Broncos run game attacking the Bear front/odd fronts vs Dolphins and using motions vs Steelers

I analyzed the Broncos run game against the Dolphins and Steelers.

The Broncos used some good schemes to rush for 189 yards on 33 carries vs the Dolphins. They primarily did it against 2 fronts, the bear front and the 4-2 front with 2 2i (inside techniques). They also played some man free which allowed the Broncos wr to crack on the SS and block 2 for 1 because their was no crack replace with the cb. 

The Dolphins love the bear front on run downs.  The Bear front has been used throughout the year by the dolphins. It has been effective for them in the run game, playing dividends vs teams in the last few games.

The trouble with the Bear front is usually in the passing game as you are forced to play cover 1(man free) or  cover 3 with some 1/4, 1/4 half coverages sprinkled in. The Dolphins play alot of man free with it.

The Broncos changed some of their traditional zone schemes and went to some more power gap schemes in this game. They ran outside trap and some power and had various plays in which different players pulled and it worked out very succesfully.  When they went to their 4-2 with 2 , inside 2i techniques, the Broncos attacked that and got 2 big runs for 40 yards. 

BEAR FRONT

Lets look at some of the bear runs. 

Here they run a nice 3x2 double team scheme with the guard tackle and tight end. They seal the right side, the h back kicks out and they get a nice 9 yard gain.

 Here on 1st and 10 the Broncos run the outside trap scheme pulling the guard and the backside tackle for 5 yards 

After the 5 yard gain they come back to the power scheme on 2nd and 5. The dolphins are in man free(outside leverage by the sam lb gives it away) They run power with the left guard kicking out the olb.

The Broncos get a nice 25 yard gain on the play. wr does enough to block the SS and set up the big run.

The 

On another 1st and 10 vs bear, they pull the guard and he logs the de and it allows the tackle to turn it outside for a nice 9 yard gain. The tackle sees the guard log the de and stays outside, the rb follows and its a nice gain.

Vs. 42 front

Dolphins play both dt in 2i's, inside shade in their 4-2 look. They get hit for 2 big runs vs this.

They run to the right side for 20 yards with Lindsay on the scheme below. Great job by the center getting out and blocking the SS.

Here they pull the center and tackle and run outside trap concept. The defensive end works up field so the tackle kicks out and the back cuts up. 

They run a similar scheme but pull the backside tackle and he kicks out for a 20 yard touchdown, nice check and scheme design for another 20 yard gain and touchdown. 2 big plays vs the dt and nose being in 2i fronts. 

These were some of the successful runs the Broncos had on the day. They did a nice job scheming things up and running effective schemes vs the Dolphins bear and 4-2 front.

Vs The Steelers

Some of the best runs they had is when they motioned as the Steelers play man free quite a bit. 

By motioning, you sometimes get a secondary/lb displaced and allow cutback lanes. Especially since Dupree can be vulnerable in the run games because he loves to rush the passer.

Below, the Steelers have safety blitz which looks like changed with the change of strength. They usually send the sam but here send the weak free safety. The Broncos go jet motion and the lb has to cover it and it creates a huge cutback lane on inside zone. The LB leaves the box and it causes issues.

A nice 8 yard gain

On 2nd and 3,

They run inside zone off jet motion, the Steelers have a sam blitz on and this time don't check the blitz. The sam blitzes and the lb takes the jet motion. This leaves a huge cutback lane on the inside zone. Broncos get 17 on the play.

Later on the Steelers try to adjust with the safety as they blitz the mike with the motion. The Broncos get the same effect as the Steelers leave yet another cutback lane. 3 carries for 42 yards using motion early in the game. Nice scheme by the Broncos.

The Steelers defense can be vulnerable at times when you go 3x1 to 2x2 and motion when in man free and  the Broncos took advantage of that in the run game.

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Saints Run Game - Part 2 - Attacking 3 Down Fronts

by Jim Jackson

The New Orleans Saints are having great success in the run game currently, and they are doing it by having a plan to attack the 3 Down front. For purposes of this article we will call it a "Tight" front. The front we are talking about is the Center covered by a NG, both Guards covered by a 3 tech or 4I, and usually edge defenders capping the offensive formation. Some teams use 2 LB or 1 LB and a drop down Safety at the 2nd level. 

A variation of this front is the "Bear" or 46 front where the Center and both Guards are covered. This is typically a short yardage defense used with Man Coverage variations.

The Saints like to attack this front by running:

1. Inside Zone Weak (Away from TE) from the gun

2. Gap Scheme Strong (To the TE), either Power or Duo

3. Wide Zone Strong (To the TE).

Play 1 is Gun Inside Zone Weak. The result is a 20 yard gain by Alvin Kamara.

