See how Indianapolis attacked early down offenses in this week's clinic: www.matchquarters.com/p/anarumo-co...
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Down Safety pressure was a main early down run stop call for the Colts in '25 under Lou Anarumo.
Against Split Zone, the interior D-line executes a "jam" stunt to tie up the O-line, preventing them from climbing to the 2nd-level while freeing up the boundary blitz.
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Understand why this coverage has taken over Tampa 2 on 3rd Downs in the NFL: www.matchquarters.com/p/weak-rotat...
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Pre-snap alignment shows the Raiders showing a split-safety Cover 2 or Tampa look from a Dime package.
Post-snap, the defense drops into a weak-rotation Cover 3, using the Down Safety as a backstop while building a "box" to handle the offense's front-side scheme.
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Read how Staley stabilized an aging front & young secondary: www.matchquarters.com/p/saints-wil...
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Brandon Staley rebuilt his identity in New Orleans by doubling his Base personnel usage to 58% to erase the "Nickel Tax" on early downs.
And the strategy paid off.
The Saints finished top-10 against PAP & 5th in defensive stops using split-field coverages to clog the intermediate pass lanes.
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Steelers' DC Patrick Graham utilizes max pressures as much as anyone in the NFL.
His favorite path is to send both OLBs into the B-gaps while his Mike Hug Rushes the RB to create a 2v1.
Below, the Raiders attack the Texans with this pressure.
In '24, the Raiders were top-5 in Max Blitzing.
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Easy way to amplify a "Games" stunt by sending the Will through the A-gap by Notre Dame.
The blitz creates an alley directly to the QB's face.
Can easily drop the field DE to make this a simulated pressure.
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Under Pete Carroll, that plummeted, but expect it to be back in Pittsburgh.
Learn more about this blitz here: www.matchquarters.com/p/anatomy-of...
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Funnel the RB. into a "Kill Box."
D- linemen to the blitz create a "jam" to shorten the edge & to keep the second level clean.
Edge pressure funnels the ball carrier back inside, where the LBs create a vice.
Watch Now! | www.matchquarters.com/p/anarumo-co...
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How Apex and Overhang Pressures Coordinate with Post-Snap Coverage Disguise to Dictate Modern NFL Offenses
How holding a pre-snap two-high shell allows defenses to spin into a post-snap "3-Up" backstop that smothers intermediate crossers.
www.matchquarters.com
It wasn't all pretty for the Raiders, but their defensive coordinator, Patrick Graham, had a clever way to attack offenses on early downs. Las Vegas led the league in 7-man blitzes.
