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How to substitute TJ Watt while injured

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Litos

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The clear cut answer is that We Can't, but looking beyond the obvious, how can the team scheme around missing their best Defensive asset?
For what I saw on sunday, the 2-4-5 worked great in general because you have to ALL Pros in TJ and Cam, next to a rising star in Highsmith and a proven player in Ogunjobi, rushing with 4 was good enough for multiple sacks but lose one leg of the table and it will crumble down as no one can do what TJ does. While Reed can help in the run D department I saw little to no pressure from him on sunday.

So, what can the coaches do?
1. Use more 3-3-5 fronts? Wormley was disruptive against both the run and pass, Highsmith would be the 4th rusher. That would open some spaces in the middle of the field though.
2. Use Edmunds near the line in a heavy nickel, 3 Safeties formation? that would put Minkah on a WR more often than not and a lot of Cover 1, with Norwood being the deep S
3. Trust Reed and keep on keeping?
4. None of the above? Please provide some ideas
5. Don't worry, the pats* will run the ball with a lot of 2 TE sets so we can go with the 3-4 as the base D formation

Would appreciate your opinions,

Salute the Nation
 
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When major distruptions happen in sports or business..

Your plan should be the best option that is the most fluid, and should involve the least amount of additional assets needed to continue..

My preferred plan is this case is number 3 on your list.
 
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My plan is a bit more drastic, but appealing. We have one guy on the roster who has been proven time and time again, every play, to close any running hole and can consistently apply loads of pressure on the QB, despite where he is when the ball is snapped. As such, I formally move to put Kendrick Green at OLB and wreak havoc.
 
Superman said:
My plan is a bit more drastic, but appealing. We have one guy on the roster who has been proven time and time again, every play, to close any running hole and can consistently apply loads of pressure on the QB, despite where he is when the ball is snapped. As such, I formally move to put Kendrick Green at OLB and wreak havoc.
Click to expand...
:LOL::unsure:
 
Superman said:
My plan is a bit more drastic, but appealing. We have one guy on the roster who has been proven time and time again, every play, to close any running hole and can consistently apply loads of pressure on the QB, despite where he is when the ball is snapped. As such, I formally move to put Kendrick Green at OLB and wreak havoc.
Click to expand...
He'd just have to play backwards and have another steeler pushing him
 
Litos said:
He'd just have to play backwards and have another steeler pushing him
Click to expand...
Yes the wheelbarrow technique
Coming through!!!!

Inn all seriousness we may have to try a bit of 1-3 off your list unless the NFL will allow us 2 players to replace the awesomeness that is TJ Watt.

What’s Harrison up to these days, he may have 4-6 weeks left in the tank…ya know he’s in shape😎
 
Superman said:
My plan is a bit more drastic, but appealing. We have one guy on the roster who has been proven time and time again, every play, to close any running hole and can consistently apply loads of pressure on the QB, despite where he is when the ball is snapped. As such, I formally move to put Kendrick Green at OLB and wreak havoc.
Click to expand...
Your a pretty fart smeller there Supe!
Oops .. I mean I pretty smart feller..
😁
 
Paul G said:
put Derek Watt there ................. he isn't really busy doing much else ...

start calling him DJ Watt and tell him
Click to expand...
or - pec transplant. Same DNA, so we dont have to worry about the body rejecting it.
then ... ahem ... @tapeANaspirin2it and he'll be scabbed up by noon Friday and ready to roll by Sunday. simple.
 
Litos said:
The clear cut answer is that We Can't, but looking beyond the obvious, how can the team scheme around missing their best Defensive asset?
For what I saw on sunday, the 2-4-5 worked great in general because you have to ALL Pros in TJ and Cam, next to a rising star in Highsmith and a proven player in Ogunjobi, rushing with 4 was good enough for multiple sacks but lose one leg of the table and it will crumble down as no one can do what TJ does. While Reed can help in the run D department I saw little to no pressure from him on sunday.

