RW92":3vbkxw7s said:
One way to secure a win on Sunday is to have the pass rush push up the middle. If we can eliminate Cam from stepping up we can hit him and strip the ball.
...most importantly we must use the blitz more often and get off the field on 3rd down.
Disagree. Above all else, against a QB like Cam, the pass rush needs to be balanced, synchronized, and symmetrical. If your inside rushers get ahead of the ends, or if you overload the middle with a blitz, Cam will squirt out of the pocket and burn you to the outside with his legs. If your edge rush gets ahead of your interior pressure, he will find an inside gap to burn you with his legs. We have a much better chance of stripping the ball if we can keep him immobile in the pocket. It will be important that all rushers work together to keep Cam hemmed in while the pocket collapses.
A successful attack probably won't generate much in the way of sacks. Maybe a few hits here and there, but the key will be just to disrupt the timing of the passing game by forcing Cam to hurry his passes as the pocket collapses around him. Keep him in a collapsing pocket and we win.
Thankfully, this strategy plays well to the strengths and weaknesses of both teams. Our dominant edge rushers should have no problem keeping the sides of the pocket intact and collapsing against their weaker edge protection. It will be take longer to develop pressure from the middle as that is their strength and that is how we are built. This is ok as it will give our edge guys time to get home. Just keep Cam contained and make him win with his arm.
He is fully capable of generating wins with his arm, but I like the matchup of Cam's arm vs our secondary.
Contrast this to a guy like Brees who will pick you apart from the pocket. You want to get pressure on him any way possible. Unbalanced attacks work well against a QB like Brees who can't escape the pressure. You'll see Bennet and Avril line up on the same end of the line against a Brees, Manning, Foles, but not against a Newton or a Kaepernick
I'm looking for disciplined play on the defensive front. And hoping Bennett figures out how to line up somewhere on his side of the neutral zone, for crying out loud.
-bsd