Shuting Down the AirRaid
by FOR Raider
on Aug 4, 2008 2:44 PM CDT
I have a question for Seth. What are teams like Missouri doing that stymies the Air Raid so much? Over the past two seasons the two games with Missouri point to more than just a QB having an off day. I'd like to know what you think.
I wonder if the key is knowing the read progression for the basic formations that the QB makes and how the receivers typically react to coverage positioning. The Air Raid is premised on the receivers reading the db and running to space. For instance, in the Cotton Bowl Alabama played inside leverage so the outside receivers ran outside fly routes looking for the lob on the sideline. So if you know for a particular formation, can you position your defense to show something and do another? What about a variable blitz, one where your pressure comes based upon the formation and the hot reads? Cover options 1 and 2 tight and blitz away from the hot reads.
It just seems to me that Missouri did more than just have "good pressure." They frustrated Graham and I think it was by jumping hot routes and taking away the quick options when they brought pressure.
This is a FanPost and does not necessarily reflect the views of Double-T Nations's writers or editors. It does reflect the views of this particular fan though, which is as important as the views of Double-T Nation's writers or editors.
0 recs |
5
comments
| Add your comment
EmailComments
Missouri was physical with our receivers and pushed them out of their routes and forced us to throw the short-middle routes. The linebackers clogged the middle of the field and made sure tackles. Minimized YAC and caused tipped balls and turnovers. The physicality of Missouri threw our younger receivers off their game.
If you look at the number of drops and where the plays went in the first half of the Gator Bowl, you can see a similar thing happening. That and Graham being a dumbass. But things got better when the receivers started to force a bit more separation and started catching the balls.
by kayakyakr on
Aug 4, 2008 2:58 PM CDT
reply
0 recs
I hope others join in too, but I thought the other thing that Missouri did was to bring pressure from different points and typically they were able to get pressure with just 4 guys, sometimes just 3 (it’s been a while, but I believe that to be the case). I just seemed to remember lots of stunting throughout the game. So here it is, relatively quick pressure on the QB and then knocking the receivers off of their initial routes, taking away any quick outlet passes. I’d also like to point you to this and this for some excellent DTN reader insight as to how to stop the AirRaid.
One other thing, that kayakyakr mentioned was that almost the entire Missouri defense was playing a lane in the middle of the field, thus removing any possibility of a big crossing pattern. If Texas Tech was going to beat Missouri, they were going to have to do it by throwing the ball deep.
Go Raiders . . .
by Seth C on
Aug 4, 2008 10:26 PM CDT
reply
0 recs
deep along the sidelines was how we got our only TD of the day. Britton or Walker going deep with crabtree taking the attention of a safety might work a number of times this season.
by kayakyakr on
Aug 4, 2008 10:36 PM CDT
up
reply
0 recs
Missouri
Ran a 6/ 5 defense which Leach has yet to address. The 6 is a 3 and 3 or 3 linemen and 3 linebackers with 5 defensive backs.
What this basically does, is give Missouri a total of 8 players in pass protection which cloggs all the passing lanes. Add to that they rough up the recievers more than anyone else, it leads to the problems that you see.
Additionally, We have always come out bad and flat to start the game against Missouri. In fact, in all be one game, Tech has turned the darn ball over or had some game change event in the first two series. Like interception TD and so forth.
The only way to defeat this defense is to develop a running game. Something Leach rarely does. But Leach has had games which the run was the game plan. See Texas A&M 2007.
But Leach really needs to develop some kind of hard smash mouth run game where you just pound the ball up the middle. Not for years for say, but it would make teams get honest and it would force teams out of heavy secondary leaning coverages.
It would be great so see Tech develop about 12 power running plays rather than just the draw and quick counter we use.
It would be nice to see two backs in the back field line up in the power I and actually run a power I play! There would be oh so many plays I can think of which would be awesome play action later down the road with the Leach Passing game and the famed Jail Break.
by Pablo M on
Aug 10, 2008 7:06 PM CDT
reply
0 recs
several teams have run a 33 Stack against Tech
I’d have to go back and look to be sure, but I’m fairly certain A&M used it last season.
A 3-man front is difficult for most o-lines today b/c it isn’t something they see often. However, I think Leach has adapted to it fairly well. Teams running it for only one game aren’t going to beat an offense that players run all season.
Oneof Missouri’s advantages is that their defense faces a better and more well-rounded spread offense every day in practice.
by Beergut on
Aug 12, 2008 11:03 PM CDT
reply
0 recs
New FanPost
