It's almost never two defensive linemen against 5-6 offensive line as someone has said, unless perhaps it's a three man rush which we have done occasionally. Usually if two D-Line are on the field, it just means we have at least two LBs or some other variety of personnel rushing the passer. Raji does in fact receive many double teams, but relative to last season, he isn't winning those much nor is he winning many one-on-ones when he gets them. I expect him and our defense as a whole to step up throughout the playoffs.

Originally Posted by: doddpower 

Dodd I never said there would only be 2 men rushing the QB. When I used the the example of 2 linemen I said they would bring either 2 LB or a LB and someone else such as a safety.

Originally Posted by: wpr 

I am sure there are not too many other teams that line up just 1 or 2 downlinemen like GB does. Does this critic for Raji really expect him to make the tackle or get the sack when there are only 1 or 2 men going against 5 or 6 blockers?

Originally Posted by: wpr 

I'm sure I misunderstood your post somehow, but this is what I was referencing.



Either way, it doesn't matter. My main point was just that Raji receives a lot of double teams, but so do most of the players in his position, such as Hampton, Wilfork, Ngata, etc. No one expects him to win often, but I feel as if he needs to win more, that is, if we want to win the Super Bowl this year. It's the unfortunate reality he is in due to the lack of pass rush from anywhere else on the defensive line.

Originally Posted by: doddpower 

Just so you know it is not technically considered a blitz unless you bring 5 or more. If there are 2 down linemen and you bring 2 linebackers or a LB and a safety it is still a 4 man rush. Personally I think it is dumb but this past summer I read/posted an article in the Press Gazette or Sentinel Journal that defined what construes a blitz. Some of the sages (I think one was Zombie) on this board confirmed it.
The benefit to having 2 or 3 down linemen is that the OL doesn't know where the pressure will come from. It is also easier to overload one side of the ball. I wouldn't mind it if they considered anyone other than one of the big chubby guys to be a blitzer.

Originally Posted by: wpr 

Now the Giants lead 7-0 and have second-and-goal on the Dallas 5. Again [Rob] Ryan sends a big blitz -- his defensive calls are about drawing attention to himself, not about winning. Abram Elam misses a tackle in the backfield, Nicks pastes Newsman and Ahmad Bradshaw walks into the end zone. Later on a 29-yard Bradshaw rush, the Cowboys were in a two-man front -- which has consistently backfired against Dallas, including in the 'Boys late collapse in their first game against these selfsame Giants. Ryan is so concerned about drawing attention to his own perceived genius, he can't just orchestrate a regular defense -- everything's got to be an exotic blitz or a weird two-man rush. Result? Cowboys are out of the postseason while the Giants, who play a conventional four-man front, are in.

Gregg Easterbrook had some pretty stinging words  this week for defensive coordinators who favor glitzy formations over fundamental tactics:



I should add that I am not accusing Dom Capers of this. I just thought it was interesting in this context, and the talk of 2-man fronts reminded me of it.

Originally Posted by: Nonstopdrivel 

He makes a point though. Raji has really suffered from the loss of Jenkins. At least I hope that's what it is so that he can return to form if we get another comparable defensive linemen like Jenkins. Hopefully he's not gotten complacent. If we are going to win the Super Bowl this season, Raji HAS to step it up several notches.

Originally Posted by: doddpower