Patriots coach Bill Belichick’s pregame segment on NBC included some of the following thoughts on Super Bowl XLIII:
Steelers’ zone blitz – limited time to react. Belichick showed film of the Steelers’ defense outnumbering the offense 7 to 6 at the line of scrimmage, and the Steelers sending their extra player on a blitz. “Everybody has to be picked up, and then you have to stand up to him and block him,” Belichick said on NBC. “If there is a free guy, the quarterback has to get rid of the ball. That’s the passing game – you don’t have all day back there.” At one point, Belichick showed film of Redskins quarterback Jason Campbell being sacked as the outside linebackers closed on him from both sides. "A Campbell sandwich," Belichick said.
Steelers’ gang-tackling helps them build momentum. Belichick showed film of how the Steelers often have three or four players around the ball, and their gang-tackling often helps them build momentum. “They love to stand the runner up, come in and jump on the pile, slam him down, do high-fives, get the [Terrible] Towels going. You can’t let them do that. It’s a big momentum play for the Steelers. I always felt like you have to be physical with them and get the ball downhill. Get it, get in the hole, and go. And it’s really important that the rest of these guys finish their blocks so they can’t come in and pile on the runner. Knock them off the pile and keep pushing.”
Neutralizing the zone blitz. Belichick showed two plays that can be effective against the zone blitz – one of which was a spread formation with multiple receivers to the right. Larry Fitzgerald was in the slot, he ran a short route and turned back, with Kurt Warner getting the ball out in a hurry. Belichick also showed an effective screen pass that worked because the Steelers were blitzing on the play.
Cardinals’ defensive pursuit is impressive, but can leave them vulnerable. Belichick showed how the Cardinals’ linebackers play downhill (attacking the line of scrimmage to create one solid wall) and don’t flow laterally like other clubs. They can penetrate into the backfield and create negative plays. So Belichick indicated that a reverse – or bootlegging the quarterback and having him look for a receiver running a crossing route -- could be an effective option against that type of pursuit.
OTHER PATRIOTS NUGGETS: Earlier in the pregame show, safety Rodney Harrison was part of a segment with Cris Collinsworth in which he talked about defending Larry Fitzgerald. Harrison said he'd favor an approach in which Fitzgerald was jammed at the line of scimmage. ... Also, Conan O'Brien, in a humorous segment on learning how to kick a field goal, wore a No. 12 Tom Brady Patriots jersey.
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It was great, but not enough. I would like to have seen more.
When I saw the heading of this post, I thought BB had a nervous breakdown after all the recent defections.
you putting it up on your site Mike for us that missed it
"Cardinals’ defensive pursuit is impressive, but can leave them vulnerable...So Belichick indicated that a reverse – or bootlegging the quarterback and having him look for a receiver running a crossing route -- could be an effective option against that type of pursuit." - This is why he's a great coach. Absolutely correct on this one...several times in the game including 3 times on the final drive. Cardinals sent the house and no one got to Big Ben. The rush forced him out of the pocket but he was making his throws on the run to crossing wide receivers and that's how the Cards lost. Great game though...we'll;be there next year :)
COACH BELICHICK IS THE BEST.ON THE COMMENT ON NEUTRALISING THE BLITZ HE HIT ON THE DOT.THE BEST PLAY THAT FITZGERALD HAD WAS THAT ONE.IF CARDINALS WOULD'VE LISTEN MORE TO COACH B.B. THEY WOULD HAVE WON.
In other words, without actually saying it, Belichick meant that the Steelers were a dirty bunch of scum buckets.
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