Pass rush hopes to pressure Brady
Raiders head coach Jack Del Rio echoed a strategy that’s been tossed around for years about how to defend against the Patriots and quarterback Tom Brady.
“I think for us, the need to not let Tom be comfortable is important,” Del Rio said Wednesday. “I think that’s the biggest thing.”
He then added a caveat that has been the source of exasperation for so many teams: “It’s
easier said than done.”
The Raiders’ best chance at slowing the Patriots’ NFL-best offense Sunday at Azteca Stadium in Mexico City may well be to generate a pass rush on Brady with Khalil Mack, Bruce Irvin, et al., especially given the struggles of Oakland’s injury-depleted secondary.
But, as Del Rio said, the strategy is not so clear-cut — in part because, at age 40, Brady appears to have improved one particular area of his game.
In past seasons, he struggled when the pocket collapsed around him. Last season, according to Pro Football Focus, his completion percentage dipped from 75.4 percent from a clean pocket (second best in the league) to 47.2 when he was pressured (21st).
This year, PFF has Brady as its top quarterback in those situations, with a quarterback rating of 107.2 under pressure. In a win over Denver last Sunday, Brady was pressured on eight dropbacks, according to PFF, and completed 6 of 7 passes for 89 yards and a touchdown.
That isn’t to say Brady’s been untouchable. Through nine games, he has been sacked 22 times, on pace for the thirdhighest total of his career. On Sunday, the Patriots will be without starting center David Andrews (illness) and right tackle Marcus Cannon (ankle).
Opposing coordinators, though, still must decide whether they dare send extra rushers against Brady, who is one of the best at reading blitzes and beating them with quick, accurate throws.
“He’s seen it all,” said Raiders defensive coordinator Ken Norton Jr. “You have to make plays. You have to get him off the spot sometimes. They have a certain formula that works well for them. You have to understand that formula and find ways to try to make them get off rhythm.”
The Raiders would appear to have the personnel to do so, starting with the reigning Defensive Player of the Year in Mack. But the pass rush has left something to be desired this season, with 13 sacks in nine games — tied for fewest in the league with the 1-8 Giants.
That comes after the Raiders were last in the NFL last year with 25 sacks, 11 of which belonged to Mack. Mack has 4.5 sacks this season as offenses have countered him with double teams and chip blocks. Asked this week who on the defense needs to contribute more to the pass rush to help Mack, Del Rio said: “Everybody.”
“The game of football is a team game,” Del Rio said. “Khalil is a special player. He needs to continue to bring great energy, which he does. If the quarterback is going to throw the ball in less than two seconds, it’s going to be tough to get there.”
In Week 9, the Raiders faced a quarterback in Miami’s Jay Cutler who was coming back from cracked ribs and threw 42 passes. They recorded one sack as Cutler routinely got throws off quickly to open receivers, completing 34 for 311 yards.
“When the quarterback is throwing the ball quick like that, we’ve got to tackle and have their punt team come out,” Del Rio said. “They’ll get tired of punting or turning the ball over and they’ll sit and hold the ball a little bit and Khalil can get there. (But) if they’re throwing the ball in two seconds or less, it’s going to be hard to get sacks.”
Brady has taken an average of 2.66 seconds before throws this season, according to Next Gen Stats, which is on the slower end of the NFL spectrum. So the Raiders should have chances to get to him.
“He’s a true pocket passer,” said defensive tackle Justin Ellis. “If he’s comfortable, he’ll light us up. He’ll light anyone up if he’s comfortable. So you’ve got to push the pockets, you’ve got to have a good push from the inside. And then the other guys do their job on the outside. That’s the key to him.”
And if Brady, as he’s often done over the course of a career that includes five Super Bowl wins, adjusts to the pressure?
“I don’t get frustrated,” Ellis said. “Going in, you know he’s a guy who’s going to know when to release the ball. So you’ve got to just keep going off, and hope that he makes a mistake. And the one time he does make a mistake, you get to hit him.”