What are you looking for vs the Lions?

[Schneed10]

Originally Posted by 30gut

Why do you think you can't learn about the secondary in preseason playing base D? Honest question.

I guess a blanket statement like that isn't the best thing in the world. I guess you can learn that Hall appears healthy enough (or not) to run and cut and keep up with WRs on breaks, you can see whether Goldson is coming up and being physical against the run, basic football stuff like that.

But specifically with Barry's defense, the DBs are taught to read the QB's eyes instead of pattern matching and running with the receiver. And the reason you do that is to ball-hawk and try to come up with interceptions.

Of course, if the QB has time to sit back and look you off, your secondary will get exposed no matter what. We didn't play Kerrigan or Galette in game 1, and per normal preseason games we didn't tip our hand on scheme by showing a lot of our blitz packages. Basically - we didn't get pressure on the QB, and I don't expect us to get pressure on the QB when we play the Lions.

The pass rush pressure and the reading of QB eye movement by the DBs go hand in hand - pass rush pressure leads to rushed throws, which lead to INTs if the DBs are looking at the QB.

Our whole defense is built around stopping the run with the beef up front, and one-gap penetration to disrupt the passing game, with the DBs being taught to take advantage of that. It is an aggressive style that guns for turnovers and big plays.

Until I see us getting pressure like we'll finally be trying to do in Week 1, I'll withhold judgment on the effectiveness of the secondary.