What is your formula to contain Vick?

[viper]

If you were the defensive coordinator of the Rams, going into this game against Philly, how would you defend against Vick? Would you have a spy, would you blitz early and often or depend on your front four to get to him or what? What is the best way to stop this guy? Name your spy and/or personnel groupings.

Go Rams!!!

[sosa39rams]

I would blitz him from his left with an extra CB. Force him into scrambling onto his right side. Squeeze some zones in there as well. I guess we will see what the defensive mastermind Spags does.

[viper]

Sosa, thanks for your input. Can you explain why you would blitz from his left. He's left handed, so his blind side would be his right. Can you name your cornerback? Which position would you sacrifice for the extra CB?

[Nick]

What is your formula to contain Vick?

[fliptalianstallion]

What happens if you put a zero on the denominator?

Anyways, I would go with what Sosa said. Blitzing him on his face would force him to move right which weakens the throwing motion of the ball, either forcing him or making him throw it away. Chris Long should have a field day as well since he's good against the run.

[sosa39rams]

Sosa, thanks for your input. Can you explain why you would blitz from his left. He's left handed, so his blind side would be his right. Can you name your cornerback? Which position would you sacrifice for the extra CB?

I like the blitz from the left side because it forces him to scramble to his right, and while scrambling that way it will be veryyy hard to pass. I'd send any corner, maybe a Justin King. It depends too. I think we don't keep too many LB's out there all game, I assume on passing downs we take out Brady Poppinga. I also want to see Stewart or Hines our there playing nickel some.

[Keenum]

Vick has always struggled when having to run to his right and pass... any QB having to run to the opposite side of their throwing arm will naturally be a lot less efficient than running to their "strong" side.

The thing is, saying just "blitz Vick" is a lot easier said that done. Send 6 guys, and the Eagles could always keep an extra TE to block and/or a HB to help out... then send the back or TE on an option-like route where they just kind of drift ahead away from the line and wait for the pass. Since you are blitzing, there is a great chance those guys will be open and be able to get an easy 10 yard gain. Vick now looks like he sees the whole field a LOT better than before, so he would be able to find the open man.

I think the only way to really stop Vick is to have a good front four on your D-line. Those guys had better be able to get some pressure so you can let your DBs stay with the WRs and the LBs cover those check-down routes. Blitzing a LB or CB from time to time is fine, but you had better get to him when you do or he will burn you. And don't forget, if your first guy doesn't get Vick down, Vick can easily take off for a long gain.

It's kind of like having to get to Peyton Manning in a way. If you CAN get to him and have him throw on the run, you've got him. Manning's numbers have always been among the worst in the league when he has had to run out of the pocket (I think more specifically when he would have run and throw around the numbers on the field)... but how often do you see guys make him run? The team is built to give him enough time to see exactly what you are doing, and he's smart enough to find that weak spot quicker than most. Blitz him, and he already knows he's got a shot at that WR on that side. Drop everyone in to coverage, and you've now given him enough time to scan the entire field multiple times until he finds an open man. The only way is to have your defensive line disrupt the line of scrimmage and force Manning to move, or disrupt his timing by getting physical with the WRs.

[Azul e Oro]

The three man rush certainly wasn't the answer.

[RamsFanSam]

The three man rush certainly wasn't the answer.

Deacon Jones, Jack Youngblood, and Nighttrain Lane.

[viper]

The three man rush certainly wasn't the answer.

You're right, that was a joke. How is it that we could all see that what we needed was to continue the pressure that we did in the first quarter and Spags didn't? Vick struggled under pressure and owned us without it.

[Nick]

What happens if you put a zero on the denominator?

Looks like we found out.