So, what can the coaches do?
1. Use more 3-3-5 fronts? Wormley was disruptive against both the run and pass, Highsmith would be the 4th rusher. That would open some spaces in the middle of the field though.
2. Use Edmunds near the line in a heavy nickel, 3 Safeties formation? that would put Minkah on a WR more often than not and a lot of Cover 1, with Norwood being the deep S
3. Trust Reed and keep on keeping?
4. None of the above? Please provide some ideas
5. Don't worry, the pats* will run the ball with a lot of 2 TE sets so we can go with the 3-4 as the base D formation

Would appreciate your opinions,

Salute the Nation
Click to expand...
I like all of that but I would add a little to it. With Watt being out I would dress Robinson on Sunday. I would have a handful of plays where he inside blitzes. They'll adjust but maybe for the first quarter or half he can catch them off guard and maybe get pressure up the middle. I do like getting Bush off the field more and bringing Edmunds down in the box more. That gets Bush off the field and Norwood on.
 
You’re simply not replacing the disruption and havoc that TJ Watt provides. You hope that Malik Reed can be solid and that Alex Highsmith can be disruptive. Now let me say this, this defense is much better prepared this season to lose a player of TJ’s caliber for several games because their DL is deeper and better this year, Myles Jack being in the lineup, Highsmith seemingly coming into his own, and a better defensive backfield.
But and there’s always a but, the best way to combat TJ’s loss is to control the clock on offense. Establish the run game, open up the offense with the RPOs we were led to believe would be a major part of this offense, work the middle of the field, have Mitch more in a roiling pocket rather than drop back deep in the pocket. We simply cannot have an offense that consumes a mere 16 minutes off the clock like we did in Cincinnati. That’s unacceptable!
 
steelhurt said:
You’re simply not replacing the disruption and havoc that TJ Watt provides. You hope that Malik Reed can be solid and that Alex Highsmith can be disruptive. Now let me say this, this defense is much better prepared this season to lose a player of TJ’s caliber for several games because their DL is deeper and better this year, Myles Jack being in the lineup, Highsmith seemingly coming into his own, and a better defensive backfield.
But and there’s always a but, the best way to combat TJ’s loss is to control the clock on offense. Establish the run game, open up the offense with the RPOs we were led to believe would be a major part of this offense, work the middle of the field, have Mitch more in a roiling pocket rather than drop back deep in the pocket. We simply cannot have an offense that consumes a mere 16 minutes off the clock like we did in Cincinnati. That’s unacceptable!
Click to expand...
The best DEFENSE is a great OFFENSE................. got it ... I hope all of Canada and OCanada reads this board ...

Agree with you Hurt ........ we need to possess the ball more or at least put the ball in the endzone when the opportunities are there to take some pressure off the DEF
 
steel dino said:
Your a pretty fart smeller there Supe!
Oops .. I mean I pretty smart feller..
😁
Click to expand...


You thinking he is "pretty" Is what got me....................... :lalala:


Salute the nation
 
steel dino said:
When major distruptions happen in sports or business..

Your plan should be the best option that is the most fluid, and should involve the least amount of additional assets needed to continue..

My preferred plan is this case is number 3 on your list.
Click to expand...
I like yer thinking
 
Litos said:
The clear cut answer is that We Can't, but looking beyond the obvious, how can the team scheme around missing their best Defensive asset?
For what I saw on sunday, the 2-4-5 worked great in general because you have to ALL Pros in TJ and Cam, next to a rising star in Highsmith and a proven player in Ogunjobi, rushing with 4 was good enough for multiple sacks but lose one leg of the table and it will crumble down as no one can do what TJ does. While Reed can help in the run D department I saw little to no pressure from him on sunday.

So, what can the coaches do?
1. Use more 3-3-5 fronts? Wormley was disruptive against both the run and pass, Highsmith would be the 4th rusher. That would open some spaces in the middle of the field though.
2. Use Edmunds near the line in a heavy nickel, 3 Safeties formation? that would put Minkah on a WR more often than not and a lot of Cover 1, with Norwood being the deep S
3. Trust Reed and keep on keeping?
4. None of the above? Please provide some ideas
5. Don't worry, the pats* will run the ball with a lot of 2 TE sets so we can go with the 3-4 as the base D formation

Would appreciate your opinions,

Salute the Nation
Click to expand...


