Matt Ryan Is Going To Get Blitzed...By The Eagles

by Dave Choate on Oct 23, 2008 8:00 AM EDT in Falcons News

You may have heard that the Philadelphia Eagles like to blitz.

Of course, saying they like to blitz is kind of like saying a crack fiend is fond of drugs. Simply put, this is a team that makes its living by killing the quarterback. That's not exactly great news for rookie sensation Matt Ryan.

Fortunately for Ryan, the coaching staff is trying to make adjustments to counter Jimmy Johnson and his batguano crazy scheming. If those adjustments don't involve turning our linemen into a wall of stone that stretches the entire length of the field, Ryan is probably going to get hit harder than he has in any game this year. The way defenders pop out of the line reminds me a little bit of this:

The only way to really counter this is by making extensive use of quick outs, fast-developing run plays and using the tight end and fullback as mobile linemen. If the Falcons do that, they can limit the damage to Ryan and perhaps buy him a little time to get his game going. Barring that, it's going to be a rough afternoon.

Thoughts?

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Great ideas!

I think another solution to this problem would be effective use of the no-huddle. This’ll keep the Eagles’ blitz attack off kilter and keep the defense on its toes well enough to give Ryan some time to make his reads.

But I do agree, I am worried about their blitz. Ryan showed when playing Tampa and Carolina that when pressured, he’s not exactly stellar at throwing on the run/off his back foot.

But then again, two weeks ago against Chicago, when the Falcons needed 25 yards for field goal range, Ryan made the clutch throw after a four step drop with a Chicago defender right in his face. It’ll be interesting to see if he can repeat those kind of throws on Sunday, because I have a feeling he’ll be throwing with defenders in his face all day.

"The nice thing about supporting a bedraggled-cum-decent team? Watching all those analysts eat their words."

by Adam Schultz on Oct 23, 2008 10:48 AM EDT reply actions

Blitzing a rookie QB

is a time honored strategy, Philly would be crazy NOT to try it, and probably often. Remember that the Bears did it too, and the Falcons handled it very well. It seems that 70-80% of our passes that game were quick stuff. The Eagles are obviously a different challenge than the Bears though, I hope Ryan’s homecoming isn’t spoiled.

Looking for a good game, I don’t see an 8.5 point spread there. Historically, Philadelphia has given the Falcons a number of very close, entertaining games. Our first-ever playoff game, and win, was a last minute thriller against the Iggles on Christmas Eve 1978. Go Falcons! Oh yeah!

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by tom slick on Oct 23, 2008 12:48 PM EDT reply actions

TE's

Ovie seems great as a mobile linemen, but i just hope Hartsock and Peelle step up in preventin’ Matt from layin on his back, or worst. but im confident they would

GO FALCONS

by da fatchick thrilla on Oct 24, 2008 12:23 AM EDT reply actions

I do kind of fear for Ryan in this one because you knows the Eagles are going to come after him hard, but also I think if the receivers (White especially) can play the way they did in the Bears game, Ryan has the ability to get rid of the ball. It’s just going to be a matter of our receivers being on the same page with him to give him that outlet. I think if we can master that part of it we can have a lot of success.

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by BVaz on Oct 24, 2008 4:31 PM EDT reply actions