Zimmer Wants More Turnovers

by Jason Garrison on May 26, 2010 11:04 PM EDT in Analysis

The Bengals have improved every aspect of their defense since Zimmer has taken over the job as defensive coordinator, except for one. Turnovers. Last year the Bengals broke even when it came to a turnover margin. They had 25 takeaways (19 interceptions and six fumble recoveries) and 25 giveaways (13 interceptions and 12 fumbles). While breaking even isn't even close as bad as league worst Detroit at -18, it's still not close as good as league best Green Bay at +24.

Breaking even does not make Zimmer happy but Hobson says Zimmer is working on being much happier these days.

So as he heads into his third season as defensive coordinator, Zimmer is emphasizing picks, tips, strips, punches, scoops, and anything else that translates into turnovers. The defense is getting a steady diet of turnover drills to start each voluntary field workout, even "making sure the ball doesn’t go out of bounds if you’re trying to get a fumble," says WILL linebacker Keith Rivers

To begin every practice, Zimmer has his defense run drills where one defender strips a ball from the quarterback and another defender picks it up and runs with it. The coaches have gone as far as to create a video labeled "Missed Opportunities to Make Big Plays" from the 2009 season.

"It started right when we came in for OTAs; they put it right up on the screen," says cornerback Johnathan Joseph. "The difference between being 12-4 and how many games are won by seven points and three points. If you (score) off a turnover, your chances of winning the game go up by something like 85 percent. And they showed how the stats from last year fit into that."

One turnover can be the difference between being on the field for the playoffs or watching them at home. It is also the difference between being the number four defense in the NFL and being the number one defense in the NFL.

Having some more takeaways is the only thing between the Bengals defense and being the complete package. I've said it before, and I'll say it again, and I'll keep saying it until you hate me. It's going to be a great year.

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Margin malfunction?

by einman77 on May 26, 2010 11:48 PM EDT reply actions

Yeah.. I couldn't figure out what was causing it.

For now, I’ve given the story a temporary fix until someone more knowledgeable of HTML than I can look at it.

by jsl413 on May 27, 2010 2:34 AM EDT up reply actions

How do you make the posts? I would assume using a CMS. Also do you add the photo and caption yourself?

by TCfromDubVee on May 27, 2010 9:58 AM EDT up reply actions

Quick points, early leads = turnovers

In regards to the offense’s lack of a passing game last year, this in turn did not allow us to jump out to many early/big leads. In 2005 that was a HUGE determining factor in forcing teams to throw on us all day, and we could scheme for it and ballhawk, thus leading to 3 or 4 games with 5 picks each.(not sure if we had 3 or 4, but we almost 5 picked an entire division that year). What I’m trying to get at is do we think that Brat is aware of how that impacts defensive scheme’s or is he too confused with his ‘new’ theory of creating mismatches to make the connection? IMO with our improved receiving core and nearly god like running game, shouldn’t it be our gameplan all year to try and jump out to early leads with a no huddle/run and gun style offense, then hammer the ball down their throats and create turnovers and concusions on Z-fense???
That actually felt really weird and all to obvious when actually typing it out, but i guess my point is that I will be expecting that, and hope that Brat is too…..

it comes down to mind over matter....if you don't mind, it won't matter

by TruWhoDey on May 27, 2010 9:54 AM EDT reply actions

/Signed

Jumping out to early leads and be able to score with both the passing and running game will really help our D. Get up a couple touchdowns and then just run the ball down their throat. This will allow us to control the clock and give our D plenty of rest to play at their peak!

Having JJO, Hall, and pacman (if he keeps his nose clean) will only solidify this way of winning. We have the best corners in the division and arguably the best in the league. I’m not worried about a team passing to try and get back in the game because we can ballhawk like you mentioned.

Excited for this upcoming season!

by TCfromDubVee on May 27, 2010 10:06 AM EDT up reply actions

People seem to forget

That an improved pass rush creates more turnovers. They’ve brought in new contributors for this and they should reap benefits from it. They can do all of the strip ‘n’ tip drills that they want, the pass rush is the true key.

by Anthony Cosenza on May 27, 2010 11:39 AM EDT reply actions

I dont think anyone has forgotten this

but there are other ways to create turnovers aside from hurrying the QB to make an errant throw. A great example is New Orleans this past regular season. Their yards allowed ranking wasn’t that spectacular, but they did create a ton of turnovers. Yes, their pass rush was solid, but they also did a great job of tipping passes in the defensive backfield and getting interceptions as well as creating fumbles by stripping the ball away from the ball carrier.

by Cedric Benson Boat Party on May 27, 2010 11:55 AM EDT up reply actions

In the spirit of what TruWhoDey said

Another way to improve the pass rush is to get an early lead and force your opponent to increase there pass percentage. Then the DE’s can focus more on the QB and less on the RB.

by jim0ijk on May 27, 2010 12:42 PM EDT up reply actions

+1

Definitely getting a lead contributes to obvious passing situations. Obvious passing situations allow a Defense to “pin its ears back” and get after the QB. Something else that will help us get a pass rush. Our CB’s. Our CB’s allow us to do a couple things that will allow us to get pressure. First off we can play more one on one coverage and not be too concerned with gettting beat. You have to like our CB’s the majority of the time in one on one coverage. Also the coverage should allow for Coverage sacks. The key is our secondary because Zim trusts them and will be able to get more creative with his blitz packages. I think thats one reason he is going to use some “3-4 principles” this year. Because he trusts or CB’s not to get burnt deep.

by C1ncy4Life on May 27, 2010 1:12 PM EDT up reply actions

Obviously, I love ints

But, look at the years when we had ints and it seems to me that they are over rated. I don’t see a lot of guys considering that when you go for the int and don’t get it the WR can get some big time TAC. If you take a CBs ints and subtract the times he got burned trying for one the number becomes less impressive. Hall and Joseph had 6 each last year, I think. That is a very respectable number and they didn’t get burned very often. Intercepting 1 pass and allowing a WR to get 2-3 defenseable completions and big time YAC is counter productive as those plays frequently result in scores or scoring opportunities. High int numbers do not necessarily equate to good defense.

Zim is doing it right. First learn to play with solid technique. When a WR gets trapped out of position or the QB over or under throws the ball and the WR can’t catch it then you go for it. That happens 3-4 times a game, even with excellent QBs. A Dbacks first responsibility on a passing play is to keep the WR from catching it. Do that first and then go for the int. It appears that the D is playing soundly enough that they can go for more ints because there are more people in position.