So in the wake of Saturday night's dominating running performance, I went back through the film and thought I'd put together a few plays for people to look at. I know it isn't as sexy as breaking down passing plays, but it is still pretty cool.
At the outset, the performance from the offensive line and the other guys up front was amazing. They were continually winning battles at the point of attack and getting guys up to the next level. When a linebacker is forced to shed blockers and can't run free to the ball carrier, the offensive team is going to have some success on the ground. We got to see that in spades Saturday night.
This is the end zone view on the first play. This is a simple stretch play to the right from the first drive. Here is the pre-snap look:
What I want to point out here is the job Ryan Wendell, the center, does at the line of scrimmage. This run is to the right. You'll notice that the NG has shaded Wendell to Wendell's right shoulder. If this play is to have any success, Wendell needs to get outside the NG immediately and prevent him from getting through that A gap. A gap penetration will force Blount to bounce this play sooner than designed and will likely blow the play up in the backfield. Here's a still from a few seconds later:
Look at how Wendell has completely flipped leverage. He gets to the outside of the NG immediately and you can see a hole taking shape. Connolly and Cannon are executing a great combo block on the DT/LB, and backside Mankins is already up to the WILB. Blount makes a nice cut and this well blocked play goes for a solid four yard gain. Video of the play is here.
Here's the next play. Weakside HB lead with Ridley as the ball carrier. Develin does a great job hitting the hole and getting to the WILB, and Mankins does a great job coming around and filling the hole as well.
Presnap image:
And here is the screenshot from when Ridley hits the hole. Look how Mankins and Develin are both working to that second level and clearing out the two linebackers, creating a great hole for Ridley:
Video of the play is here.
Third play to look at. This is a big situation early in the game, 3rd and 3 in the Patriots' own territory. They go shotgun, and likely this is one of the first "Bandit" calls. Vereen starts to Brady's right but shifts to his left. Look at Indy's defense. They've only got two guys down. They're playing the pass. So what do they do? Delayed handoff to Vereen. Presnap look:
I mean, you have to be able to run the ball for a first down in that situation against that look, right? And they do. Here's a view as the play develops:
I mean, that's a hole. Video is here. GJGE goes to the Indy defense on this play, trying to disguise what they are doing. This ain't Alex Smith in the shotgun, gentlemen.
Okay, fourth play. The view is a bit tougher here as the Patriots are coming towards the camera. Wanted to include this as an example of what Logan Mankins brings to this team. He pulls again to lead for Blount on this play. Here is the presnap look:
And here is what it looks like as the play develops:
That has the makings of a huge play. When you get bodies on guys like this, and the first player to have a free shot at your RB is the SS, you are going to move the chains. Also, Thompkins is in position to make a big block as well. The only thing that prevents this from going for huge yardage is that Indy's LE makes a great individual effort separating himself from Cannon and coming from behind to get Blount down.
Video here. When you watch the video, take note of this formation, especially Hooman in motion towards the side they run to, and Edelman's short split. The big play action they hit to Amendola later in the game is run from that same formation and that same motion look.
And finally, the big TD run. Lots of great stuff here. Presnap look:
This play is all Marcus Cannon. He and Connolly get a great combo block on that DT at the point of attack and eliminate him from the play. I mean, they blow the guy right off the ball. Here's a shot of that:
I mean, that guy is swallowed up. You can see Mankins pulling around as well. Hooman has a great seal block on his guy. Everyone is accounted for but those two inside blockers. But wait, Mankins and Cannon aren't done yet.
Cannon does a fantastic job of coming off his initial block and getting to the next level, taking on an LB. Blount does a great job of seeing that hole, making a quick cut. and again, we have the first defender with a shot at him is the SS. 73 yards later and we're all smiling.
Video here.
These are just five, but I could have picked countless others to illustrate what a great job was done by the guys up front on Saturday night. Dante deserves a ton of credit for the performance from these guys.
At the outset, the performance from the offensive line and the other guys up front was amazing. They were continually winning battles at the point of attack and getting guys up to the next level. When a linebacker is forced to shed blockers and can't run free to the ball carrier, the offensive team is going to have some success on the ground. We got to see that in spades Saturday night.
This is the end zone view on the first play. This is a simple stretch play to the right from the first drive. Here is the pre-snap look:
What I want to point out here is the job Ryan Wendell, the center, does at the line of scrimmage. This run is to the right. You'll notice that the NG has shaded Wendell to Wendell's right shoulder. If this play is to have any success, Wendell needs to get outside the NG immediately and prevent him from getting through that A gap. A gap penetration will force Blount to bounce this play sooner than designed and will likely blow the play up in the backfield. Here's a still from a few seconds later:
Look at how Wendell has completely flipped leverage. He gets to the outside of the NG immediately and you can see a hole taking shape. Connolly and Cannon are executing a great combo block on the DT/LB, and backside Mankins is already up to the WILB. Blount makes a nice cut and this well blocked play goes for a solid four yard gain. Video of the play is here.
Here's the next play. Weakside HB lead with Ridley as the ball carrier. Develin does a great job hitting the hole and getting to the WILB, and Mankins does a great job coming around and filling the hole as well.
Presnap image:
And here is the screenshot from when Ridley hits the hole. Look how Mankins and Develin are both working to that second level and clearing out the two linebackers, creating a great hole for Ridley:
Video of the play is here.
Third play to look at. This is a big situation early in the game, 3rd and 3 in the Patriots' own territory. They go shotgun, and likely this is one of the first "Bandit" calls. Vereen starts to Brady's right but shifts to his left. Look at Indy's defense. They've only got two guys down. They're playing the pass. So what do they do? Delayed handoff to Vereen. Presnap look:
I mean, you have to be able to run the ball for a first down in that situation against that look, right? And they do. Here's a view as the play develops:
I mean, that's a hole. Video is here. GJGE goes to the Indy defense on this play, trying to disguise what they are doing. This ain't Alex Smith in the shotgun, gentlemen.
Okay, fourth play. The view is a bit tougher here as the Patriots are coming towards the camera. Wanted to include this as an example of what Logan Mankins brings to this team. He pulls again to lead for Blount on this play. Here is the presnap look:
And here is what it looks like as the play develops:
That has the makings of a huge play. When you get bodies on guys like this, and the first player to have a free shot at your RB is the SS, you are going to move the chains. Also, Thompkins is in position to make a big block as well. The only thing that prevents this from going for huge yardage is that Indy's LE makes a great individual effort separating himself from Cannon and coming from behind to get Blount down.
Video here. When you watch the video, take note of this formation, especially Hooman in motion towards the side they run to, and Edelman's short split. The big play action they hit to Amendola later in the game is run from that same formation and that same motion look.
And finally, the big TD run. Lots of great stuff here. Presnap look:
This play is all Marcus Cannon. He and Connolly get a great combo block on that DT at the point of attack and eliminate him from the play. I mean, they blow the guy right off the ball. Here's a shot of that:
I mean, that guy is swallowed up. You can see Mankins pulling around as well. Hooman has a great seal block on his guy. Everyone is accounted for but those two inside blockers. But wait, Mankins and Cannon aren't done yet.
Cannon does a fantastic job of coming off his initial block and getting to the next level, taking on an LB. Blount does a great job of seeing that hole, making a quick cut. and again, we have the first defender with a shot at him is the SS. 73 yards later and we're all smiling.
Video here.
These are just five, but I could have picked countless others to illustrate what a great job was done by the guys up front on Saturday night. Dante deserves a ton of credit for the performance from these guys.
