Comment EATED: Under Defense Edition

I was trying to leave a comment over on this thread on joebucsfan but it kept disappearing so I will repost it here. It seemed like most if not all of the people commenting about Coach Morris' words about using Quincy Black were missing the point so I figured since I was otherwise unoccupied I would explain it for them.

Here goes.

You guys are kinda missing the message here. If you go back to my last year's bullrush right after the Bucs canned Bates and before the next game one of the things I predicted was that Black would be used more in under defense. One of my latest articles also talks about how using him in under defense will help us over all and how the way Bates used him last year was, to put it nicely, ridiculous.

So maybe the problem is you guys aren't up on what an under defense is. Since I haven't done another Bull Rush lately (mostly cuz there ain't much material out there to talk about and I'm a terrible bullshitter) I'll explain it to you.

In our normal base defense with four defensive linemen we normally line up in whats called an "Over" Alignment. What that means is when there is one tight end the defensive end to that side (what we call the under tackle)lines up head up over the tight end. The defensive tackle on the tight end side (the call side) lines up in a 3 technique on the outside shoulder of the guard on that side of the center. The defensive tackle away from the tight end (away from the call) lines up in a cocked alignment between the center and guard with his hand on the outside foot of the center. The defensive end away from the tightend (away from the call) lines up in a five with his hand on the outside foot of the offensive tackle.

This is an excellent alignment for pass rush because the strong side defensive end, undertackle and backside end all end up with what amounts to basically one on one matchups at least initially, providing the tightend goes out to block. However its not always the greatest run blocking scheme as its easy to double both inside guys and base block the end with a tight end to get movement.

For Black its also harder on him in passing situations because he is off the line and in space and that's not really where he is most comfortable.

In an under defense however things are kind of shifted the opposite way and the Sam linebacker is on the line of scrimmage.

So its the Sam linebacker on the outside edge of the tightend. The defensive end to the tight end side is in a five with his hand outside the tackle's outside foot. The interior linemen switch and now the nosetackle is to the tight end side still in a cocked alignment. The undertackle is away from the tight end, still in a 3 technique and the defensive end is away from the tightend in a wide five. Now its a little harder for the defensive end on the tight end side to get a rush but the run defense is shored up a bit.

But I think that there is a misconception that Black blitzes every play in this defense. He doesnt. On passing plays unless a blitz is specifically called Black still drops back in coverage. It actually gives him and our defense an advantage at times in that by being on the line he can jack up the tight end a make it hard for him to get out on a route. In our division with Shockey and Gonzales thats huge. And we can still play cover 2 out of an under shell so being physical with the tightend also helps our middle linebacker who often times will have to cover them deep down the seam.

The truth is also however that under defense lends itself to a lot of effective blitzing and when we send him Black can be a difference maker off the edge against TEs or RBs. That Bates never used under defense was one of the biggest indictments against him. Quncy Black has always been more of a rush LB than a coverage LB but Bates never used his strengths last year

You shouldnt expect double digit sacks but Id bet good money on a at least 5 or 6 from Black this year. And that's going to be winning football for the Buccaneers.

Hope that made sense. If not just leave a question in the comments section.

Randall Cunningham's Infant Son Passes

My prayers go out to Randall Cunningham and his family. This is a parent's worst nightmare.

Christian Cunningham, who would have been 3 in December, died after being found floating in the backyard hot tub, according to friends of the family. Randall Cunningham performs baptisms in the hot tub at his home, which is near the church.

A woman at Cunningham's house was with several children when she found the boy at about 4:30 p.m., Las Vegas police Lt. Dennis Flynn said. She removed the boy from the hot tub and began performing CPR. Paramedics took the child to St. Rose Dominican Hospital, Siena campus, where he died, Flynn said.

Abuse and neglect detectives were investigating the incident at the house on the 300 block of East Robindale Road, near Paradise Road. Flynn said the drowning appeared to be an accident.

"We know healing is going to take time," said one church member, who said she goes by the name Miss Happy. "We ask that everyone pray for the family. It hurts. It hurts."

Cunningham was believed to be in San Diego or on his way back at the time of the drowning.

Members of the church congregation gathered that night and shared stories, prayed and cried. They talked about Christian learning to speak, playing football and constantly smiling and having fun.

"He touched the lives of anybody who stood there and watched him," Miss Happy said. "He's one of those little kids like, 'I'll take you home with me.' I can sit here and talk all day about Christian."

There but for the grace of God...

You Mean To Say He Has A Point?!

In an article ranking NFL defensive lines Jason Cole gets this right:

9. Washington Redskins: You can pretty much guarantee the Redskins will move down in the rankings between now and the start of the season because there’s about as much chance of tackle Albert Haynesworth(notes) opening the season in Washington as BP exec Tony Hayward has of taking up residency in Louisiana. That’s a pretty sad fact because if Haynesworth would get on board and coach Mike Shanahan would get over this idea of having Haynesworth play nose tackle, the Redskins line could be pretty good. Really, though, the Redskins would be better off scrapping the 3-4 altogether and playing 4-3. That’s their strength given their personnel and that would allow Haynesworth to line up next to Maake Kemoeatu(notes) in what would be a fearsome tackle combo. The addition of versatile Vonnie Holliday(notes) was a nice move, too.

