4 defensive ends on passing downs (1 Viewer)

[GregR_2]

Don't recall seeing or hearing anything about this before today. On the drive into work, sports radio 610 had Michael Smith (Boston beat writer, ESPN insider, PTI) and John McClain (Houston chronicle, Texans beat writer) both on at the same time.

At one point they started talking about Mario Williams moving inside on passing downs, and then one of them made the comment that several teams are looking at pulling tackles and having 4 defensive ends in on passing downs to try to get additional pressure on the QB.

I know that teams have had pass rush specialists in the past, but I didn't recall teams replacing the tackles completely like they were saying. And the way they were talking it gave me the impression it was a new trend that was just starting to show up in the league.

I was wondering if anyone has any insights on this. Does this represent a new philosophy on the D-line? Or have teams been doing this all along? If it is new, could it lead to more running plays on passing downs as teams try to take advantage of the smaller D-line personnel?

 

[mightyeskimo]

I don't know about the history of this strategy but it certainly seems logical to me. Having four fast, strong, and athletic pass rushers against an O-Line would certainly up your chances of one or any number of them getting through the line on one-on-one matchups.

 

[GregR_2]

I don't know about the history of this strategy but it certainly seems logical to me. Having four fast, strong, and athletic pass rushers against an O-Line would certainly up your chances of one or any number of them getting through the line on one-on-one matchups.

I agree, it makes sense. Though you would think it would need to be on a definite passing down or teams would just audible to a run and take advantage of the smaller D-line.I wonder how much more pressure they might generate like that over the course of a season. Not sure how to relate things fantasy-wise. I suppose it could cause a slight drop in passing and receiving if it caught on and worked. But the point of emphasis only resulted in about a 10% increase in stats, I'd have problems seeing this cause a significant change at all.

IDP-wise, it might up the value of the two starting defensive ends though. Assuming they spread the line, I'm assuming you'd rather have your best ends facing a guard than a tackle?

 

[Chase Stuart]

Assuming they spread the line, I'm assuming you'd rather have your best ends facing a guard than a tackle?

It depends on the end. If he's a speed rusher without much strength, it's not a very good move. It really varies by personnel I think. John Abraham rushing as a DT on 3rd and 10 wouldn't get anywhere, since he doesn't have any real moves to get to the QB. A guy like Mario Williams though might be different. Lots of times a stronger guy will be better at getting to the QB off the C-G gap than a edge rusher. But I'm sure some teams are trying to do this. Of course, very few teams have 2 good pass rushing DEs, let alone 4. So I'm not sure how widespread this will be.

 

[MarshallPlan]

This might work against fast QBs like Michael Vick. Having 4 ends chasing him down would seem more logical.

 

[ImTheScientist]

Assuming they spread the line, I'm assuming you'd rather have your best ends facing a guard than a tackle?

It depends on the end. If he's a speed rusher without much strength, it's not a very good move. It really varies by personnel I think. John Abraham rushing as a DT on 3rd and 10 wouldn't get anywhere, since he doesn't have any real moves to get to the QB. A guy like Mario Williams though might be different. Lots of times a stronger guy will be better at getting to the QB off the C-G gap than a edge rusher. But I'm sure some teams are trying to do this. Of course, very few teams have 2 good pass rushing DEs, let alone 4. So I'm not sure how widespread this will be.

Mario Williams can do it because he is close to 300lbs

 

[Jiggyonthehut]

Lots of times a stronger guy will be better at getting to the QB off the C-G gap than a edge rusher. But I'm sure some teams are trying to do this. Of course, very few teams have 2 good pass rushing DEs, let alone 4. So I'm not sure how widespread this will be.

While the idea seems very interesting, I cant envision it working with any DE. Id imagine that smaller DE's would simply be knocked around by the interior linemen, creating less pressure than you would get with DT's. Not to mention opening up major holes. If anything, Chase is right- the size/speed blend of a Mario Williams type DE would be dynamic functioning as a DT. Otherwise the setup is really pointless.

Id be interested to see how this works.

 

[SSOG]

Lots of times a stronger guy will be better at getting to the QB off the C-G gap than a edge rusher. But I'm sure some teams are trying to do this. Of course, very few teams have 2 good pass rushing DEs, let alone 4. So I'm not sure how widespread this will be.

While the idea seems very interesting, I cant envision it working with any DE. Id imagine that smaller DE's would simply be knocked around by the interior linemen, creating less pressure than you would get with DT's. Not to mention opening up major holes. If anything, Chase is right- the size/speed blend of a Mario Williams type DE would be dynamic functioning as a DT. Otherwise the setup is really pointless.

Id be interested to see how this works.

Denver has always put Trevor Pryce at DT on obvious passing downs, even though he's "technically" considered a DE at the moment, because he has the skill-set to get pressure from the interior, and the move frees up his spot so Denver can sub in a player with the skill-set to get pressure from the edges.As far as I know, it's a very common and very old strategy to have stronger, bulkier DEs (Pryce, Seymour, Strahan) move inside on passing downs, although you won't see it with edge rushers or speed guys like Jason Taylor or Dwight Freeney.