Shuting Down the AirRaid

FOR Raider — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 19:30:47 -0000

I have a question for Seth. What are teams like Missouri doing that stymies the Air Raid so much? Over the past two seasons the two games with Missouri point to more than just a QB having an off day. I'd like to know what you think.

I wonder if the key is knowing the read progression for the basic formations that the QB makes and how the receivers typically react to coverage positioning. The Air Raid is premised on the receivers reading the db and running to space. For instance, in the Cotton Bowl Alabama played inside leverage so the outside receivers ran outside fly routes looking for the lob on the sideline. So if you know for a particular formation, can you position your defense to show something and do another? What about a variable blitz, one where your pressure comes based upon the formation and the hot reads? Cover options 1 and 2 tight and blitz away from the hot reads.

It just seems to me that Missouri did more than just have "good pressure." They frustrated Graham and I think it was by jumping hot routes and taking away the quick options when they brought pressure.

SB Nation User Blog: FOR Raider

Shuting Down the AirRaid