Defense 101: The Anatomy of a Brian Flores Blitz
K. Joudry
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Earlier in the offseason, Kirk Cousins explained what makes a Brian Flores blitz is so challenging to overcome.
After noting that the defense has been a “curve ball,” Cousins notes that facing off against the Flores defense requires a QB to ask a pile of questions: “Going against Coach Flores’ defense is a first-time deal, so how are we going to handle these pressures? How are we going to handle these fronts? How are we protecting them? I’ve been wearing out my quarterback coach in meetings asking questions.”
Cousins elsewhere describes how Minnesota’s defense does “a good job of showing you one thing, and then after the snap it’s something else.” Being able to fool an offense is often the key to generating pressure, as we saw in the most recent preseason game.
Jay Ward’s strip sack on Arizona’s Clayton Tune should be used as teaching tape for both defenders and defensive coordinators. How did they pull it off? Let’s see what the tape has to say.
The Brian Flores Blitz Against Arizona
A tip of the cap to both the DC and the safety for the strip sack. The defensive coordinator deserves credit for scheming a man open for a free run at the QB; the safety deserves credit for timing the play perfectly and then landing an excellent hit on Clayton Tune.
Take a look at the play in question:
And from another angle:
The first thing to note is the situation. Given that Arizona is facing 3rd & 6, the chances of a pass are extremely high. Flores understands this reality, dialing up a blitz that’s meant to disrupt Arizona’s capacity to pick up the first down. The fact that the Cardinals are operating out of shotgun and (if I’m not mistaken) in 11 personnel further underscores that it’s almost certainly a pass.
Now, the Cardinals are only dealing with six potential blockers given that there’s just the OL and then RB. Everyone else is lined up as a receiver, meaning Arizona faces a problem. There are seven potential pass rushers on the play.
When a team presents the threat of an unblocked pass rusher, that player becomes the responsibility of the quarterback. The QB needs to do the math in real time, recognizing that there’s a +1 advantage for the defense. The solution rests in being ultra decisive, getting rid of the football very quickly so that the (potential) unblocked pass rusher isn’t able to get home for the hit.
In theory, the solution makes sense. In practice, the Cardinals couldn’t pull it off. Ward’s timing was too perfect, his hit too outstanding (though with one quibble, as discussed below).
As Kevin Seifert notes, the Vikings drop a pair into a shallow zone while only bringing five players. Luiji Vilain does an excellent job of allowing his teammate to thrive. Watch the clip again: Vilain occupies the offensive tackle, meaning there’s no one left along the outside to get in Ward’s way.
The only potential solution for the untouched Ward is the RB, who actually begins on that side of the formation when the ball is snapped. The issue is simply that Flores is forcing that RB to be in two places at once. There’s another untouched rusher coming through the B-gap — the room between the tackle and the guard — on the opposite side. Coaches will tell their RBs to pickup the most dangerous man. Generally speaking, that’s the pressure that’s coming up the middle, so the RB isn’t at fault for stepping up to pick up the blitzing linebacker.
Instead, the issue rests in Arizona’s play call and (maybe) the QB. Tune could have changed the play call at the line of scrimmage, recognizing that the Brian Flores blitz was a hurdle the offense was ill-quipped to handle. Admittedly, that’s quite a bit to ask of Tune, so maybe we’re simply seeing a moment when the DC needs his kudos.
And, of course, massive credit to the rookie safety for finishing the play. Take a look at what Seifert has to say in a follow-up tweet about Ward’s hit: “And for the Football is Soft crowd: This is a great example of how a well-versed defender (rookie S Jay Ward in this case) can put a violent but perfectly legal hit on a quarterback. Went in with his shoulder. Head to the side. Avoided landing on top of the QB.”
Couldn’t have said it better myself.
Ward puts in a great tackle. Moving forward, he’ll want to ensure he’s doing his utmost to keep his head to the side so that his shoulder and arms can absorb the contact (as Seifert suggests), but the tackle placement on Tune is really good. He’s super physical and aggressive but everyone stays healthy. Nothing dirty about the play, just a tremendous tackle that leads to a turnover that directly prefigures the touchdown pass from Jaren Hall to Abram Smith.
That’s Defense 101, folks. Well done to the defender and DC alike.
Vikings fans will get the chance to watch more Flores blitzes once Baker Mayfield leads his Buccaneers into U.S. Bank Stadium on September 10th. Expect a concerted effort to ensure Mr. Mayfield isn’t comfortable in the pocket.
