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In the Starting Line-Up
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The two AFC playoff games were very similar from a pass blocking standpoint: both the Jaguars and the Chargers elected to go with down rushers and few blitzes, much like the Giants game. Unlike the Giants, however, the Jags and Bolts didn't really have the interior linemen to pull it off. Actually, they didn't have the linemen to pull it off, period.
Because both teams elected not to run intricate blitz packages, sending in safeties, corners and linebackers from every which way, the Pats utilized their RBs, especially Faulk, more often in the passing game then we are used to this year. Off-tackle screens, an old favorite, were run with success against both defenses' up-the-middle pressure scheme. This helped keep both teams' linebackers dropping back into coverage as the game went along.
Coverage-wise both teams alternated between press man and deep zone.
First, the Jags game. It didn't get off to a great start, with John Henderson single-handedly backing Logan Mankins into the QB, like Ngata did a few times in the Ravens game. Thankfully, that was all that Henderson could muster on the day.
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As the game went along the Jags got a little more desperate with their pass rush, on some plays sending up to 6 rushers, such as on the broken RB screen play at 9:02 in the 4th that ended up as the long fade to Donté Stallworth.
A banner day for Nick Kaczur on the right side.
The Jags' pressure scheme was so boring, actually, that besides the stats I don't have much to talk about, just two plays:
The first sequence occurs at 7:31 in the 4th quarter, and is an enlightening example of the kind of pressure the Jags got most of the day. As you can see, Brady holds on to the ball for so long, Matt Light shoves Bobby McCray all the way around the line into Tom Brady's face. I credited this as a pressure on Light for no other reason than that I am mean and expect perfection. My baseline for this game was anything that caused Tom Brady to move or feel as if he were playing in a real game against a hostile opponent.
One of the few times the Jags did anything interesting at all up front occured at 1:23 in the 2nd quarter:
Not only did they blitz, but they stunted their NT, Paul Spicer. The farside linebacker bites down on Koppen, and the NT and nearside linebacker stunt behind him into Neal's area of the line.
The success of the stunt is predicated on the leading linebacker making a little pile in the center, preventing Mankins or Koppen from reaching the stunting lineman.
It's unclear whether the nearside linebacker is simply covering Faulk, who started the play to Brady's right in the shotgun, or if he had a cover/blitz option depending on if Faulk blocked the nose or ran a pass pattern.
You can see how the stunt has caused Neal to lose positioning. It doesn't show real well in the pictures, but he actually executes a baseball turn to get away from the farside linebacker and back into his zone, which explains his odd position here.
You can also see how Mankins has to chase Spicer around the line.
Because both teams elected not to run intricate blitz packages, sending in safeties, corners and linebackers from every which way, the Pats utilized their RBs, especially Faulk, more often in the passing game then we are used to this year. Off-tackle screens, an old favorite, were run with success against both defenses' up-the-middle pressure scheme. This helped keep both teams' linebackers dropping back into coverage as the game went along.
Coverage-wise both teams alternated between press man and deep zone.
First, the Jags game. It didn't get off to a great start, with John Henderson single-handedly backing Logan Mankins into the QB, like Ngata did a few times in the Ravens game. Thankfully, that was all that Henderson could muster on the day.
Relevent Reiss postings:
Positional groupings
Offensive Participation
Code:
Mostly 3, some 4 down rushers, no blitz
10:43 1 & 10 [COLOR="Red"][B]Mankins: sack[/B][/COLOR] (Henderson)
10:14 2 & 14 (RB screen)
09:38 1 & 10 [COLOR="orange"](scramble)[/COLOR]
07:42 4 & 4
07:05 1 & 10
05:40 1 & 10
05:07 1 & 3
4 rushers, no blitz
03:30 1 & 10 [COLOR="Orange"][B]Light: pressure[/B][/COLOR] (Spicer)
02:12 1 & 10
mostly 4 rushers, few blitzes
07:42 1 & 10 (RB screen)
06:04 2 & 11
05:21 3 & 2
04:36 1 & 10
01:23 2 & 8 [COLOR="orange"][B]Mankins, Koppen, Neal: pressure[/B][/COLOR] (Spicer, Durant) (blitz stunt)
[COLOR="Red"][B]Mankins: Chop Block[/B][/COLOR] (called on Neal)
01:12 3 & 14
4 rushers
14:57 1 & 10 [COLOR="Orange"][B]Light: pressure[/B][/COLOR] (McCray)
13:35 1 & 10 (WR screen)
12:19 3 & 3
11:54 1 & 10 (WR screen on play action)
10:32 1 & 10
10:27 2 & 10
09:40 3 & 3
08:55 1 & 6
4 rushers
03:58 1 & 10 [COLOR="DarkOrange"][B]Light: knockdown [/B][/COLOR](Roughing Passer on Landri)
02:18 1 & 10 (WR screen)
01:36 2 & 10
00:55 3 & 3
More blitzes
09:02 2 & 9 [COLOR="Orange"][B]Koppen: pressure[/B] [/COLOR](broken RB screen)
[COLOR="orange"][B]Kaczur: pressure[/B][/COLOR]
07:31 2 & 8 [COLOR="orange"][B]Light: pressure[/B][/COLOR] (McCray)
06:46 3 & 1 [COLOR="orange"]Pressure on corner blitz[/COLOR]
02:38 3 & 7 [COLOR="Orange"]Pressure wide left[/COLOR] (play action WR screen)
As the game went along the Jags got a little more desperate with their pass rush, on some plays sending up to 6 rushers, such as on the broken RB screen play at 9:02 in the 4th that ended up as the long fade to Donté Stallworth.
Code:
Name Sack Knock Press Foul
Light 0 1 3 0
Mankins 1 0 1 1
Koppen 0 0 2 0
Neal 0 0 1 0
Kaczur 0 0 1 0
A banner day for Nick Kaczur on the right side.
The Jags' pressure scheme was so boring, actually, that besides the stats I don't have much to talk about, just two plays:
The first sequence occurs at 7:31 in the 4th quarter, and is an enlightening example of the kind of pressure the Jags got most of the day. As you can see, Brady holds on to the ball for so long, Matt Light shoves Bobby McCray all the way around the line into Tom Brady's face. I credited this as a pressure on Light for no other reason than that I am mean and expect perfection. My baseline for this game was anything that caused Tom Brady to move or feel as if he were playing in a real game against a hostile opponent.
One of the few times the Jags did anything interesting at all up front occured at 1:23 in the 2nd quarter:
Not only did they blitz, but they stunted their NT, Paul Spicer. The farside linebacker bites down on Koppen, and the NT and nearside linebacker stunt behind him into Neal's area of the line.
The success of the stunt is predicated on the leading linebacker making a little pile in the center, preventing Mankins or Koppen from reaching the stunting lineman.
It's unclear whether the nearside linebacker is simply covering Faulk, who started the play to Brady's right in the shotgun, or if he had a cover/blitz option depending on if Faulk blocked the nose or ran a pass pattern.
You can see how the stunt has caused Neal to lose positioning. It doesn't show real well in the pictures, but he actually executes a baseball turn to get away from the farside linebacker and back into his zone, which explains his odd position here.
You can also see how Mankins has to chase Spicer around the line.
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