Despite the fact that the blitz-happy strategy which the Eagles have employed during this past decade hasn’t helped them win a title, they will continue to employ that defensive game plan for the forseeable future.
I believe a blitz-happy defense can do well during the regular season against the mediocre and bad teams but when you get late in the playoffs, it doesn’t work because you’re going to be playing against experienced quarterbacks with a bevy of explosive weapons.
I don’t have a problem with the blitz, but you can’t use it as your number one method of getting to the quarterback.
You must be able to put pressure on the quarterback by using only your front four the majority of the time, then go to the blitz as a change up.
The blitz puts too much pressure on your pass coverage and allows an experienced quarterback with explosive weapons to pick your defense apart.
Imagine if you’ve got to stop one of the following quarterbacks, Kurt Warner, Drew Brees, Brett Favre, Tony Romo, Peyton Manning or Phillip Rivers this weekend.
Once you get this late in the playoffs, you’re going to be playing against a veteran quarterback with outstanding weapons.
Do you think you could be successful if you have to rely on the blitz to get pressure on one of the quarterbacks on that list?
The two quarterbacks not on that list Joe Fllacco and Mark Sanchez are still very young and vulnerable to the blitz. The others will be sitting there waiting for you to come with it, especially if you use it rely on it too much.
The Eagles played against three of those quarterbacks, Brees, Romo and Rivers this season. How much success did they have against them with the blitz?
Realize also that the compiling of scouting information for this weekends playoffs games started a few weeks ago. They would have every blitz you’ve run in the entire season on tape.
You’re not going to fool them. You need defensive ends and tackles which you can line up and get there.
