Plusses and Minuses vs. Lions

[30gut]

Originally Posted by DYoungJelly

Agree. The defense doesn't have to play straight up and can hedge against Griffin.

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.

[DYoungJelly]

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.

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.

[30gut]

Originally Posted by DYoungJelly

Defenses hedge against Griffin regardless of the formation with pressure.

I didn't understand what you meant by 'hedging'. I was talking about defenses playing the run when we show certain formations/personnel grouping.

But now I see you meant defenses bringing 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

You mention a key point here: some pressure does come without blitzing. I used to have PFF which goes in depth in various metrics. But they actual chart how often a QB is pressured and how often they're blitzed. They record them as 2 separate stats because they are. I can remember the exact number off hand but Griffin does face more pressure then Kirk because Griffin holds the ball longer, which is different from Griffin facing more pressure because teams blitz him. And pre-Gruden Griffin was actually good vs the blitz. Neither here nor there but Griffin has regressed in almost every facet under Jay.

[KI Skins Fan]

Originally Posted by 30gut

Griffin has regressed in almost every facet under Jay.

Good point. This troubles me as a Skins fan.

At first, I looked at this as Gruden insisting that Griffin work to improve his pocket skills in order to maximize his abilities as an NFL QB. That would be a good thing.

But now, I just wonder if there is a disconnect between the two men. It just looks like Jay hasn't tailored the offense at all to fit Robert's athletic abilities. Do the Skins plan to surprise their opponents in the regular season with plays designed for RGIII, or is this it? If this is it, I don't think things are going to work out in D.C. for one or both of these men.

[SmootSmack]

Originally Posted by KI Skins Fan

Good point. This troubles me as a Skins fan.

At first, I looked at this as Gruden insisting that Griffin work to improve his pocket skills in order to maximize his abilities as an NFL QB. That would be a good thing.

But now, I just wonder if there is a disconnect between the two men. It just looks like Jay hasn't tailored the offense at all to fit Robert's athletic abilities. Do the Skins plan to surprise their opponents in the regular season with plays designed for RGIII, or is this it? If this is it, I don't think things are going to work out in D.C. for one or both of these men.

Griffin has said too that he wants to be more of a drop-back passer, and not be a "running QB" He likes the threat of the RO and to use it in moderation. So it's not so much that he's taking some sort of stand against Jay's offense. It's that he can't execute it the way Kirk and Colt can, and then he's goes "off-book" to what he knows best.

[DYoungJelly]

Originally Posted by 30gut

But they actual chart how often a QB is pressured and how often they're blitzed. They record them as 2 separate stats because they are. I can remember the exact number off hand but Griffin does face more pressure then Kirk because Griffin holds the ball longer, which is different from Griffin facing more pressure because teams blitz him.

Good point.

The article linked to earlier doesn't distinguish between extra rushers, protection breakdowns and holding the ball too long.