Monday, October 18, 2004
Take 2: Buccaneers vs. Rams
Scouts Inc.
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Tuesday our scouts filed their advance advance scouting report on this week's matchup between the Buccaneers and Rams. Mow they're back with a second look,
• The Bucs need to establish a run game early to prevent the Rams from coming after QB Brian Griese with a lot of blitzes. If RB Michael Pittman can control the early going, it will force the Rams to be more conservative and honest on defense, while ball control will keep the high-powered Rams' offense on the sideline.
• Look for rookie RB Steven Jackson to start getting more of RB Marshall Faulk's carries, especially on first and second down. Jackson has between-the-tackles power, and we could see Faulk's role reduced to almost a third-down back and receiver out of the backfield. The Bucs are tough to run on wide and a north/south power run game featuring Jackson fits best.
• Opposing offenses tend to play conservative against the Bucs, due to their lack of explosiveness and inability to score a lot of points. Knowing the Bucs won't score, teams use a "close to the vest" game plan that stresses taking care of the ball and limiting mistakes. However, that is not the Rams' mindset and it will be interesting to see how Mike Martz plays it.
• Griese must be more than a caretaker versus the Rams. The Bucs don't have enough weapons for him just to handoff and manage the game. He must make some plays in the passing game on his own.
• The Bucs are better equipped to match up to the Rams' passing game this season. With the addition of CB Mario Edwards, they have three solid corners to match up. That is essential versus the Rams, since their passing game is matchup driven: They feel their third and fourth receivers can defeat your nickel and dime corners.<o></o>
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• Zone blitz schemes, which are an effective part of the Bucs' defensive package, especially in their nickel package with Ronde Barber in the slot, can be impact Marc Bulger negatively. You want to show him the color of the opposing jersey as quickly as possible without sacrificing bodies in coverage.• The scary thing for opposing defenses right now is the way Bulger is using his complementary receivers in the passing game. Seattle "game planned" last week to shut down WRs Torry Holt and Isaac Bruce and they did a pretty good job of it. However, more faces emerged in the spread offense, as WRs Dane Looker, Kevin Curtis. Shaun McDonald and TE Brandon Manumaleuna all contributed big plays. As much as we criticize Mike Martz for not running the ball, it has to be unbelievably tempting to throw the ball on every down with so many weapons.
• The Bucs can ill afford to trade QB Brad Johnson for two reasons. They need him as a backup with so many injuries and his salary-cap number is high and it would cost a lot to get rid of him.
• DE Leonard Little is the wild card for the Rams' defense, and the one player the Bucs' offense must account for, especially in second-and-long and third-and-long situations. Defensive coordinator Larry Marmie moves Little around the defense, sometimes standing him up as a LB, to force offenses to have to find him before the snap. This dictates adjustments by the offense in the pre-snap phase, and increases the likelihood of mistakes or missed assignments after the ball is snapped.
• By being able to put four-receiver sets on the field, the Rams are seeing more man coverage than zone. Defenses simply can't compete versus their precise route running that finds holes in zones, so defenses gamble with man-to-man coverage. The Rams feel that their No. 3 and No. 4 receivers are better than the opposing No. 3 and No. 4 cornerbacks, giving them a big advantage.
• The Bucs' linebackers are very active pass defenders and they get good depth on their zone drops. The Rams will likely use a lot of three-and five-step drops to get the ball out quickly on underneath crossing routes to Holt and Bruce. It is imperative that the Bucs' linebackers do a good job of closing and tackling, as the Rams' receivers and backs do a great job of making yards after the catch.
• The Rams' defensive backs are not great man-to-man cover guys, but they have good ball skills and close on the ball well. Griese must be careful to throw the ball with good velocity, because if he throws some floaters these defensive backs will make him pay for it.
• The Rams are quietly starting to use some zone blitzes, where they will drop a defensive lineman into coverage, a scheme that might lead to an interception by a rusty Griese.
• Defenses are tightening up on the Bucs' offense due to their lack of vertical threats. It impedes their ability to get anything going on offense in the run or passing game.
• The Bucs are primarily a cover=2 defense with their corners squatting on the perimeter, keeping receivers in front of them. In this game CBs Barber and Brian Kelly may step up and play press coverage on the Rams' receivers. The Rams' passing game relies on timing and the receivers are much more effective versus "man off" schemes and zone coverage, where they can run free. The Bucs may look to disrupt their timing with pressure at the line of scrimmage.
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Prediction: Rams 34, Buccaneers 14
Take 2: Buccaneers vs. Rams
Scouts Inc.
