Although Jamie Collins and Donta Hightower are young, they are among the best linebacker duos in the league, when they are healthy.The topic of this article will focus on just how effective they are at blitzing. New England loves to use their linebackers on A-gap blitzes where one of the linebackers will likely get a match up with a smaller running back. Football is a game of match-ups and linebackers as athletic and strong as Hightower or Collins will take on a running back any day of the week. Throughout the AFC championship game and especially in the second half, the Patriots linebackers put on a clinic on how to blitz effectively.
The situation is second down and 10 from Denver's own 20 yard line. It is likely going to be a pass so New England calls a 4 man blitz which results in sack. One key to look at here is the distance between the ball and the linebackers, it is roughly a 5 yard difference. If the blitz is going to succeed then two things need to happen. One if Collins does not have free lane then he must quickly win his math cup and get to the QB. Two, there cannot be any short throws that neutralize the blitz. Since the linebackers are lined up 5 yards away, they will need a little extra time than if they were lined up 1 yard off the ball obviously.
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The initial pickup of the blitz is good as Manning is allowed enough time to survey the field. But by dropping both the 9 techniques into pass coverage, the short routes are blanketed and there is no where to go for the QB. Now as all this is developing, Collins is running through the A gap where he is met by a running back and the left guard late. But going back to how effective these guys are as blitzers, Collins easily sheds the block and gets to Manning.
And that is all she wrote on this play, Manning was sacked for a huge loss. Another example of Collins blitzing through the A gap happened again later in the game, except this time CJ Anderson does a great job of pass protection on him. Manning did hurry the throw a bit into a tight window but this was great execution by the Denver pass protection.
That is no easy task, blocking a linebacker who has great strength and speed who is running full speed at you. But what a great block by CJ Anderson again, although the play did not gain anything he prevented what might have been a strip sack or sack of Manning.
The Patriots utilized these types of blitzes throughout the season and saw great success when both of their stud linebackers were playing together. These two guys should priority 1a. and 1b to resign because they are really valuable to what the defense does.
