Zodiac Posted November 9, 2012 Share Posted November 9, 2012 http://www.gritsblit...more-snaps.htmlAs the undefeated Falcons march into the Superdome for a match up with the Saints on Sunday a question lingers. How are the Atlanta Falcons going to combat a very relevant and potent Saints aerial attack. The answer lies in one place and that is the interior defensive line. With Peria Jerry’s status in doubt for Sunday the Falcons have a prime opportunity to give their 2012 seventh round pick and pre-season stand out Travian Robertson some potentially influential play time.The issue really boils down to Drew Brees himself. As we all know Brees is undersized as a QB. Standing in at only 6’0 Brees has trouble seeing over the OL and DL to get off passes. Sometimes he has to get on his tippy-toes just to see over the offensive line. This represents a problem when the Saints face teams that have taller DTs on their rosters. Just look at Brees’ worst games this year. Those would be vs. Washington and @ Denver, and both teams have something in common. The majority of their interior lineman (In the case of Washington their NT and 5-techs) are 6’4 or taller. This presented a problem for Brees in both cases as he had to view and then elevate the ball over taller defensive lineman. This gave them prime opportunity to knock down passes at the line of scrimmage.That’s exactly what the Redskins did when they played the Saints. Redskins’ 5-tech Stephen Bowen (6’5) managed to get his hands on two passes at the LOS and ROLB Brian Orakpo also managed to get two balls patted down at the LOS. Size isn’t the only factor in this equation though. Interior defensive linemen also have to be able to push the pocket and get pressure up the middle, making already tough throws even tougher for Brees. The Redskins tandem of Cofield and Bowen combined for 5 QB pressures and both graded out positively against the pass according to Pro Football Focus. This combination of size and pressure creates a precarious situation for Brees and the Saints passing game. Brees relies on his guards to keep the passing lanes open and allow him to see the field and go through his options. When the pocket is muddled this becomes an issue for Brees; forcing him to throw passes when he doesn’t have a clear view of the field or scramble out and narrow his choices down to one side of the field. A muddled pocket also takes away Brees’ ability to step up into the pocket and helps turn pressure from the edge into QB sacks and hits. That is what happened when the Saints traveled to Denver.Although the Denver defensive tackles weren’t dominant in their match up against the Saints they were able to get some push in the pocket. This helped Von Miller to have a big day against the Saints. He didn’t record a sack but Miller did record two QB Hits and 4 QB hurries. Miller took full advantage of his match up against Saints RT Zach Strief and good coverage from the Denver secondary combined with a decent interior pass rush gave him plenty of opportunities to harass Brees and stunt the vaunted Saints offense. Miller finished up with a grade of +5.7 (PFF) and the Saints finished with 14 points. The Denver interior which consisted of Derek Wolfe, Kevin Vickerson, and Justin Bannan did a decent job and yet again Brees had a pass knocked down by the 6’5 Vickerson. When the Saints opposition gets the edge on the interior the offense can be brought to a grinding halt.The issue for the Falcons is that they lack the size to clog up the passing lanes and the push to collapse or muddle the pocket on a consistent basis. What makes it even more difficult for the Falcons is that they are going against a very good guard tandem in Ben Grubbs and Jahri Evans. The Falcons have received great play from Jonathan Babineaux and Vance Walker, but Walker to this point has only has been in a rotational role . We’ve yet to see what Walker can do in a full time role, but we may get our first glimpse Sunday as Walker might be starting with Peria Jerry hobbled and Corey Peters still recovering from an injury. Babineaux has put in a phenomenal season but at age 31 he relies on rotations to keep him fresh. With Jerry dealing with an injury and Peters still recovering from one it only makes sense to give Travian Roberston his first slew of meaningful snaps. At 6’4 303 LBs Robertson is the biggest DT on the Falcons roster, and DL coach Ray Hamilton said that he may be the strongest defensive tackle as well.Robertson’s combination of size and strength at the point of attack could be valuable for the Falcons this Sunday especially if they go into their sets that feature 3 DTs (one swung out at the DE position).Robertson has the size to clog up the passing lanes and the strength to push the pocket against New Orleans. Robertson proved in pre-season action that he could be a valuable asset to the Falcons as not only was he able to hold the POA but he was able to get penetration in both the passing and running games and did a great job of pushing the pocket. All these traits could come become very useful against a QB like Drew Brees who relies on a clean pocket to avoid pressure from the edges. Although Robertson hasn’t gone against guards like Grubbs and Evans it’s very possible that the Falcons could show some 5 down linemen looks against New Orleans and insert Robertson at the Nose and get him a one on one match up with New Orleans C Brian De La Puente. Puente has had a good year so far according to PFF (+7.7), but he gets a lot of aid from his guards in pass protection. With RT Zach Strief’s status up in the air the Saints may have to start Charles Brown. Brown struggled mightily last year including a very poor performance against the Rams and Chris Long where he surrendered 3 sacks. As such RG Jahri Evans may be helping out Brown instead of De La Puente. This would leave De La Puente isolated on an island with one of the DTs and if it’s Robertson he could make his impact felt in a big way. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ki46dinah Posted November 9, 2012 Share Posted November 9, 2012 I lke the article's analysis, it is outside the box of many editorials. I have been making a case for Tavarian for weeks...but with Peters back it will be even more difficult for him to see the field. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zodiac Posted November 9, 2012 Author Share Posted November 9, 2012 I lke the article's analysis, it is outside the box of many editorials.I have been making a case for Tavarian for weeks...but with Peters back it will be even more difficult for him to see the field.Thanks, I think he will be active this week since both Jerry and Peters are dealing with different aspects of their injuries and Babineaux needs to be rotated Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WiscoFalcon Posted November 9, 2012 Share Posted November 9, 2012 Is Jerry's injury keeping him out this week? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
