Quote:
Originally Posted by 30gut
Interesting opinion. From what I saw and have noticed, not just in preseason but as an overall tendency. Defenses react to formations and personnel. When we are running the ball with the 1st team we have been using run formations, under center with 1 TE, 2 RB, 2 WR.
Its even more obvious run when we bring in a OT at TE like we did early in the game. That's not the defense hedging against Griffin thats a defense reacting to obvious run tells.
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Defenses hedge against Griffin regardless of the formation with pressure. They are committing guys to pressure the QB (admittedly some pressure comes without blitzing):
FOOTBALL OUTSIDERS: Innovative Statistics, Intelligent Analysis | 2014 Pressure Plays: Quarterbacks
Last year Griffin faced pressure 29.6% of all plays, while Cousins was pressured on 17.6% of his plays.
Kirk ranked 3rd among QBs pressure rate while Griffin was 31st.
The reason for this is obvious. Griffin ranks 36th among QBs in the difference in production between pressured plays v non pressured plays. Cousins ranks 11th in the difference in production.
Griffin sucks at handling pressure.
Everything loosens up when a QB can burn a blitz.
Every 3rd and 8 pressure is coming against Griffin, it may or may not come against Cousins.
You're 100% right about tendencies and predictability from last year. In the 1st half especially, this formation and personnel meant this play and that formation meant that play. Hopefully that will change.