Run Plays vs Seattle

[Merlin]

Going to throw these up as I have time. I want to show how close we are on some of these runs to busting big gainers, and keep in mind that Seattle has a very good front vs the run. Going through this film I feel pretty good about our run game and I hope it can take that next step which is going to require better technique/consistency by our linemen up front as well as better decision making by our RBs.

Situation first run from scrimmage:

Pre-snap we are in 13 with Jefferson as the lone wideout and Akers in the backfield:

At the snap the linemen are singled up. Whit is about to assist Edwards to get position then move second level. Also note the direction of the handoff at this moment and where the ball is, Goff will change hands and the handoff will be the other direction (as I've mentioned before Goff is an elite ball handler when it comes to his fakes and handoffs he is so smooth):

At the handoff Goff has smoothly switched hands and Akers has a nice look with no penetration up front. Going left to right Hav's guy is already out of the play. Note Corbett's position, very good technique to place himself between the DL and the play. Blythe however is showing poor technique by not positioning better and 97 will be in the play because of it. Edwards does not show good technique either but he's very strong and has 90 in the kung-fu interior grip so he's locked down. Whit is about to go second level to impede Wagner (with an ILB like him even just rerouting him is a win). Higs is comboing 43 with Mundt and will peel to take 56 next, the two blocks are excellent:

A beat later as Akers prepares to plant his foot he has a potentially good hole there right behind Whit (who is on 54) but he sees that green on the edge (which will close up quickly). 97 is being held now by Blythe which the refs miss, and if Akers had chosen that hole it probably would have been called.

At this moment we see the importance of Blythe's technique on Ford (97). Really nasty cutback lane is there but he can't take it because 97 is about to be un-held by Blythe and will fill it.

Akers strings it out behind Jefferson who is moving to the edge to take on 21:

Akers still gets 6 and if not for a great play by 56 could have been more.

I think two things on that play that were noteworthy are Blythe's technique with a lazy seal (97 is powerful and Blythe needs to use good technique to win that block) and Akers potentially being able to get more yardage if he hits that interior hole on the cutback.

Also one thing that stands out with Akers is his contact balance, he's tough to bring down. He's also very sudden.

 

[Merlin]

Situation:

Pre-snap Rams in 12 with Hendy in the backfield:

At the snap zone left movement and this time Blythe has the shoulder on 97. Corbett's assignment is 54 but as is typical with zone he should assist Blythe if necessary before he releases, but as we can see here Blythe has leading leverage and Corbs has a clear path to 54 so moving to get in front of him should be his priority:

At the handoff things look just like it was drawn up meaning Hendy only has to beat 33 in the event Corbett can impede 54. But Corbett is getting ready to shove 97 and will accidentally shove Blythe:

Corbett shoves Blythe freeing up 97:

Hendy has two choices here those being in front of 97 or behind him and he chooses poorly by sticking with the assigned hole IMO:

3 yard gain:

If Corbett doesn't push Blythe this is a good gainer. If he doesn't push Blythe and impedes 54 it could have been a very big gainer. Once again the issue isn't anyone getting overpowered but execution on the part of the line. And Hendy probably gets 5+ yards with a cutback to the other side of 97 but with both him and Akers I think all that comes down to carries and experience as things close up so much faster in the NFL.

 

[VeteranRamFan]

@Merlin , really appreciate the effort you put into these. You're knowledge and analysis never ceases to amaze me.

Big thanks for doing these as I learn something new each time.

Take care my friend.

 

[Merlin]

Situation:

Pre-snap the Rams are in 13 with Jefferson at wideout and Akers in the backfield:

Endzone view pre-snap. Hav has an easy reach block assignment on 91, Blythe has 97, and Edwards has the toughest assignment with a long reach block on 90 but with Whit next to him and how well they work together usually that shouldn't be a prob:

At the snap going left to right Corbett has an arm out to assist Hav's reach block and is ready to second level with a textbook start to the play. Blythe is solo vs 97 but the key block on this outside zone run is Edwards on 90 and you can see Whit already has 90 edged so that Edwards can take him and Whit will move on to 56. Standard stuff and perfect execution across the board at this moment.

