How do you stop a QB like Denard/Pat White?

Submitted by CipASonic on

During halftime at the UConn game, my friend had an interesting question, and I am not sure how to answer it.  He asked how you stop a really athletic QB who runs a lot, like Denard. 

Schematically, I feel like the best way would be to have someone spy the QB.  You might be best off with a nickel package, with the extra DB spying the QB.  But then you kinda expose yourself to the run, but without the nickelback you expose yourself to the QB run. 

Anyone have any better ideas?

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Magnus

September 10th, 2010 at 11:27 AM ^

The only way you can spy a QB like Robinson/White is if you have an athlete in the front 7 who is good enough to tackle Robinson/White in space, at least on occasion.  Most teams don't have that.

Aside from that, the best thing you can do is keep outside containment and gang tackle.  If I were a DC trying to stop Robinson right now, I'd have my DE stay home on the zone read option and make Vincent Smith/Mike Shaw/whoever beat me from the running back position.  Hopefully the front-side defenders can make the tackle and hold them to minimal gains.

That scrape exchange stuff works fine for quarterbacks who aren't that mobile (Forcier, for example) because the DE can make a play on the more dangerous RB, and the OLB coming over the top can often keep up with a guy like Forcier.  But even most OLBs are going to be made to look silly by a guy of Robinson's athleticism.

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dnak438

September 10th, 2010 at 1:04 PM ^

...and that's how the Bucs were so effective when Derrick Brooks was in his prime.  I like the idea of forcing the ball to the RB on the zone read.  It doesn't solve the problem of the power runs, but at least you are getting the ball out of DR's hands on the zone read play.

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MileHighWolverine

September 10th, 2010 at 12:36 PM ^

with clock eating scoring drives on O.  Hope that once he gets in, he gets anxious about all of the lost time and starts making mistakes. 

Other than that, good luck.

[EDIT] - Magnus' point re: keeping the DE at home makes sense as well.

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TheOracle6

September 10th, 2010 at 3:52 PM ^

You cannot teach elite level speed.  Denard and Pat White are a special breed of athletes.  The best chance anyone has to stop them is by keeping them off the field.  Both Pat and Denard possess the ability to take it to the house on any given play.  Adding that dimension to an already dangerous offense makes it almost impossible to stop.  RR's spread is about taking what the defense gives you and then exploiting the defense for big plays when least expected.  The more Denard and Pat White are on the field, the greater the chance of a big play.

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