Play 2 is a QB Power with Taysom Hill as QB for a 13 yard gain. Hill is such a unique talent because he is so dynamic with the ball. Defensively, you have to respect and prepare for the Wildcat run game with a legitimate threat to pass as well.

Play 3 is a Wide Zone to a TE side. The result of this play is a 2 yard gain, but there are solid angles.

The Vikings, Patriots, and Ravens also have some good schemes attacking the Tight Front. As Defense evolves in the NFL, it is always great to see the creative ideas that coaches come up with to attack it.

Dolphins Defending the run , Bear, under, pro look vs The 49ers , Jets,Rams

The Dolphins are now the #1 defense in the NFL

The Miami Dolphins, under Coach Brian Flores are playing competitive football. They are being led by their defense who have put up 2 very good games the past 2 weeks.

In the last 2 weeks, they held the Jets to 148 passing yards and 49ers to 128 passing yards. That's pretty impressive.

2020 Defensive stats:

Scoring: 3rd in the NFL 18.8 points per game

3rd down percentage: 1st holding teams to 31% efficiency

Sacks: 6th in the NFL in sacks led by Emmanuel Ogbah. Ogbah is playing very good both against the run and in pass rush situations.

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Xavier Howard hasn't let up a reception in 2 games. Pretty impressive corner back.

Eric Rowe and especially Brian Mccain are playing very well in the secondary at safety.

 McCain is a top 10 safety right now.

Dolphins vs. 49ers

The Dolphins went to the Bear front on early downs.

The Dolphins used 2 coverages when they went to the bear front.

They played man free and played combo on the running backs with the 2 ilb.

They sent a five man pressure

They also played cover 3 where they dropped the safety to the weakside into the box to play cutback and give them an 8th defender in the box.

Here are some clips in which you will see some of the concepts above.

On 1st and 10

The  Dolphins go pro vs. 21 and bring the safety down to the tight end side. The safety plays cutback and they have every gap covered. They end up getting 5 on the play but a solid scheme. video clip #1 below.

On 1st and 10 a few plays later,

the Dolphins are in a pro look and they play cover 2 to the bottom of the screen and 1/4's to the top.

They cause confusion with the LT Williams and thus he gets beat inside because he gets no help from the guard. This puts the 49ers off track and into a 2nd and 17 situation. see the 2nd video clip below.
 

The 2 clips of the above diagrams are below.

Situation 4th and 1:

Dolphins up 7-0

49ers in gun

Dolphins: Pro Look 3,5 and 9 tech to the tight end side.

The 49ers get 11 yards on 3rd and 12. It sets up a 4th and 1 and watch the job #91 Ogbah does on this play. Wilkins #94 does a nice job as well against the left side of the 49ers line.They stuff them on 4th and 1 and this was a big play. 

As you can see the Dolphins do some good things on defense. They shut the Jets out the following week and I think this unit will get even better. 

Vs. The Jets

1st and 10 

3 yard gain that Gore makes something out of nothing.

The Dolphins send the slot and slant the front side to the A and B gap.

                                                

Should be no gain as the LB is in perfect position

2nd and 2

The Dolphins play good fundamental football. Squeeze with the de, lb fills and spills it. no gain

1st and 10

The Jets go 13 personnel and the Dolphins go to their 4-3 base personnel with an  under front .Olb plays crease technique but gets blown off the ball a little bit. The Jets get 3 on the play . 

                                                 

Dolphins spark the defensive end and go cover 3 

Here are the 3 clips  from above.

Dolphins vs Rams

The Dolphins played the Rams.

Things to understand about the Rams offense:

1. Early downs they use a lot of jet motion

2. They run condensed sets the majority of the time.

3. They rely on placation and misdirection on the early downs.

The Dolphins used many bear fronts against the Rams on early downs in conventional sets and when they went empty, they really went to double mug looks and gave the Rams issues with lots of pressure.

So here is a first and 10.

Trips bunch right

Rams run boot off the wide zone.

                                          Dolphins bring the sam linebacker and play cover 3

Sam comes unblocked 

Rams run a ton of jet motion and plays off it. 

Dolphins stayed cover 3 vs it and played it straight.

Rams run wide zone and get 6 yards with a nice cut. 

Back makes a good cut and gets 6 yards

Here are 3 clips of the Dolphins Bear front on early downs vs the Rams with cover 3

As you can see the Dolphins have a very solid run defense. They run three front with their bear, pro look and 4-2 defense and really shut the Rams down with a  great game plan.