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Sunday, January 14
Big tackles play big role in AFC title game
By John Clayton
ESPN.com
ALAMEDA, Calif. -- A couple years ago, I sought the services of rapper Sir-Mix-A-Lot,
who wrote the underground hit about how much he liked big butts. The issue
was how teams were placing a major emphasis on getting wide-bodied -- big
butts, if you will -- on their defensive line.
|  | | Grady Jackson and the Raiders' defense plans to throw its weight around. |
Sir-Mix-A-Lot was particularly excited about the Redskins' moves to
put Big Daddy Wilkinson and Dana Stubblefield on the same defensive line.
After all, Sir-Mix-A-Lot, who lives in Seattle, is a closet 49ers fan and
always admired Stubblefield. He went to Seahawks games watching Cortez
Kennedy and Sam Adams destroy blocking schemes -- no if, and or butts about
it.
The AFC championship game is for the Sir-Mix-A-Lots of the world.
Darrell Russell and Grady Jackson of the Raiders are each listed in the
program as 325 pounds, and because the program isn't Jenny Craig, they
probably top 340. Adams moved to the Ravens and became an instant Pro Bowler
on the league's top defense. He's in the 330s. Tony Siragusa is the anchor
of the Ravens' run-stopping machine in the 340-pound range.
Big butts are back in. The Raiders and Ravens each ranked in the top
five stopping the run. The Redskins finally achieved top four defensive
status with Stubblefield and Wilkinson being augmented by the great play of ends Marco Coleman and Bruce Smith and good schemes by Ray Rhodes.
In Baltimore, the Ravens' defensive tackles were so ready for war
last Sunday against the Titans that they wore army fatigues in the pregame warmups. During their two-game playoff run, they destroyed Alex Gibbs' coordinated run-blocking schemes against the Broncos and went head-to-head with the Titans' powerful line.
Unlike Warren Sapp and La'Roi Glover, who were among the league sack
leaders, the success of these two teams' tackles aren't reflected in the
numbers. Adams and Siragusa combined for only two sacks. Jackson had eight
compared to Russell's three, and Russell admits he's frustrated.
"I don't see anybody treating us the way that they do," Russell
said. "For some reason, we get all the tackling, cut blocks, the holding
and all the dirty plays turned up against us, but they get away with it."
Of the four big butts, Russell is the one having the least fun. His
numbers are down and his critics are up. He's considered one of the most
dominating defensive tackles in football, but the extra blocking attention
this year cost him a chance to return to the Pro Bowl. Adams made it as a
starter, but Russell was a first alternate.
"I've always said I'll take a Super Bowl ring over a Pro Bowl
anytime," Russell said. "Now, I'm being called on it."
Russell is going through what every top defensive tackle has gone
through. He's getting double- and triple-teamed, and the strategies tend to lead to
frustration. On one play, he'll get a guard and tackle. On another, it
will be a guard and center. If he beats them, Russell finds a fullback ready to dive for his knees.
Adams experienced some of the same things in Seattle, although Kennedy drew most of the attention. Siragusa is used to
fighting off blockers going for his legs. For Russell, it's an irritant.
He's not having fun.
"The NFL is not all what it's cracked up to be," Russell said.
"It's supposed to be the elite, but how are you going to be the elite if
three or four men are blocking you?"
Complicating matters is that Russell plays in the toughest division
for defensive tackles, the AFC West. Broncos blockers legally go for the
front and back of legs. Some of the widest-bodied defensive linemen reside
in the West.
"Most of the time you are just trying to stay healthy," Russell
said. "Most of the time, it is how can you keep your knees and ankles alive
and still make plays."
It's caused Russell to adjust his game.
"I went from being a sack-maker to a sack-creator," Russell said.
"It works. I'm taking on three or four guys and somebody else is getting
the quarterback. I'm still shooting the gaps as usual. But now, there are
guys waiting in the gaps once I come through."
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The NFL is not all what it's cracked up to be. It's supposed to be the elite, but how are you going to be the elite if three or four men are blocking you? ” |
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— Darrell Russell, Raiders defensive tackle |
Adams and Siragusa don't have any trouble taking the load for teammates, who often end up picking up the sacks. Early in his career, that would
have bothered Adams, who loved to chase the sacks. Now, it's part of the
job.
"Both of our inside people are having an excellent season," Ravens
coach Brian Billick said. "You've got to be very careful, particularly on
inside defensive people, not to judge their play on tackles. We have two
outside people -- Mike McCrary and Peter Boulware -- whose sacks are down and
tackles are down to the point they didn't go to the Pro Bowl. But their
effectiveness in what we are doing are tenfold because they are playing good
team defense.
"The things that they do in this defense may not garner them the
attention they might normally get, but it allows us to be more productive and
play winning football. I think the Raiders' inside people are the same way.
They are the run stoppers. A lot of time, they aren't going to have the
great numbers, but the play of their tackles is one of the reasons they have
been playing well, particularly of late."
Unlike Russell, Jackson is having a ball. First of all, this is his
first year as a starter. Russell Maryland moved on to Green Bay, so Jackson took
the spot next to his friend, Russell. Because the Raiders like to rotate in
defensive tackles Josh Taves and Roderick Coleman, Jackson and Russell may
only be together 35 to 40 plays a game.
"I think we are the best defensive tackle tandem in the league,"
Jackson said. "People try to scheme against us, but we still get upfield
quickly. I'm quicker than Sam Adams. My job is getting up the middle and
pressuring the quarterback."
Russell offers this critique of the Ravens' defensive tackles.
"I haven't seen them wreck anybody seriously to the point of being
a threat," Russell said. "They have good pass rushers at the end. They
know the key to them is keeping Ray Lewis free. He's the bigger threat. The
people up front work well within their defense.
"In our defense, the front people cause havoc. It starts with us.
If we are going to get anywhere defensively, it's going to start with us. On
the average, we are going to get two or three yards into the backfield
anyway possible. If we aren't successful doing that, it hurts us."
For fans who love big butts, this is your game.
John Clayton is the senior NFL writer for ESPN.com.
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