WILL the REAL TRAMON WILLIAMS PLEASE STEP UP ?

[mraynrand]

Matthews finished second in the league in QB pressures this year. Sounds to me like that's pretty meaningful.

At Detroit they also had him in coverage - along with Woodson - a number of times to shut down the TE. It was effective along with the double-teaming of Calvin Johnson.

Comparing Matthews and Kampman is a difficult prospect, given the differences in defenses and responsibilities. One thing I would agree with is that Matthews isn't a pass-rushing OLB in the mold of a Pierre-Paul or Ware, but part of that is because he's asked to do a lot more.

FWIW, Pierre-Paul and Ware get consistently stonewalled by tackles a lot too. It depends on the tackle, the play, etc. etc. You have to look at the entire game, and stats don't tell the whole story.

[gbgary]

pass rush fixes everything/everyone.

[pittstang5]

Williams struggles are more apparent, probably because he's going against the #1 receiver a majority of the time - so, don't you think the QB is going to throw that way...a majority of the time. With that said, the secondary play this year has been sub-par all around. Burnett, Peprah and Shields aren't exactly lighting it up either. Shields needs to look for the ball more. If he'd only turn his head around sometimes, he could swat the ball away ar maybe even make an INT. Peprah and Burnett are sometimes way out of position. I've noticed Burnett bites hard on play action sometimes, which screws everyone else up. Maybe Collins being out doesn't help, but the secondary wasn't doing all that great when he was in either.

[Deputy Nutz]

A great pass rush is a large tube of lipstick. The thing I noticed is the Packers seemed to be called for far less illegal contact and pass interference penalties this year. I know Wood was victimized in the SD game, but the Packers haven't been as aggressive this year in their coverage. Maybe they are playing more zone. Peprah and Burnett are a shitty combination at safety as well.

[smuggler]

Tramon has been hampered a bit. He's given up the most receiving yards in NFL history by a CB in a single season. The pass rush is downright horrible. Raji has taken a sizeable step back and nobody else has stepped up on the line. Matthews is still a stud, and has produced in other ways since opponents can just gameplan him out of the equation.

Williams should be better next season when we actually put pressure on a quarterback occasionally. Right now, the pass rush is the one thing that could keep us from repeating.

[Pugger]

A great pass rush is a large tube of lipstick. The thing I noticed is the Packers seemed to be called for far less illegal contact and pass interference penalties this year. I know Wood was victimized in the SD game, but the Packers haven't been as aggressive this year in their coverage. Maybe they are playing more zone. Peprah and Burnett are a shitty combination at safety as well.

I don't have a problem with Burnett. Now that he isn't one handed he's much better. Peprah? You'll get no argument from me there. Collins did cover up a lot Peprah's shortcomings last year. Not having any kind of pressure let alone sacks is killing us. If you give even a lousy QB time you're gonna get burned.

[ND72]

Matthews is fine, but his failures this year are a direct reflection on the rest of the DL and OLB. last year, teams had to pay attention to Cullen Jenkins. This year, our best pass rushing DL is Jarius Wynn...I mean for real??? I remember the viking game watching the TE chip, FB lead, and the the Tackle block Clay. I donno how Reggie would have even dealt with that. We need another guy on the other side of Clay, and I really hope that TT sees and knows that now. He seemed to think Zombo/Walden would do the job, and everyone had high hopes of Neal, but the guy can't stay healthy. We could use a top notch OLB and DL in the next draft for sure. I think we've all said it for a couple years now, but hopefully TT sees it as well.

[ND72]

Not having any kind of pressure let alone sacks is killing us. If you give even a lousy QB time you're gonna get burned.

Which is why I keep saying our defense is what it is in giving up the yardage it does. It will be interesting to see the game plans Capers comes up with in the playoffs since everyone we will play except the 49ers we have played already.

[red]

i still don't understand the 15 yard cushions he gives to everyone

[gbgary]

i still don't understand the 15 yard cushions he gives to everyone

when you see that it's the defensive play-call made by capers.

[pbmax]

I was going to include Ware for just that reason as well, but did not want to be so obvious. Very perceptive Tarlam!

Same problem, you might mean Suggs, Harrison or Woodley.

[pbmax]

At Detroit they also had him in coverage - along with Woodson - a number of times to shut down the TE. It was effective along with the double-teaming of Calvin Johnson.

Comparing Matthews and Kampman is a difficult prospect, given the differences in defenses and responsibilities. One thing I would agree with is that Matthews isn't a pass-rushing OLB in the mold of a Pierre-Paul or Ware, but part of that is because he's asked to do a lot more.

FWIW, Pierre-Paul and Ware get consistently stonewalled by tackles a lot too. It depends on the tackle, the play, etc. etc. You have to look at the entire game, and stats don't tell the whole story.

All true. While I don't think "consistently stonewalled" is the best choice that could be made to describe Matthews versus a tackle, I do think he succeeds less in this matchup that Kampman did. But its not important that he match him exactly, because he is used in so many ways including being an occupier/decoy for other pressures. Something Kampman rarely did.

[pbmax]

i still don't understand the 15 yard cushions he gives to everyone

Its usually a zone where the CB is responsible for more than the short zone in a Tampa 2. And the down and distance usually indicate a longer throw.

[bobblehead]

Matthews is fine, but his failures this year are a direct reflection on the rest of the DL and OLB. last year, teams had to pay attention to Cullen Jenkins. This year, our best pass rushing DL is Jarius Wynn...I mean for real??? I remember the viking game watching the TE chip, FB lead, and the the Tackle block Clay. I donno how Reggie would have even dealt with that. We need another guy on the other side of Clay, and I really hope that TT sees and knows that now. He seemed to think Zombo/Walden would do the job, and everyone had high hopes of Neal, but the guy can't stay healthy. We could use a top notch OLB and DL in the next draft for sure. I think we've all said it for a couple years now, but hopefully TT sees it as well.

Happened to Reggie all the time. He dealt with it by sacking the QB anyway. Clay gets singled by the RT a lot. I watch for it. He is not the pass rushing force some seem to think he is. He is very good, not great. He needs other guys and the element of surprise. He is also very good at coverage and run D, all combined make him awesome.

[bobblehead]

Surely you're just baiting. You aren't serious, are you? If you are being serious, I am forced to ask what games you are watching. They aren't the games I'm watching. Mathews is having a helluva season, despite double and triple teams.

I guess they simply give much less attention to Jared Allen which accounts for him having double the sacks clay has.