Great post Litos and thanks for the great ones along the way.

I think it will take a combination to fill the hole that TJ has left. Mind you it won't be as strong as if he were her.

1 / 2 / 3 are all going to be needed throughout the game. I'm not sure but I thought the cheatriots OL was susceptible so that may help.

We don't have a clear winner other than the fact our new combination of DC & his assistant seems to be much better than silent Butler & Cool Shades were last year. I hope that new strength can help in the offset as well.


Salute the nation
 
FordFairLane said:
I like all of that but I would add a little to it. With Watt being out I would dress Robinson on Sunday. I would have a handful of plays where he inside blitzes. They'll adjust but maybe for the first quarter or half he can catch them off guard and maybe get pressure up the middle. I do like getting Bush off the field more and bringing Edmunds down in the box more. That gets Bush off the field and Norwood on.
Click to expand...

Definitely


Salute the nation
 
steelhurt said:
You’re simply not replacing the disruption and havoc that TJ Watt provides. You hope that Malik Reed can be solid and that Alex Highsmith can be disruptive. Now let me say this, this defense is much better prepared this season to lose a player of TJ’s caliber for several games because their DL is deeper and better this year, Myles Jack being in the lineup, Highsmith seemingly coming into his own, and a better defensive backfield.
But and there’s always a but, the best way to combat TJ’s loss is to control the clock on offense. Establish the run game, open up the offense with the RPOs we were led to believe would be a major part of this offense, work the middle of the field, have Mitch more in a roiling pocket rather than drop back deep in the pocket. We simply cannot have an offense that consumes a mere 16 minutes off the clock like we did in Cincinnati. That’s unacceptable!
Click to expand...
It is known Khaleesi, of course it would help to have better control of the time of possession but this thread is about defensive scheming around missing Watt, not about the ineptitude on canada+Tomlin in calling the offense
 
Litos said:
It is known Khaleesi, of course it would help to have better control of the time of possession but this thread is about defensive scheming around missing Watt, not about the ineptitude on canada+Tomlin in calling the offense
Click to expand...
My post was stating how you combat the loss of TJ Watt which is having a much more effective offense. Look, as I stated, you’re not replacing Watt. And you can only do so much with your defensive looks to try and ease the loss but it won’t matter unless you control the clock. That’s the best way to ease this loss. Control the clock as much as possible, score TDs, and lessen the load for your defense. Your suggestion was of shifting these guys around into various formations go so far as OCs make adjustments too. The best defense here is a better offense.
 
Yeah i think trust reed keep on moving. But maybe a few more stunts to create something . Also agree we need to control the ball more.. That was ridiculous. Defense should have gotten an extra day off this week, and have an offense only practice.
 
steelhurt said:
My post was stating how you combat the loss of TJ Watt which is having a much more effective offense. Look, as I stated, you’re not replacing Watt. And you can only do so much with your defensive looks to try and ease the loss but it won’t matter unless you control the clock. That’s the best way to ease this loss. Control the clock as much as possible, score TDs, and lessen the load for your defense. Your suggestion was of shifting these guys around into various formations go so far as OCs make adjustments too. The best defense here is a better offense.
Click to expand...
yeap, the exact first line of the OP explicitly says "you just can't replace him" we can all agree from the get go on that. Controlling the TOP helps the team wether Watt is available or not, is just obvious and not the subject, but I get your point, I'm hoping too that the OC gets his head out of his ***
 
Litos said:
yeap, the exact first line of the OP explicitly says "you just can't replace him" we can all agree from the get go on that. Controlling the TOP helps the team wether Watt is available or not, is just obvious and not the subject, but I get your point, I'm hoping too that the OC gets his head out of his ***
Click to expand...
 
Keep your defensive line fresh rotating between the 6 DL. I agree using Edmunds up closer to the line. I don’t like Minka having to make so many tackles what 14 this past Sunday, but when you have a weak spot with Bush that crap happens.
Patriots offense stinks so don’t see this being so big a deal but against Browns with their rushing attack, will be a tough one.
 
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