Monday, November 9, 2020

Rookie LT Andrew Thomas - New York Giants

by Jim Jackson

We watched every offensive snap of the New York Giants and Rookie LT Andrew Thomas. He has struggled at times during the first half of his rookie season, but we believe if he fixes a few small issues in pass protection, he can get back on track and playing how he did in college at Georgia. The first issue he can work on is setting on the inside half of the DE. He tends to set past his spot on a lot of times during the game. The next step he can take is not throwing big, winding, "haymaker" type of jams on contact. Small and more controlled jams when contact happens will help him control the defender better. Again, we don't like to criticize players or coaches, but these are some simple "fixes" that if applied properly, Thomas can get on track. 

Issues to work on:

1. Overset - Set with outside foot down his crotch. Don't drift too far in your set, and you never really want to set wider than nose to nose.









Here is another example of an overset in the same game vs the Bears. 






Here is another example of an Overset vs the 49ers.





2. Jam - Smaller controlled jams will allow him to react quicker and allow him to control the defender better. Many times you see Thomas throw "Haymaker" type jams in order to stop the defender. Smaller controlled jams that are 6-8 inches will allow you to keep your body in a better position to react to a secondary rush. 




The final play we examine is the same issue vs PHL. The result of the play is a Sack. It is difficult to react to secondary rushes likes spins, when your body is in a poor position.






We hope that if Thomas can focus on these two things, he can improve greatly and finish the season strong.







Sunday, November 8, 2020

Updated:The Bears offensive struggles in the run game!

 The Bears have been struggling on offense.

But here's an interesting 2 game analysis

1st down

Runs: 17/24 yards running the ball on 1st down.  1.4 ypc

Passes:27/31 209yds , 2sacks.  7.74 ypc 

note: (I count jet sweeps as runs)

I've detailed some of the problems as you can read below but lets look at some solutions:

1. The Bears have to pass to run!!continue to  use the short passing, boots  , jet sweeps, screen and Y rpo game to alleviate some of the issues they are having. They did some early last game with success but need to be committed to it on first down. They shouldn't run on 1st down at all. Nagys plays are solid, he just needs to give up on the run on early downs. FORGET ABOUT RUNNING IT!

That may sound crazy but the plays he calls have been very good. No interceptions, all high percentage.

Running these types of plays will take the onus of the struggles inside at center, guard and play to their strengths at offensive tackle and skill on the Perimeter with Robinson,Montgomery  and A rob

I like this play a lot, I would split a Rob out to the numbers as the single wr then they can him on a slant or out cut. Puts mores stress on the defense. 















Heres a wr screen the Colts run that could be a real good option
















Lets take a look at some of the reasons and see where the issues lie.

Fans have been upset with Matt Nagy but there are 11 guys on the football field so lets start there.

Qb- Nick Foles finds ways to wins and is good enough to win with if he has the right supporting cast. Right now, he doesn't have many options that are reliable other than Robinson, and the lack of running game is making the Bears one dimensional but they don't have the talent to play that way.

WR-Allen Robinson has been the most consistent contributor on offense. He is there go to go but his contract situation makes things messy. Mooney and Miller have not stepped up to be that true #2 option.

TE-Jimmy Graham has been a disappointment but Cole Kmet is starting to come on of late. Graham has hurt them in the run game and neither one is a great blocker at the line of scrimmage. 

RB- They average less than 4 yards per game . Montgomery started the year great averaging 5 yards in the first 2 games and 3.1 since. Thats not good numbers with your running back. People want Nagy to run more but if you aren't having results you can't force the issue.

Patterson- I don't know what the answer is to get him some touches. He shows flashes at times but isn't the most consistent in the passing game. He does cause some match ups but isn't a fluid route runner. Not a great rb. Hasn't exploded for too many big plays.

Offensive Line-Right now they need to make some upgrades real fast. They are struggling up front trying to fill spots due to injuries. There left guard was a converted d lineman. They are having major issues at guard.



Run Game
Lets look at the run game
1st and 10 
the Bears have the ball and run wide zone toss with Montgomery. The 1st play could have been a 5 to 6 yard gain but the rb cuts it way too early which allows the safety to fold back inside.
Also, the Rams weak lb does a nice job staying in phase making the play. RB need to get to their landmarks to stretch the defense. 

Chicago Bears Run game





On 2nd and 8 they give it to Montgomery.
The bears are in 12 personnel and try to run him on duo up the middle. The Rams run the bear front and are in man free so when the safeties see the tight ends block they fill outside in. Donald holds his ground and it gets bounced to where the run support is. Donald does a good job getting the ball spilled to the run support. Graham the tight end misses his block so its a 1 yard gain.

