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Denver Broncos Defense: Blitzing the Ravens Part 2

This is from 2nd Quarter action against the Ravens last Thursday.

Dustin Bradford

Blitz #

Down

Personnel

Blitz Type

Rushers

Pressure/Sack

6

3rd and 8, Q2

3-2-6 Dime

Safety

5

Pressure

7

3rd and 12, Q2

4-1-6 Dime

Double Zone (MLB, CB, S)

5

Pressure

8

3rd and 14, Q2

3-1-7 (4S 3CB)

Safety

4

Pressure

9

2nd and 6, Q2

4-2-5 Nickel

S/LB

6

None

10

3rd and 6, Q2

3-2-6 Dime

S/LB

6

None

11

1st and 10, Q2

4-2-5 Nickel

S

5

None

Blitz 6

Out of the Dime formation, a simple S blitz with Mike Adams. Broncos will use that extra Safety to blitz quite frequently in dime situations.

Blitz_61_medium

Blitz_62_medium

Blitz 7

Another great design. Both Phillips and Ayers (ends) will drop back and cover the flat. In their place the Broncos will substitute a safety a cornerback and bring Woodyard as the 5th rusher. Why I labeled it a double zone blitz.

Blitz_72_medium

Blitz 8

This is one of my favorites for the use of 4-safeties. Duke is used against the TE in man coverage, Adams feigns blitz then drops back into a zone with Moore. Del Rio uses Bruton's straight line speed to blitz with a true 3-man line. Nothing more than a safety blitz out of a 3-1-7 alignment.

Blitz_81_medium

Blitz_82_medium

Blitz 9

4-2-5 nickel they bring a Safety and LB for 6 rushers total. Ravens pick it up nicely though and there is no pressure.

Blitz_91_medium

Blitz_92_medium

Blitz 10

There's an interesting alignment here. The Broncos put Phillips behind Ayers. Ultimately, he will rush on a delay behind the LB/DT stunt of Wolfe and Woodyard. You can see by now the Broncos love to utilize a safety and LB combination on the blitz in their subpackages.

Blitz_101_medium

Blitz_102_medium

Blitz 11

Finally, just a safety blitz from the edge. Five rushers. I notice the Broncos are usually less successful with only one additional rusher especially if it is a safety or corner.

Blitz111_medium

Blitz_112_medium

Wrap-Up

All total, the Ravens ran 17 passing plays in the 2nd quarter, the Broncos blitzed on 6 of them, and registered a pressure on half of the attempts.

For the first half, the Ravens ran 30 passing plays and the Broncos blitzed on 11 of them (36.7%), and managed to get pressure on 6 (54.4%). They brought 5 or more rushers 8 times and chose to switch up the zone blitz 3 times.

I've have the 3rd quarter to go along with the 4th quarter the next couple of days. As for tomorrow, thorough breakdown of the Giants.