At the handoff Ford (97) comes free but he's probably far enough behind the play that it won't matter, as long as that edge stays how it is. Problem is for whatever reason Edwards is confused here and seems to think he doesn't need to block 90:

Looks to me like Edwards thought he could one-arm 90 and seal him then go get more so don't know what he's thinking but you can see he misses with the push here. And yes 90 helps him but the problem is Edwards' positioning IMO he should have squared him up not turned the shoulder. Everything else looks good:

IMO if Edwards makes that block it's a TD because Jefferson gets downfield to at least act as a screen and Akers would have handled the rest:

Blythe got beat but would not have affected the play. Another technique fuck-up and this time by Edwards that allows 90 to make a nice play and prevent a TD:

 

[Psycho_X]

That last set it almost looks like Edwards thought he was pulling to outside of Whit to take 56 himself and Whit was supposed to stay on 90. Looks like that first action shot he's taking an angle to swoop behind Whit and go around him. So one of them was confused... I'm guessing it wasn't the pro bowl veteran. Definitely would have been an Akers touchdown.

 

[Merlin]

Situation (and I wonder if these employees realize they're on film taking their breaks lol):

Pre-snap Rams are in 12 with Akers in the backfield and Woody in motion:

At the snap 97 makes a move to the left and Reynolds starts a pull motion as a lead blocker:

Note the ball handling again, Akers fakes the direction Woody's going as Goff switches hands for the handoff. 54 & 56 are frozen which always buys the OL time to get second level. Left to right Hav is going to take 54, Corbs has 97 locked up, Blythe is going to get 56, and Edwards is kung-fu gripping 90 again.

Look at this fucking hole. In the redzone no less. Hats on hats this is straight power ball but the rook doesn't see it, he's attracted again by all that green outside:

Dutifully following his lead blocker lol:

Makin shit easy on the defense 101:

No technique probs on this play just squandered opportunity by a rook. But note that we kicked a FG that possession so two missed opportunities on runs alone that should have given us 4 more points.

 

[Merlin]

Situation:

Pre-snap Rams are in 11 with Akers in the backfield:

At the snap the Rams are running another outside zone to the left and this time we'll see Whit & Edwards do it right lol:

Whit making it easy for Edwards to get position on his reach on 90 here, Blythe has good positioning on 97 again, and Corbett is already getting second level with an arm out to help Hav get position on his minor reach assignment:

A beat later this is a textbook example of an outside zone. It's beautiful man. Edwards takes 90 and Whit seamlessly moves to impede the ILB, Blythe does a better job keeping his feet under him this time to prevent penetration, and look at that fuckin block by Higs:

Akers hits the hole with one guy to beat:

Homey takes Akers low:

Akers regains his feet but it slowed him a bit and Whit's guy comes free:

Nice play by Bobby Wagner. But the Rams' crisp execution gives them 17 yards out of the shadow of their goal line:

 

[Merlin]

Situation:

Pre-snap Rams are in 11 with Brown in the backfield:

At the snap you see the zone left movement. Also note that Seattle has stacked that outside edge in anticipation of outside zone and you can already see by defensive formation in the front seven as well as 50 moving to shoot the edge they have probably been told no more of that outside zone shit after giving up that 17 yarder:

At the handoff Blythe has really gotten a great jump and not only gets Corbett's reach assignment on the 1T set up but also is moving second level expeditiously. Edwards doesn't have great position but his guy seemed determined not to get edged at the snap and Edwards has him somewhat locked up. Also note Brown's head, he sees the hole:

Brown plants his foot. Dude's a tank lol so that doesn't look easy does it:

Nice 13 yard gainer:

 

[Merlin]

Situation:

Pre-snap Rams in 12 with Akers in the backfield and Woody in motion:

At the snap we see zone right motion. Left to right Hav is going to take 90, Corbett is free and normally would put the hand on 97 to help Blythe get position but I presume he thinks Blythe has position so he's going straight second level, Edwards has 94 and Boom just has to seal the backside 98:

Prior to the handoff 97 yanks Blythe hard and is back in the play. Other than 97 guys are handled and Woody is Akers' lead blocker:

At the handoff the outside zone seam is there for a nice gainer BUT unfortunately 97 is about to force Akers to take the ball wide to get out there:

Akers gets around him but things start to close up:

50 sheds Everett's block and makes a nice play. 5 yard gainer which is nice but it could have been more:

Blythe has been solid but we definitely need an upgrade at Center.

 

[RhodyRams]

Thanks for the time and effort @Merlin

 

[CGI_Ram]

Saved this for my morning coffee!

Awesome! @Merlin

 

[dieterbrock]

Great stuff!

 

[Classic Rams]

Very cool to see this stuff as it unfolds. I have a book from back in the 70s that had similar photos showing the steps to numerous SB plays etc. Was always intrigued by it. Book is called The Pro Style.

 

[Elmgrovegnome]

Blythe has been solid but we definitely need an upgrade at Center.

I hope it happens in my lifetime.