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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Week 8 Dolphins defense vs the Rams offense- Defensive analysis of The Miami Dolphins

 Dolphins vs Rams

The Miami Dolphins are becoming a top unit in the NFL. Lets look at some of the things they did against the Rams in week 8

The Dolphins played the Rams and did some good things to beat the Rams.

Things to understand about the Rams offense:

1. Early downs they use a lot of jet motion and wide zone boot.

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

3. They like to go empty and utilize the short passing game. 

4. They don't have dynamic 1x1 wr. They excel more against zone coverages. Not the best route runners vs man. 

The Dolphins  basically did  4  things that stood out in my mind.

1. They played  zone on early running  downs against the Rams condensed look and played their bear look, some pro 6-1 stuff and a little 3-4 variation with 4i's  and mostly  cover 3. As the game went on they went more bear.

2. Also, on 1st down they bought some sam pressures because the Rams do like to run some wide zone boot on 1st down. They did this 4 times and on each time the Rams ran wide zone boot. Nice job scouting.

3. Vs. Empty they went to some double mug b looks and some 3 man mug looks and brought 6 and got home numerous occasions, They didn't think Kupp, Woods and Higbie could beat them in the passing game. They were right for the most part.

4. On passing downs they played a lot of snaps of man and brought pressure:

This forced the Rams to change their protection and get out of empty and go more 6 man and max protections

Empty Breakdown

rams vs mug cover 0  2/8.   11 yds ,  sack returned for td , interception,  and a missed easy interception.

vs man free            2/3 for 31 yards

vs.  cover 3.         2/4 for 23 yards with a hurry

vs 2 man (hole). 0/2 with 1 hurry

MAN TO MAN 

Again the Rams went man on 15 snaps the whole game. 

In addition to above the Rams got man on 7 snaps with single back.

The Dolphins went cover 0 - 7 times. The Rams were 4/7 for 42 yards 1 interception but were under duress quite often. 

There were some other aspects but that's really the nuts and bolts of the situational football the Dolphins played

Lets look at the early downs.

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 on 1st down on 4 occasions

and each time the Rams ran wide zone naked boot.

Sam comes unblocked 

Here's a 1st down in the 2nd quarter

In the 2nd half the Rams run wide zone boot to the 3x1 side but this time keep 2 guy in to block the 

blitzing sam lb for the 4th time.

They run the dover route for 34 but its called back on a hold.

Next

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.

Dolphins vs Rams:

The Dolphins ran a 6 man pressure early in the game twice out of base personnel early in the game and the Rams checked to their quick passing game but get a pick later in the game by dropping the def lineman with the appearance of the same pressure. 

6 man pressure- Man Coverage

The 1st example is man to man and bring 6. Teams will bring double mug looks and mug the a or b gap with the linebackers. 

Here the Dolphins go double b gap look ? Why double B, you force a slide protection and the end comes free.  

They ran this pressure the first 2 times in the Ram game. One incomplete, one interception.

After 2  times of running the double b mug look with 6 man pressure, still man but  they drop 2 men into the passing lanes and get a pick. Lets explain 

Here they run a slant and the Dolphins send 6 man pressure, straight man to man 

    

                                         

     

  The Rams try to hit the quick slant 

  So the next time, on 2nd and 2 they show the same look and drop 2 players underneath. 

Its a Simulated 6 man pressure with 2 rat defenders

The  Dolphins get smart and drop two players anticipating the short throw

Rams Drop def lineman and LB as Rats

                        

Def Lineman gets the interception

Watch the 2 plays detailed above!

 

Rams ball 3rd and 13

Dolphins go cover 3

At half time the Rams make an adjustment in empty. they check release the tight end and rb. Here another double mug look but the Dolphins go cover 3

Rams are tentative, leads to a Dolphins sack as the mug look, sim pressure gives the Rams headaches

But the single high look should give away they are probably going to bail on 3rd and 13

Rams get the sack as the cover 3 bail technique gives the Rams problems

5 man pressure man free no rats underneath(rat is just someone playing underneath)

The last thing the Dolphins did was play single high man free vs Empty out of nickel.

They brought 5 man pressures and mixed it up with the pressure. Rams were 1/2 vs it in the first half for 17 yards. 

                                  Both situations were 3rd and long . 3rd and 9 and 3rd and 10

This was the coverage they ran on both empties. 2nd time they run a game out of 3-2  dime.

2nd quarter after a big turnover,, the Rams can possibly score but

Here is another big play,

Double Mug , send 6 straight cover 0

Dolphins get the sack, fumble and 78 yard td for touchdown(clip below)

CHANGED THE WHOLE COMPLEXION OF THE GAME.

14 POINT SWING. BECOMES 14-7 DOLPHINS

Below are 3 empty clips with cover 0

                                                        Its a 4 -2 double mug , blitz b, cover 0

In the 3rd quarter they run the same blitz and 

easily could have had a pick 6. The cb drops the ball.

As discussed the Rams went man vs 1 back formations as well.

Here the Rams are in single back and the Dolphins bring 7. The rb should work lb to ss.

He blows it and gets Goff almost knocked out of the game and the Dolphins get an interception. 

Rams cover 0 pressures

Here are some clips 

In closing,  The Dolphins had a great gameplan and really did a nice job defending the Rams and taking away what they do best.