Seattle Seahawks Unleash Aaron Curry: Taking Down JaMarcus Russell

by John Morgan on Sep 11, 2009 1:29 PM PDT Comment 11 comments

Seattle unleashed Aaron Curry on the Raiders. It took one play for him to humiliate a veteran, but the shaming he put on Cornell Green was Puritanical. Curry only contributed to this blitz. He was the wrecking ball that toppled the wrapped and surrounded JaMarcus Russell.

1-10-OAK 8 (11:39) J.Russell sacked at OAK 3 for -5 yards (D.Hawthorne)

Oakland is unbalanced left. It sets with two wide receivers and its tight end left, its running back center and a lone wide receiver on the right. Seattle is in a 4-3 under.

Curry sprints off the line. He's a full step ahead of even Michael Bennett. He holds a wide line and forces Green to shade clear into Oakland's end zone. Bennett, Red Bryant and Lawrence Jackson are bullying back the Raiders remaining offensive line. The least push comes from Baraka Atkins, matched against tight end Zach Miller. Linebackers Will Herring and David Hawthorne spy the running back and quarterback, respectively.

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Green can't keep up and soon Curry is turning the corner and rushing Russell from behind. The pocket is collapsed and Russell is double-clutching and delaying. Jackson has beat the right guard. Bryant has collapsed the interior, concentrating his force on the center, but drawing support attention from the left guard. The left guard is overloaded, because the left tackle is backed in and almost to Russell by Bennett. Atkins is keeping Miller busy, but not creating much pressure. The space between the left tackle and tight end is stretched by the pressure and David Hawthorne shoots the gap. He wraps but doesn't fell Russell. Curry explodes through Russell and completes the sack.

Essential details: Curry edge rushes, takes a long angle, but gets free and contributes.

Atkins cannot overmatch Miller.

Jackson, Bryant and Bennett collapse and dismantle Oakland's starting offensive line.

Only Curry is assigned to blitz. Will Herring and Hawthorne delay, and blitz when opportune.

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Atkins

Not that it matters much now, but what’s up with Atkins? Sometimes he seemed to turn it on and sometimes he can’t get past a TE? I expect this type of play is why he got cut.

Gotta love Curry though. He was really killing it in that game. All over the place. I know his 40 time was decent, but his in-game speed is really amazing.

by crnchber on Sep 11, 2009 1:40 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

4.56

Best at the Combine among linebackers.

by John Morgan on Sep 11, 2009 1:44 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

dan fast

Yeah I guess what I meant was that there are probably other guys on the team who ran a 4.5 – 4.6 but they don’t look like Curry does hauling ass around the field.

Actually what I really meant was “Damn, Arron Curry hauls ass!”

by crnchber on Sep 11, 2009 2:05 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

What's the best time for a LB that's not a small LB?

I know Urlacher did 4.54 at the combine, and 4.48 at his college pro day.
DeMarcus Ware at 4.56.

by LantermanC on Sep 11, 2009 3:13 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I'll mention this here since it relates to Bennett's icon

In a prior thread we were discussing whether he should be allowed to wear #96… now that the cutdowns have been made, he’s listed as #91 on the official roster.

So in the above diagram: 91 is Baraka Atkins and 96 is Michael Bennett… but in future diagrams, hopefully we’ll be seeing some neo-91s.

by busplunger on Sep 11, 2009 1:50 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

'Tez and his 96 should be retired in the Ring of Honor.

Early prospect watch: RB C.J. Spiller, QB Jevan Snead, OT Ciron Black, DT Gerald McCoy, S Eric Berry, DT Ndamukong Suh, CB Ras-I Dowling 6'2, 200, RB Jonathan Dwyer

by Misfit74 on Sep 11, 2009 2:25 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I thought Tez was already in the Ring?

Pretty sure I was at the game that they inducted him.

by Nate Dogg on Sep 11, 2009 3:03 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

So I get the delayed blitz now

it seems like it’s more on a option than a delayed blitz. Whatever it is it certainly seems awesome.

by Nate Dogg on Sep 11, 2009 3:04 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

"more of an option"

yikes.

by Nate Dogg on Sep 11, 2009 3:05 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Players can be assigned to delay blitz

Seattle seems content to let their linebackers decide.

by John Morgan on Sep 11, 2009 3:10 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Probably in man-coverage situations

If your man stays in to pass-protect, you rush. If he runs a route, you cover him (obviously).

The gap here is that on those delayed releases, a defender can get caught rushing and then the back sneaks out into open space before the rusher can get to the QB or redirect himself.

I wonder how complex the defensive rules are… there are probably different reactions to 1) your assignment is hanging out in the pocket not blocking anyone yet vs. 2) your assignment is currently engaged blocking another defender. In case 2 you’d almost certainly want to rush. In case 1 you have to be more careful. Probably depends on the play call, which depends on the coordinator and the situation and… man, football is so marvelously complicated.

by busplunger on Sep 11, 2009 11:21 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs