When a QB like Warner is that "on", there really isnt a whole lot a defense can do. You can't really bring more pressure because he gets rid of the ball so quickly and you cant lay back in coverage or he will dissect you underneath.
The answer to zone blitz pressure schemes is to go empty and spread five wide and then pound the ball when the defense has to switch to dime to cover it. First Oakland with Gannon and New England with Brady would carve up the Pitt defense in the early part of the last decade with this tactic. There really is no answer when the QB is that precise. On some plays, the coverage was perfect and he was still getting the ball in there somehow. Its not like guys were ten yards open and warner had all day.
At the end of the day, the Zona defense made a couple of more plays. At the same time, I think yesterday was more about great offense than bad defense. There are times when offenses are just unstoppable.
|