Post by Purple Pain on Sept 11, 2023 8:33:20 GMT -6
There will be growing pains but, so far so good ... ? Too early to say? ...thoughts?
Arif Hasan - Minnesota Vikings-Tampa Bay Buccaneers Week 1 Reaction: How Did the Vikings Answer 5 Key Questions?
Arif Hasan - Minnesota Vikings-Tampa Bay Buccaneers Week 1 Reaction: How Did the Vikings Answer 5 Key Questions?
Is Brian Flores Enough to Improve the Defense?
In his final two years with the Dolphins, Flores ranked second among all playcallers in blitz rate, sending extra rushers on about 40 percent of snaps both years. That allowed a Dolphins team that was fairly talent-deficient to overperform, finishing the season ranked sixth in points allowed.
After a short stint with the Steelers as the linebackers coach, Flores took over a defense ranked 30th in points allowed per game. Despite the loss and the paltry second-half performance, the overall results look positive. The team only gave up 20 points, three of which came on a zero-yard drive.
The Buccaneers averaged -0.10 expected points per play, with turnovers from the Vikings accounting for why Tampa Bay found scoring opportunities as much as they did.
The blitz-heavy scheme produced a pair of quarterback hits and a sack, but importantly also added five pass deflections to go with a number of throwaways. Danielle Hunter, the owner of that sack, also made an impact drawing penalties and as a run defender, racking up seven total combined tackles.
Despite the relative weakness blitz-heavy, off-coverage schemes are supposed to have against the run, the Vikings forced -0.23 expected points per play on carries and kept the Buccaneers to 2.2 yards per carry.
Flores didn’t just show a blitz-heavy defense – he showed an awareness of what his reputation brings. The Vikings toyed with blitz looks, sometimes rushing four after showing seven rushers and sometimes rushing five when showing three rushers.
Their ability to play around with their defensive looks allowed them to surprise Mayfield and the offense consistently and it showed a freshness
The Buccaneers aren’t expected to be a good offense – and there wasn’t much evidence we’ve seen that we should treat them that way just yet – so this isn’t a true test. But it’s a fair amount better than we saw from last year’s defense. If the goal is simply to improve the defense in clear and substantial ways, it looks like the Flores regime is on track.
In his final two years with the Dolphins, Flores ranked second among all playcallers in blitz rate, sending extra rushers on about 40 percent of snaps both years. That allowed a Dolphins team that was fairly talent-deficient to overperform, finishing the season ranked sixth in points allowed.
After a short stint with the Steelers as the linebackers coach, Flores took over a defense ranked 30th in points allowed per game. Despite the loss and the paltry second-half performance, the overall results look positive. The team only gave up 20 points, three of which came on a zero-yard drive.
The Buccaneers averaged -0.10 expected points per play, with turnovers from the Vikings accounting for why Tampa Bay found scoring opportunities as much as they did.
The blitz-heavy scheme produced a pair of quarterback hits and a sack, but importantly also added five pass deflections to go with a number of throwaways. Danielle Hunter, the owner of that sack, also made an impact drawing penalties and as a run defender, racking up seven total combined tackles.
Despite the relative weakness blitz-heavy, off-coverage schemes are supposed to have against the run, the Vikings forced -0.23 expected points per play on carries and kept the Buccaneers to 2.2 yards per carry.
Flores didn’t just show a blitz-heavy defense – he showed an awareness of what his reputation brings. The Vikings toyed with blitz looks, sometimes rushing four after showing seven rushers and sometimes rushing five when showing three rushers.
Their ability to play around with their defensive looks allowed them to surprise Mayfield and the offense consistently and it showed a freshness
The Buccaneers aren’t expected to be a good offense – and there wasn’t much evidence we’ve seen that we should treat them that way just yet – so this isn’t a true test. But it’s a fair amount better than we saw from last year’s defense. If the goal is simply to improve the defense in clear and substantial ways, it looks like the Flores regime is on track.
) and they still have Evans and Godwin. At the end of the day this team is built around Offense, or suppose to be, so I will take that performance every week. 
... and neither is this Chris guy.