I am not 100% certain what actually defines a run blitz, but I am pretty certain, if utilized properly, it can cause loss of yardage in the running game or at least no-gain, and also serves the purpose of putting pressure on the QB if it is a play-action pass or even a straight passing play. This would be ideal against a rookie QB.

I know I don’t post here often so you can take this or leave it. In its most basic terms, a run blitz utilizes defenders in a ‘blitz’ package (meaning more than the normal 4 down linemen in the standard 4-3 formation) that blitz in the normal offensive line gaps. A linebacker or the free safety or even a cornerback will come into the line of scrimmage through the normal gaps of the offensive line and try to disrupt an inside run while simultaneously going after the quarterback.

Just my dos pesos.

KILL THE LIONS!!

thanks for the clarification! I would like to see a lot of that this season- it seemed like I never saw it last season or if I did it was very lame and ineffective.

i’m excited to see how roman harper performs in a system that encourages him to be the “hard-hittng” safety he has shown flashes of in the past. if the preseason is any indication, though, the whole defensive unit is going to be pretty hard-hitting.

and nice break-down, dave, but i think a really critical key to success is winning the turnover battle. historically that’s been our achilles heel in losses, but if gw’s system is truly effective we should dominate that stat column and leave the lions no chance to steal a win from us. if we can monopolize the game clock/number of possessions, it’ll force jim schwartz to put the ball in the rookie’s hands, thereby removing the threat of kevin smith (who is a better RB than most assume) and the ground game. it would also be a great sign for the rest of the season if we can snag some INTs or force some fumbles about the state of our defense—sort of like the opposite of that season opener against Indy.

WHO DAT

…that you would leave Calvin Johnson out of your keys to the game. The reality is that the Lions defense will have a VERY difficult time keeping the Saints off the scoreboard, so in all reality they are going to end up airing it out whether they want to or not. I am guilty of being a Lions slappy, but I like to think I can be objective too. Calvin Johnson is a beast! Not a nuisance, but a big, scary beast for defensive coordinators. He’s big, has tremendous hands, and is usually the fastest player on the field. From what I’ve seen of pre-season, and what I saw the Saints do to the poor Lions defense last season, I’d be much more concerned with Calvin Johnson than I would be Kevin Smith.