2010 Playoffs

Breaking Down The Week 19 Playoff Sacks Allowed Against Baltimore Ravens

The Steelers allowed 6 sacks Sunday against the Baltimore Ravens in the week 19 Divisional playoff game this past Saturday and we have the breakdowns of all of them below in animated gif form. If you click on any of the images, you can see the full size replay on NFL.com. If you missed are offensive line breakdown grading against the Ravens, you can read the grades here.

On the 1st sack, pre-snap, Terrell Suggs starts with his hand on the ground shaded to the left of Flozell Adams. Cory Redding is head up on Maurkice Pouncey in his stance. Ray Lewis steps up into the hole to the left of Haloti Ngata signifying a possible blitz. Jarrett Johnson and Lewis drift back into coverage while Suggs, Redding, Ngata and Dannell Ellerbe create pressure. Suggs uses an incredible burst of energy to go right past Adams. Tight coverage in the secondary prevents Ben from getting the ball to his receivers and Suggs is able to zoom past Adams and get the sack and cause a fumble.

Sack #1 versus Ravens

Sack #1 versus Ravens

On the 2nd sack, pre-snap we have Cory Redding, Haloti Ngata, Jarrett Johnson and Terrell Suggs with his hand down on the line of scrimmage. On this play the Ravens create pressure through the pass rush and by sending Ray Lewis on a blitz through the gap which forces Ben Roethlisberger to step up in the pocket. Rashard Mendenhall did get a piece of Lewis on the play but it was not effective enough to allow Lewis from doing his job. The Ravens also send Dawan Landry on a trail blitz and when Roethlisberger steps up into the pocket it allows Ngata and Landry to come up with the sack. This one likely goes on Mendenhall.

Sack #2 versus Ravens

Sack #2 versus Ravens

On the 3rd sack, again pre-snap we see a 3 man front with Terrell Suggs having his hand on the ground. This is about as textbook as you can get for a TE Stunt. Suggs uses his athleticism on this play to completely befuddle Chris Kemoeatu and Jonathan Scott. As the play progresses you see Ngata take on Kemoateau, Suggs then uses his athleticism to explode past Scott and loop in behind Ngata. Once that is achieved Suggs has a clear path to the quarterback. Kemoeatu should of passed off Ngata here and picked up Suggs on the stunt.

Sack #3 versus Ravens

Sack #3 versus Ravens

On the 4th sack the pre-snap look on this read is designed for confusion. This is what I like to call the Ninja formation. No one has their hand on the ground and they are constantly moving around. The Ravens send 4 on this play creating pressure with Terrell Suggs, Ray Lewis, Haruki Nakamura and Jarrett Johnson. In the pre snap alignment Nakamura lines up outside to the left of Johnson with Lewis alongside him. Nakamura allows Heath Miller a free release to the outside and then begins his blitz. Once Lewis is engaged by Mewelde Moore. There is no one to block Nakamura and he comes up with the sack. This is just a great laid out and well executed blitz by the Ravens.

Sack #4 versus Ravens

Sack #4 versus Ravens

On the 5th sack, pre-snap we see the Ravens with 3 down lineman with 2 on the outside and Terrell Suggs with his hand on the ground. Suggs uses his power and speed in this instance and bulrushes Trai Essex. Suggs is able to create leverage against Essex with excellent pad level and once he has Essex moving backwards he easily pushes Essex out of the way and then uses his speed to get to Ben Roethlisberger and pick up the sack. This is all on Essex as the Ravens only sent 3 on this play dropping 8 into coverage.

Sack #5 versus Ravens

Sack #5 versus Ravens

On the 6th sack, pre-snap we have a 3 man front with Terrell Suggs with his hand on the ground. The Ravens create pressure with Suggs and the 3 down lineman and are able to crush the pocket. Suggs comes inside and is picked up by Trai Essex. Cory Redding creates push inside and gets past Ramon Foster. Paul Kruger gets good pad leverage and a good push and is able to split Chris Kemoeatu and Maurkice Pouncey and get to Ben Roethlisberger sharing the sack with Redding. Foster and Kemoeatu both get a share of the blame here.

Sack #6 versus Ravens

Sack #6 versus Ravens

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