                           
Rams Defense vs Bears Offense

Chicago Bears Run game
Add caption


Series 2
1st and 10 
the Bears have the ball and run wide zone toss with Montgomery. The 1st play could have been a 5 to 6 yard gain but the rb cuts it way too early which allows the safety to fold back inside. Also, the right guard is wrong and should be doubling with the center and they could get a great double team to the linebacker. Why are you blocking back.


Also, the Rams weak lb does a nice job staying in phase making the play but is unblocked because the right guard looks lost! Are we blocking back on a wide zone play away from you? No




The left guard and center do their jobs and the tackle gets a decent lateral push.  Their could be a better lane but the right guard kills the play.


From there the Bears get a 2nd and 3, 3rd and 2, 1st and 10 and 2nd and 8 and get 4 carries for 10 yards.

2nd and 3 , they run wide zone,
The right tackle gets beat by the de as the rams are slanting to the left. The Left tackle gets beat inside by the 5 technique which takes away any cut back.  They gain a yard.































3rd and 2 

On the 3rd and 2 
They go 11 personnel
The Rams are in a bear look and are plus 1 in the box.
They run inside zone without the read component so they don't slow the lb at all and they don't block the de.

With Trubisky they could have read this and froze the olb and maybe send the h back up to the lb. 

 RB makes a nice run with very little room to operate. The bears don't get a man touched at the 2nd level.  

The rb squeaks thru for a 3 yard gain.



Bears Run Game



Bears 2nd level rushing issues
































1st and 10 
The Bears run jet sweep against the Rams Bear front, the olb penetration kills the play but should have Cordelle cut it up behind the lead block of the running back? 
2 yard gain. In the college game he would probably cut it up if the lead back cuts it up.

Come on Cordell,  lower your shoulder and get 3-4 more yards. You want to play rb, play rb. Stop running out of bounds.



















that brings up a  2nd and 8

Rams in Bear front again,

I really dont understand the blocking on this play. Was Graham leading up was it slice?
Donalds penetration causes issues. Maybe the play was wide zone and just got destroyed by Donald and thus the back cut right away. 

If its a RPO, the slot is wide open.

They manage to somehow get 3 yards.






Clips from the 4 play sequence below




Bears vs Panthers 

See the 1st 2 first down runs vs the Panthers

Vs. The Panthers on first and 10. The bears get a yard running it.

2 points:
1. throw the rpo, you have leverage 3 over 2.
2. This is where you miss Trubisky in the run game for the zone read option.
3. I know its crazy but they should use him on first down. you can give him the RPO or zone read option. What do i mean.
if its 3x2 presnap you can throw the rpo. tough front to run into to the tight end side. 



How the Bears block it:

How some lines may  have blocked it and left the cb unblocked.  





the rpo, if not you are running zone read. Simple, will open up lanes and help the run game.

The next 1st and 10 

they Run wide zone and it looks as if the left tackle has an easy block. He whifs. The guard cuts the ng and the tackle should be able to get to the 2nd level. 

They use some motions and they  release the tight end to the flat on the bottom rather than trying to use him to help in the box and they get no reaction from it. The lb doesn't care and plays cutback.







Bears vs the Titans
first 3 carries, 3 yards

They have a 1st and 10
The right guard gets beat by the shaded nose  and  the nose blows up the play



The rb has to cut it back early because of the penetration and its only a 1 yard gain
























then after 2  4 yard gains, Its 4th and 1
 they run into a similar issue.
the right guard gets beat clean and it disrupts the play. They fake a toss and try to sneak Montgomery inside.


They set the front away from the tight end but slant the dt and nose to the tight end.

The right guard gets beat, head down, whifs on the block


No place for Montgomery to go DT is there

Ends up no gain, turnover on downs.



1st drive passing 4/4 for 40 yards
rushing 2 carries for 1 yard 


2nd drive 1 carry for 2 yards, the play is below. The left guard whiffs on his block on toss which leads to the fb not blocking the SS. 2 yard gain could have been 5 or more.

They got 5 yards on first, but 2 on this play, then on 3rd and 3 they throw an incomplete and have to punt





 


3rd series they   try to run again and this time the shaded nose drives the center back 3 yards.
another negative play resulting in -1 yards. sets up 2nd and 11

Shaded nose gets three yards in the backfield

Penetration destroys the play


Nothing Montgomery can do on the wide zone

 




6 man Zone Pressure: 2 under 3 deep coverage NFL and College, Pitt Clemson, Syracuse and More!

 6 man Zone Pressure:  2 under 3 deep coverage NFL and College, Pitt Clemson, Syracuse and More!   6 man pressures with 2 under 3 deep cover...