falconsrus Posted November 9, 2012 Share Posted November 9, 2012 I like it D-line is on the ups Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zodiac Posted November 9, 2012 Author Share Posted November 9, 2012 Is Jerry's injury keeping him out this week?Don't know yet but they might cut back on his snaps even if he's active Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Atlfanstckndenver Posted November 9, 2012 Share Posted November 9, 2012 great breakdown of brees and his o line. Ive been thinking of these aspects of the saints the last two years. We havent gotten good interior pressure on brees in a while. The delayed blitz and heavy sets of d lineman should help us alot now that we have a real coordinator. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
freebird310 Posted November 9, 2012 Share Posted November 9, 2012 Babs, Walker, Peters, and TR is pretty good rotation of penetraters.....Jerry being out is really a non factor .... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
YoungHeezy Posted November 9, 2012 Share Posted November 9, 2012 Babs, Walker, Peters, and TR is pretty good rotation of penetraters.....Jerry being out is really a non factor ....Statements like this show me you haven't been paying much attention Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Da_Truth Posted November 9, 2012 Share Posted November 9, 2012 Good article. I've always said we need a NT that can take on two blockers and push the middle. Maybe Robertson can be that guy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Negatorris Posted November 9, 2012 Share Posted November 9, 2012 Nice read.I agree. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
freebird310 Posted November 9, 2012 Share Posted November 9, 2012 Statements like this show me you haven't been paying much attentionWhatever man, I'm just saying if Jerry is out this combo will be perfectly capable of putting some push against Brees, dont know why that bothers you ...... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KRUNKuno Posted November 9, 2012 Share Posted November 9, 2012 Travian played very well in the preseason. He, and of course dominique davis, were the preseason standouts. He will get playing time when the opportunity presents itself. It probably won't be this week though. I think jerry will play. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zodiac Posted November 9, 2012 Author Share Posted November 9, 2012 bump Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hashbrown3 Posted November 9, 2012 Share Posted November 9, 2012 Excellent article. I say we give the big man some action. I love his strength and movement plus if I remember, he batted balls in preseason didn't he? Lets do it... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Falconsfan567 Posted November 9, 2012 Share Posted November 9, 2012 Has Robertson even been active for a game this season? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ki46dinah Posted November 9, 2012 Share Posted November 9, 2012 Has Robertson even been active for a game this season?I think one or two, but didnt record any statistics Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kane#7 Posted November 9, 2012 Share Posted November 9, 2012 Honestly we should just carry 5 DTs if we are going to play the 3 DT set so much... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bundini Brown Posted November 9, 2012 Share Posted November 9, 2012 He'll get some PT, we'll see how good he does Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tribal Chief Posted November 9, 2012 Share Posted November 9, 2012 I wish I had patience to read long articles. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spiker Posted November 9, 2012 Share Posted November 9, 2012 All of the Jerry hate is not warranted...he takes on two blockers most of time.Abe is having a good season thanks to Jerry and Babs. I hope Robertson gets some snaps also. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
falcons007 Posted November 10, 2012 Share Posted November 10, 2012 If Jerry can't go Robertson will get some play time. I remember TD saying that Robertson is a project and was drafted more as a big body in practice. I hope he is ready or else better to sit him. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Falconsfan567 Posted November 10, 2012 Share Posted November 10, 2012 All of the Jerry hate is not warranted...he takes on two blockers most of time.Abe is having a good season thanks to Jerry and Babs. I hope Robertson gets some snaps also.I agree. Jerry is taking up 2 blockers on nearly every play. He's one of the reasons Babineaux and Abraham are having the years they are. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Falcon's Talons Posted November 10, 2012 Share Posted November 10, 2012 Earlier during the pre-season, coach Ray Hamilton said that Travian Robertson was the strongest of the DL's . This week, I think that Jerry and Babineaux will play, but against the Saints, we need to play Robertson to give the defense a better chance to stop the Saints running game. Peters seems to be getting his groove back and Babs has been outstanding in run stuffing. Robertson has the both the size and strength to disrupt the Saints especially when the run Ivory and Engram along with Thomas. Besides, he needs the playing time. Enough said. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
falcons007 Posted November 10, 2012 Share Posted November 10, 2012 I agree. Jerry is taking up 2 blockers on nearly every play. He's one of the reasons Babineaux and Abraham are having the years they are.Jelly needs to be cut, Trust me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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