The Importance of Picking up the Blitz

[Slingin Sammy 33]

Originally Posted by GTripp0012

Completely unrelated to the blitz, but:

Since 2004, Antwaan Randle El has been considerably worse on second down than either first or third down in every single season going back to Pittsburgh.

Any possible reasons for this? Anyone?

Just an "off the top of the head" thought. Both Pitt & us are run-first teams. On first down the threat of run makes the D play more honest with a run-first D, either man coverage or some sort of balanced zone. If 2nd down turns out to be a pass, it's normally because 1st down was an incomplete or the run was 2yds or less. The D is now in a pass D. ARE is small, is an average route-runner and has average hands, so he has a difficult time creating space against a pass D, therefore he's less successful. On third down, if it's a pass, it's either a surprise play call on 3rd and short in which case the D is playing run-first or ARE is some sort of a check down option and makes the catch but may not necessarily pick up the yds for the first.

or I could be completely off-base and it's just coincidence.