See how easy it is to give actual analysis of the situation when you don't focus on how much money somebody is making or if people are calling them fat?

Of course the question now becomes will anyone start noticing these analyses of the Redskins that are starting to trickle through or will they just continue to mindlessly bash Haynesworth without ever taking a step back and taking a macro look at the situation?
On another note I will point out that I totally disagree with Cole's assessment about the Buccaneers' defensive ends as I firmly believe that rather than being a placeholder, Stylez White will have double digit sacks this year and be dominant at right end. But hey, being ranked #18 is pretty good considering the way he starts off his analysis.

Chris Henry Had Brain Damage

This is really scary stuff...

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. (AP)—Cincinnati Bengals receiver Chris Henry suffered from a chronic brain injury that may have influenced his mental state and behavior before he died last winter, West Virginia University researchers say.

The doctors had done a microscopic tissue analysis of Henry’s brain that showed he suffered from chronic traumatic encephalopathy.

Neurosurgeon Julian Bailes and California medical examiner Bennet Omalu, co-directors of the Brain Injury Research Institute at WVU, were to publicly announce their findings Monday afternoon alongside Henry’s mother, Carolyn Lee Henry.

Her 26-year-old son died in December, a day after he came out of the back of a pickup truck his fiancee was driving near their home in Charlotte, N.C. It’s unclear whether Henry jumped or fell. Toxicology tests found no alcohol in his system, and an autopsy concluded he died of numerous head injuries, including a fractured skull and brain hemorrhaging.

But Bailes, team doctor for the Mountaineers and a former Pittsburgh Steelers physician, said it’s easy to distinguish those acute traumatic injuries from the underlying condition he and Omaha found when staining tiny slices of Henry’s brain.

Bailes and fellow researchers believe chronic traumatic encephalopathy, or CTE, is caused by multiple head impacts, regardless of whether those blows result in a concussion diagnosis. A number of studies, including one commissioned by the NFL, have found that retired professional football players may have a higher rate than normal of Alzheimer’s disease and other memory problems.

What’s interesting, Bailes said, is that Henry was only 26, and neither NFL nor WVU records show he was diagnosed with a concussion during his playing career.

I'm considering doing a post really soon about the culture of football and injuries. To make a long story short I know that I have at times put my health and maybe even my life at risk to play a game for a lot of money. And maybe even before the money I have done the same thing in high school and college. And I am not the exception but the rule when it comes to football players.

The more articles I read like this one the more I wonder, well actually worry, that I may be just a ticking time bomb. But while many folks have pointed fingers at the NFL and the owners, and make no mistake they definitely are a part of the problem, you hardly ever hear people talk about the role that players have in all of this. Like I said I may get into this more later but the truth is when its either admitting an injury and being healthier long term but losing your job or covering it up and continuing to make hundreds of thousands if not millions of dollars, a lot of guys have and will continue to go with the later rather than the former.

On The Wrong Side Of History

It has to be hard for a team as good as the Tampa Bay Rays to be this awful this often. Not a good look.

No More #10

Florida State is retiring my former teammate Derrick Brooks' number and I can't think of anyone any more deserving of that honor in what they have done both on the field and off it.

Brook’s No. 10 jersey will be just the eighth retired by FSU. The others in that select fraternity belonged to cornerback Deion Sanders (2), quarterback Chris Weinke (16), quarterback Charlie Ward (17), receiver Fred Biletnikoff (25), tailback Warrick Dunn (28), receiver Ron Sellers (34) and nose guard Ron Simmons (50).

“I’m very happy for Derrick,’’ said Dunn, a former teammate both at FSU and with the Bucs. “Derrick embodied the linebacker position as it should be played. He had a great physicality and work ethic.’’

Brooks, who blended dazzling speed and uncommon timing to produce game-changing plays, was a two-time first-team all-America as a junior and senior (1993 and 1994). He helped the Seminoles win their first national title (1993) and won an NCAA post-graduate scholarship and a spot on the academic all-America team.

Following his FSU career, he was a first-round NFL draft pick of the Bucs where he became a pillar of one of the league’s perennially stingiest defenses, earning a trip to the Pro Bowl 11 times and, of course, leading the Bucs to a win in Super Bowl XXXVII with an interception return for a touchdown.

Brooks received several prestigious awards during his NFL days, including the 2000 Walter Payton/NFL Man of the Year award, the 2003 Bart Starr Award, and the 2004 Bryon "Whizzer" White Award. All go to a player based on his community involvement. In Tampa, he's worked with Boys & Girls Club kids, including taking youths on educational trips (twice to South Africa) and he helped found the Brooks-DeBartolo Collegiate High School. He's also stayed involved with FSU, serving on the Board of Trustees since 2003.

Congratulations to Bo and his family.

Guess They Are Finally Catching On

Here's the headline of a new Bucs Beat post:

Weight clause could resolve Penn contract dispute

Boy does that sound familiar!

Oh yeah...

If Donald Penn's weight is so much of a concern the Bucs could always include clauses in the contract to protect themselves if he balloons up again.

Course I'm just some dude with a blog so what do I know?

I'd point out that my post was written a week and a half ago though. Nice to see the MSM finally catching up ;)