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Where does the pass rush come from?

zamzman

Senior
Jul 1, 2004
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Any guess as to where our pass rush will come from next season? Or will our DBs be stuck trying to cover WRs all over the field while the QB patiently goes through all his progressions? Last year, I thought Gangwish was our best pass rusher and that was mostly due to his effort. This year, with the 3-4, I wonder if it'll be scheme based more than individual personnel. Our front 3 have some decent pass rush skills, but generally in a 3-4 like the Steelers run the pass rush comes from the outside linebackers. Davis, Jefferson, King, Newby, Ferguson, Alexander... I thought Jefferson had some good moments in the spring game, but I don't know if he's in the plans for this fall.

That's probably my biggest concern heading into next season, far more so than even the offensive line. I think we might surprise some people there with a healthy Gates and Foster.
 
The rush will come from scheme and "deception". You are correct the OLBs will aid in getting pressure on the QB. The offense not knowing where the 4th rusher will come from or if the defense will send 5 or more.
 
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Gangwish wasn't on the team last year.
Seems like he was... My bad. Guess it was last year it was Freedom's chance. It was pretty scary that Freedom was counted on so much going into last season for a pass rush. He may yet be okay, but he was still an underclassman and not in my opinion a natural pass rusher. I think he might be okay as a 3-4 DE.
 
The rush will come from scheme and "deception". You are correct the OLBs will aid in getting pressure on the QB. The offense not knowing where the 4th rusher will come from or if the defense will send 5 or more.
Yeah, that's my best guess as well. If we end up getting a good number of sacks, they'll probably be spread among many players rather than one key rusher (ie Gregory). We gotta do better than last year or else it'll be a long season.
 
It's not going to be fantastic, but it will be a step in the right direction. This defense is almost counting in opposing OCs to get too cute and shoot themselves in the foot until the red zone. One thing about OCs though, is almost all of them like to get cute...Nebraska's OC definitely included.
 
The rush will come from scheme and "deception". You are correct the OLBs will aid in getting pressure on the QB. The offense not knowing where the 4th rusher will come from or if the defense will send 5 or more.

Isn't this the case with all D'? Try to disguise the blitz from a backer, safety or corner in any D. The 3-4 replaces a lineman with a linebacker in hopes of getting more speed on the field to create mismatches generally on the perimeter. Thus there is a premium on LB's who rush the QB i.e. Mack and Von miller in the NFL for teams running the 3-4.
 
Isn't this the case with all D'? Try to disguise the blitz from a backer, safety or corner in any D. The 3-4 replaces a lineman with a linebacker in hopes of getting more speed on the field to create mismatches generally on the perimeter. Thus there is a premium on LB's who rush the QB i.e. Mack and Von miller in the NFL for teams running the 3-4.


We'll sort of. But you don't often find a 3-4 that tries to get pressure with just the 3 down lineman. In most every passing situation in a 3-4 front you will send a LB. that isn't always the case in a 4-3. So while you may still be rushing only 4, the offense won't always know which of the 4 LBs will be the the 4th rusher. Which is different than a 4-3 where you know who the 4 DLinmen are. You could see some zone blitzes in an even front where a lineman will drop into coverage and a LB will rush but again only 4 are coming. Odd man fronts just allow for more exotic blitzes where you only send 4. To blitz in a 4 man front, you typically see a 5th rusher which can weaken your coverages in the back seven.
 
That's the beauty of the 3-4...
"Where every we want" is the correct answer.
 
It stood out and was worrisome that there was basically zero pressure on the QB with 4 DL on Saturday.

They didn't play that package all game because they're not gonna play it in the fall. It's not good that they can't get any push from the front 4 in nickel. Vanilla or no, you want some evidence that guys can disrupt the pocket without needing an exotic call dialed up.

I would question how much they'll be in a 3-man front in passing situations. So the answer of, "No worries, OLBs and blitzes will solve it" doesn't work for me.
 
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It stood out and was worrisome that there was basically zero pressure on the QB with 4 DL on Saturday.

They didn't play that package all game because they're not gonna play it in the fall. It's not good that they can't get any push from the front 4 in nickel. Vanilla or no, you want some evidence that guys can disrupt the pocket without needing an exotic call dialed up.

I would question how much they'll be in a 3-man front in passing situations. So the answer of, "No worries, OLBs and blitzes will solve it" doesn't work for me.


Dude that was by design. They were not allowed to collapse the pocket. Its also why the offensive line performance needs to be taken with a grain of salt.
 
God I hope so. Pressure to the QB has been so bad I'm not sure I can recognize when they're trying and when they're not any more...
Lol, for sure - there were a few individual efforts , where d-line was disruptive by an individuals great effort that gave me some heart while there. I haven't really watched a replay yet, hope you see a couple there when you do.
 
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Dude that was by design. They were not allowed to collapse the pocket. Its also why the offensive line performance needs to be taken with a grain of salt.

Man the OL must really be rough if they need special unwritten rules for the DL in scrimmages. This ain't just a green jersey on the QB type of thing.
 
Man the OL must really be rough if they need special unwritten rules for the DL in scrimmages. This ain't just a green jersey on the QB type of thing.


I see where you could believe that. My thoughts are that they didn't want to show anything that can be used in the fall. I don't remember seeing any stunts at all. It was just 5 OL vs 4 DL where one of the Gs chipped the NT and went to the 2nd level on run plays and straight up on pass plays.
 
I see where you could believe that. My thoughts are that they didn't want to show anything that can be used in the fall. I don't remember seeing any stunts at all. It was just 5 OL vs 4 DL where one of the Gs chipped the NT and went to the 2nd level on run plays and straight up on pass plays.

I have to admit, I haven't watched the game. But going by your description, scripting strictly BoB protection is 9th grade crap and certainly isn't helping the OL
 
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