<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com
fficeffice" /><o></o>Tuesday our scouts filed their advance advance scouting report on this week's matchup between the Buccaneers and Rams. Mow they're back with a second look,
• The Bucs need to establish a run game early to prevent the Rams from coming after QB Brian Griese with a lot of blitzes. If RB Michael Pittman can control the early going, it will force the Rams to be more conservative and honest on defense, while ball control will keep the high-powered Rams' offense on the sideline.
• Look for rookie RB Steven Jackson to start getting more of RB Marshall Faulk's carries, especially on first and second down. Jackson has between-the-tackles power, and we could see Faulk's role reduced to almost a third-down back and receiver out of the backfield. The Bucs are tough to run on wide and a north/south power run game featuring Jackson fits best.
• Opposing offenses tend to play conservative against the Bucs, due to their lack of explosiveness and inability to score a lot of points. Knowing the Bucs won't score, teams use a "close to the vest" game plan that stresses taking care of the ball and limiting mistakes. However, that is not the Rams' mindset and it will be interesting to see how Mike Martz plays it.
• Griese must be more than a caretaker versus the Rams. The Bucs don't have enough weapons for him just to handoff and manage the game. He must make some plays in the passing game on his own.
• The Bucs are better equipped to match up to the Rams' passing game this season. With the addition of CB Mario Edwards, they have three solid corners to match up. That is essential versus the Rams, since their passing game is matchup driven: They feel their third and fourth receivers can defeat your nickel and dime corners.<o
></o><o
></o>• Zone blitz schemes, which are an effective part of the Bucs' defensive package, especially in their nickel package with Ronde Barber in the slot, can be impact Marc Bulger negatively. You want to show him the color of the opposing jersey as quickly as possible without sacrificing bodies in coverage.• The scary thing for opposing defenses right now is the way Bulger is using his complementary receivers in the passing game. Seattle "game planned" last week to shut down WRs Torry Holt and Isaac Bruce and they did a pretty good job of it. However, more faces emerged in the spread offense, as WRs Dane Looker, Kevin Curtis. Shaun McDonald and TE Brandon Manumaleuna all contributed big plays. As much as we criticize Mike Martz for not running the ball, it has to be unbelievably tempting to throw the ball on every down with so many weapons.
• The Bucs can ill afford to trade QB Brad Johnson for two reasons. They need him as a backup with so many injuries and his salary-cap number is high and it would cost a lot to get rid of him.
• DE Leonard Little is the wild card for the Rams' defense, and the one player the Bucs' offense must account for, especially in second-and-long and third-and-long situations. Defensive coordinator Larry Marmie moves Little around the defense, sometimes standing him up as a LB, to force offenses to have to find him before the snap. This dictates adjustments by the offense in the pre-snap phase, and increases the likelihood of mistakes or missed assignments after the ball is snapped.
• By being able to put four-receiver sets on the field, the Rams are seeing more man coverage than zone. Defenses simply can't compete versus their precise route running that finds holes in zones, so defenses gamble with man-to-man coverage. The Rams feel that their No. 3 and No. 4 receivers are better than the opposing No. 3 and No. 4 cornerbacks, giving them a big advantage.
• The Bucs' linebackers are very active pass defenders and they get good depth on their zone drops. The Rams will likely use a lot of three-and five-step drops to get the ball out quickly on underneath crossing routes to Holt and Bruce. It is imperative that the Bucs' linebackers do a good job of closing and tackling, as the Rams' receivers and backs do a great job of making yards after the catch.
• The Rams' defensive backs are not great man-to-man cover guys, but they have good ball skills and close on the ball well. Griese must be careful to throw the ball with good velocity, because if he throws some floaters these defensive backs will make him pay for it.
• The Rams are quietly starting to use some zone blitzes, where they will drop a defensive lineman into coverage, a scheme that might lead to an interception by a rusty Griese.
• Defenses are tightening up on the Bucs' offense due to their lack of vertical threats. It impedes their ability to get anything going on offense in the run or passing game.
• The Bucs are primarily a cover=2 defense with their corners squatting on the perimeter, keeping receivers in front of them. In this game CBs Barber and Brian Kelly may step up and play press coverage on the Rams' receivers. The Rams' passing game relies on timing and the receivers are much more effective versus "man off" schemes and zone coverage, where they can run free. The Bucs may look to disrupt their timing with pressure at the line of scrimmage.
<o
></o>Prediction: Rams 34, Buccaneers 14
