Pittsburgh Steelers - 3rd Down Pass Protection

By Jim Jackson

The Pittsburgh Steelers are 9-0 and are ranked 7th in the NFL in 3rd Down Conversion percentage (46%). The main reason that they are this high is that the QB is passing at an elite level in these situations, and their WR/TE are very difficult to cover 1 on 1. This article will focus on the unsung heroes of the OL who are protecting at a very high level with 1 Sack per game. 5 OL playing together and a QB who can get rid of the ball accurately and effectively is always a lethal combo. All of these plays are 3rd Down conversions against a variety of defensive looks.

1. 3rd and 6 vs. 4 Man Pressure (PHL)

2. 3rd and 6 vs. 5 Man Pressure (CIN)

3. 3rd and 2 vs. 6 Man Pressure (TEN)

4. 3rd and 11 vs 7 Man Pressure (TEN). QB is "Hot"

In conclusion, Pittsburgh is very efficient and explosive on 3rd Down vs blitz. The OL is protecting and communicating at a high level, the QB is executing well, and the WR/TE are turning them into explosive play touchdowns. This is a scary team in this situation, and will be a challenge for the rest of the season.

Minnesota Vikings Run Game - Misdirection runs and Toss Cutback

The New York Jets picked up a very special player. Dalvin Cook was a 4 time pro-bowler with Minnesota and a top 5 back for many years. He will give them a much needed boost in the run game. He is a very good misdirection and cutback runner, and his skill set will do well with some of Hacket's schemes. 

The Minnesota Vikings had a special young talent in Dalvin Cook, and the offensive coaching staff puts their players in positions where the entire Running Back position group can have success. The Vikings were  5th in the NFL in 2020  with 153.6 yards per game in 2020. Their main run schemes are Wide Zone, Inside Zone, and Counter, however, this article is going to focus Minnesota's misdirection runs. These runs are very good compliments that protect their top run schemes and also take advantage of their defense's pursuit. The two runs we will focus on are a Windback scheme that compliments inside zone and a Toss scheme that compliments outside zone blocking. 

1. Windback

Windback is based off of inside zone blocking schemes. You will often see the backside of the offensive line try to torque their defenders to give the RB a lane to cut back in. The formation and the plays are setup to be in the exact formation of the inside zone. The offensive line will block inside knowing that the ball will automatically cutback. There is also a slice player (FB, TE) who comes across the formation and attempts to get the C/D gap defender out of his gap. The result of the play is a 13 yard gain. Let's take a look:

Here you see the angles on the zone wind back.

He is looking at the cutback the whole way.

The next play is another Windback with a different formation and motion setup. Vs. this front the formation creates great blocking angles for the OL and TE. The result is a 21 yard TD run.

You see the under front and the angles they create. They also slice block it with the H back.

Nice jb of torquing boy the offensive line, essentially sealing them on the backside.

Great whole created and Cook makes the cut!

The last Windback is to an open ended side. There are more variables to this way, but because the defensive front is flowing so much, the result is a 6 yard gain.

They slice again with the H back.

The RB has to make the cut quicker because of the penetration of the DL.

2. TOSS CUTBACK

The Vikings run two types of Toss plays. One is the tradition 1 Back Toss where they are trying to circle the defense and get outside on the perimeter. The other is the Toss Cutback. This play can hit any hole the RB wants. The OL is blocking for the perimeter, but the backside of the OL is Man blocking. This allows the RB to get the ball early and truly read the flow of the defense. In the games we broke down, this play hits in many different holes. Plays like these allow Cook to be special and use his vision. 

The angle for the FB is great by alignment. 

They man block the backside which divides the defense and stops them from flowing. Cook now has 3 lanes to cut back in.

The final play is a 25 yard gain by Cook on the Toss. This time the ball hits playside and has great success because of the blocking up front and the vision of the Running Back. He has space and is able to make the Safety miss a tackle.

DE and H back handled the C and D gap.

The FB cuts it up as the DE and H back make great blocks. They man the backside.

Nice run as he finishes the play~ 

The Vikings were running the football at a high level because of great coaching, great execution of the blocks, and some special running backs like Dalvin Cook who have great vision and ability to make DBs miss.  

The Jets will be getting a tremendous player and huge up grade in the run game!

Sean Mcvay offensive genius, condensed formations, adjustments vs Seahawks, Bucs

 
Sean Mcvay showed me week 10 and 11 why he is a great coach. As a defensive coordinator, you have to start thinking like him when game planning. If someone had success the game before against him, he will have those answers built in early.

He also uses his condensed sets often, It allows him do do a few things:

1, When they are balanced, he can run the wide zone or boot to either side. You often see Goff check the boot on the line of scrimmage based on SS alignment or where the pressure is coming from.

2. It dictated coverage. When teams are condensed with 3 wr, they often bring the safety down to that side. It opens up windows in the passing game.

Here is an example in the Bucs game. The Bucs show cover 3 presnap, Goff checks to the Deep over route off the jet motion. These checks are built in to what they do. 

Here the Bucs are showing but by alignment of the Safety and corner,  you can tell it's either a 2 deep fire zone or cover 3 firezone. They run the deep over concept and hit it for 37 yards. If you watch some of The Bucs that's what they like to do. They high low the curl defender and its a great route concept.

A perfect example of McVay adjusting is the last game vs the Hawks. The game before he got killed with edge pressure  on 1st down. The Dolphins brought edge pressure to disrupt his running game and take away boot.. The Rams also got torn up with empty formations with straight cover 0. 

How did he answer:

1. He ran at it right at him: 
Here they run at the edge rusher Adams and he gets pancaked for a 6 yard gain. He didn't like the look weak so he ran it strong.

2.2. 

2. He knew it was coming this week and ran screens on early downs to nullify it. He runs the screen right at Adams, who he knows is coming.

 

3. He ran boot away from Adams, He also gave Goff the ability to check out of plays on first down which on the 17 yard gain that set up their first touchdown, Goff audibled from a Boot left to a boot right opposite Adams who was walked down to the strong side and giving them cover 3. They thought he may be coming off the edge. He changes the play with an oscar call and they run boot weak. Great call.

4. He had hot reads built in to each route. Here adams is coming on an edge pressure, Goff sees it and throws into it. Great route design and scheme having the hot throw built in

5. Limited empty but when he figured out he was getting man free, he went to the Higbie route for 39 yards. That was the 2nd play in empty. On the first play, the Hawks went man free, once he realize thats what he was getting, he was smart and ran a great play against it. The hawks were not comfortable early following the Dolphins game plan of going cover 0. The rams made him pay.

 

Later on he goes empty on 3rd and 9 and calls a screen away from Adams the 5th rusher. The hawks go 3 under 3 deep. Big 14 yard gain for the first down.

Sean Mcvay is a great coach. He looked at his weaknesses from the week before, Anticipated what was coming and adjusted with a great game plan vs the Seahawks. He really had a feel of  what he was going to get, anticipated it and helped lead the offense to victory.