Why doesn't the NFL assign a defender to defend against mobile QB's that are capable of running, say a 4.6 40 or better?
This is only for the QB's that average ( roughly ) better than 20+ yards a game on the ground!
Allow me to put on my defensive coordinator hat and give you the good fans of Planet Steelers my 101.
- Spies: Sometimes, defenses will employ a "spy" - a linebacker or safety whose primary role is to watch and react to the QB. Let the QB guess where he is, and hit him hard whenever he runs. This by itself will limit the QB running as most of the QB's are not built to be hit. Always assign a spy on 3rd down and 5+ yards. I see this guy as a key situational piece. I call him the QB killer. For us the best man is either Fitz or Wilson. This man drops into short zone coverage, cheating to the right hand side of the QB as most QB runs are either to this side or the middle and engages once the QB passes the line of scrimmage. Like 80% of the time. Seek and destroy. Use on 2nd and 3rd down with 5+ yards to go, but not always deploy the spy for QB commitment.
- Containment: Defensive ends and outside linebackers are often tasked with maintaining the edge, forcing the QB to stay within the pocket or at least not gain significant yardage outside the tackle box. Mix this to one player to the opposite side of the QB spy on 3rd down, or on 2nd and long ,but not always.
The goal is to limit qb running. Hit him and slow him down, giving up some yards while passing IF the QB can read a defense and process things quickly! I do not think most of them can.
You give up an extra 30 yards passing in exchange for hitting the other QB, who is treated like a running back once he crosses the LOS by the refs and really putting a cap on his ground game. IMO, this is a fair trade!
Why don't our DC's in general do this type of strategy? Why?
-JB
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