Monday, February 7, 2022

Coach Wink Don Martindale Defense: Schemes, coverages, 3rd down package and more!

 Don "Wink" Martindale is one of the best defensive coordinators in the NFL. He is will respected around the league for being an aggressive defensive coordinator and really one of the best situational coaches in the league. The Ravens usually were top 5 in pressure rate, meaning they would send 5 or more. They did it with both zone and man concepts. They were always ranked very high on 3rd down with their defensive sub packages.  Last year, was one of the few years the defense struggled, as injuries decimated the secondary and effected their performance defensively. 

Since taking over the Ravens the #'s dont lie. He also has turned the giants into the top ranked defense that they are:

2017    #5 scoring defense, 18.9 points per game

2018    #2 scoring defense, 18 points per game

2019    #3 scoring defense, 18.2 points per game

2020   #1 scoring defense, 18 points per game

2021  #18 scoring defense, 23 points per game (half the team was injured)

2022 #9 scoring defense, 19 points per game

This past year was one of their worst but they still had an outstanding 3rd down package. They are always excellent in this category and have been for years.

2022 NY Giants 3rd down defense 2nd in NFL

2021 #3  3rd down conversion percentage allowed 

2020 #2 3rd down conversion percentage allowed


Let's look at some of the schemes you will from Coach Wink Martindale. Let's start with the fronts.On Early Downs you will see a ton of 3-4 from Coach Martindale. 

Fronts

vs 12 personnel

You'll see some 3-4 personnel with very sound defense on early downs. Using the safety to play the extra gap. Here 44 is the c gap player to the weak side. You'll see some under, some 3-4 and the safety brought into the picture as an extra gap run defender. 

Below: They are in an under front declaring to their right 

#44 is a  c gap player.  Mike #6 has A gap to the defensive left and #56 is the C Gap player. 

vs 21 personnel( 2 RB, 1 tight ends and 2 wr)

 Also will go 3-4 vs. 21 teams 

They will play traditional with 3 down lineman and 4 LBS. You see again them bring the safety down to be the c gap/cut back player.



Here's another 12 formation but the Browns come out in 3x1. Ravens run the under front from their 3-4 look. #6 has a gap.  #56 has b gap with the safety #44 playing the D gap in a cover 3 strong look. 

vs 13 personnel 

3-4 personnel Saw some under fronts vs the Browns. They play the under front and use the safety to play the Dt to the left in a 2i with the rt dt in a 3. 36 is your d gap player with mike playing 2 gaps. B strong or A weak. 


vs 11 personnel (1 tight end and 3 wr)

This is when you will see the Ravens sub Here's some of their 4-2 package vs the Dolphins in 11 personnel. They play the safety down to the tight end side as the C gap player. They will often play with 5 defensive backs against 11 personnel.



Zone Coverages on early downs:

The coverages I've seen include the following:

vs traditional 11, 12 and 21 formations, you'll see more 3 weak and 3 strong. Traditional means tight end is on the line of scrimmage or in an h back position. 

cover 3 weak





cover 3 weak clips vs the Broncos


Cover 3 strong




vs spread formations, 2x2 or 3x1 you may see  cover 2 concepts on early downs as well but these are the 3 primary zone coverages I've seen from them. They are no different from the majority of NFL Teams out there.



cover 2 clips

3rd down defense

The Ravens were 3rd in 3rd down efficiency in the NFL  two years in a row.  They are very good at bringing pressure or simulating pressure off different fronts and looks.The Ravens will often show mug looks and bring pressure on 3rd down. Excellent at disguising coverages and overload pressures and that's what makes his defense so tough. They show to one side and then rotate the other way often changing from the presnap coverage look to a different coverage. They are so good on 3rd down at mixing things up and causing confusion on their schemes.

Also, a key stat and one of the reasons his defenses have been successful over the years..

The best thing about their 3rd down package is they cause confusion with blocking schemes and force favorable 1x1 matchups in the protection. They run one of the best 3rd down packages in the league. They get to those situations, you will see some exotic, pressures as well.

Here's a perfect example.

3rd and 5

The Browns put Landry a WR, in the backfield. You know he's releasing so it's a 5 man protection with the possibility of the tight end staying in. Wink sends the LB opposite Landry which forces the 1x1 matchup with the Tight End on a great rusher. DE wins, they get a hit on the QB and force the field goal.




3rd and 10 vs the Steelers

They bring a 5 man pressure that turns into 6 when the RB blocks. They get an overload, a nice hit on Big Ben and almost an interception. Wink not afraid to get after it regardless of the situation.





3rd and 7 vs The Steelers

They run a great fire zone pressure with 4 to a side. They show cover 0 and bring the safety to the deep 1/3. Nice Design.They create a 2x1 on the RB and the pressure gets home untouched. 







 3rd and 5 vs the Chargers in 2021. 

They bring the safety off the edge in a nice 5 man mug similar pressure but play cover 2. The Sam comes clean as the nice cover 2 coverage gives the Chargers problems. They get the sack.





On another key 3rd and 3 vs the Chargers,  they play man free hole. This time Wink doesn't blitz. They are so well coached. 

They bring the safety down to the middle of the field to help on crossing routes. The safety is a hole defender. Now the ILB and CB are passing off any inside routes . The ILB passes his man off to the CB and vice versa. The ILB sees the shallow and causes issues with the throw as there is a very tight window and he is there to knock it away. 






Here are some clips and coverages they ran this year.

3rd and 5 vs the Chargers in 2021. 

They bring the safety off the edge in a nice 5 man mug pressure. The Sam comes clean as the nice cover 2 coverage gives the Chargers problems. They get the sac

vs Steelers 2021

Wink runs a couple mug odd looks vs the Steelers. The first is a 3 under 3 deep fire zone. 








Here's a few more clips. 

They go combo coverage on a 3rd and 6 vs the Rams.  Man to the single side, zone to the field with a 4 man pressure.







I hope you enjoyed this article and what Coach Wink Martindale brings to the table. Please check out my 3rd down post as well about more of his defense and strategies on the $$ down.





Thursday, February 3, 2022

What Makes Lincoln Riley's Offense So Good? Part 3 Play Action Passing and RPO Game


Part 3: Lincoln Riley Study,  Play action and RPO Game


Play Action Passing Game
There play action game is very good. Here they run an out with #1 and a vertical with #2 as Baylor looks like they are playing trap coverage.
1145 Baylor 2018


The Oklahoma play action game is very good as they run it on early downs off their various run actions.
Protection:

Out of 2 back you will see different variations and plays.
#1 Boot
#2 Play action vertical game with full slide 7 man protection



2 back bootleg
Now, this may be an Rpo and has some zone read elements, with the Qb reading the DE, the nice part about this it is a designed pass to the HB and the wr are blocking downfield, which makes me thing it's an RPO. If the DE Takes QB I assume he gives it.

T






#2 Play action with full slide protection

Here's some examples of some full slide with both backs picking up off the egde from 2 different sets, both pistol and split back.







Vs Iowa State in 2020
Here they go full slide off the run action vs Iowa State. They get some nice double teams on every Def Lineman, even  the left DE with the 2 RB. They run a go route and comeback vs cover 3.






RPO Game
RPo vs UCLA
Split zone with QB
motion #27 who often lines up as a tight end into the backfield. They have two arrow routes with the slots vs man coverage.








Crack Screen Game
3rd and 1 vs Oklahoma State
They Jet motion and throw it to the jet man off play action. Still trying to determine if this is an rpo and because it is man coverage they throw it to him or a predesigned throw. Nice design, could be an rpo as it looks like the QB was reading the OLB. That's my guess, If man they give the ball. The ball is thrown behind the LOS so they can block downfield.





2nd and 10 vs Oklahoma State

Another crack screen against Oklahoma State.  The #1 wr runs off and they crack with the #2 on the LB and the Tackle blocks the Alley defender. Again the ball is thrown behind the LOS so it's legal to block downfield. 

Nice 45 yard gain.






at USC vs Arizona
They run a great play action with the fake crack and go with the h back running a wheel off ISO action. Great design off the fake to the RB
Safety bites on the play action and the wr fakes the crack/find block and beats him vertically.

THE H back on the wheel after faking iso hold the corner back.






These are just some of the play action and rpo game you will see from Lincoln Riley. More to come!

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

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