Teaching Points (Goaline Defense—-Scooby Dooby Do)

Here is a breakdown of a recent goaline stop by the defense:

• Double TE, Power I Formation Off-Set Left—-RB (David Johnson #31), FB (Derrick Coleman #48), off-set left H-Back (Gabe Holmes #85)—LTE (Ricky Seals-Jones #86) next to LT D.J. Humphries (#74).
• This is a basic off-tackle FB isolation on RILB (Scooby Wright #56).
• Pre-snap observation—-the offensive line looks uneven in their stances.
• QB Josh Rosen’s ball handling and his handoff here is good.
• LT D.J. Humphries makes a perfect seal block on DT Olsen Pierre (#72).
• The TE (Ricky Seals-Jones) does a good job of riding with DE Chandler Jones (#55) who for some reason bounces outward and does a poor job reading the play. Jones should have done a better job of holding the edge, but at least he keeps his outside shoulder free and keeps contain.
• The H-Back Gabe Holmes was assigned to double team Chandler Jones if need be, but Jones already took himself out of the play, so what a power blocker is taught is that if the DE is already kicked out, you turn and head up the hole to lead block. Holmes did not react well and basically runs himself out of the play.
• The FB Derrick Coleman zeroes in on his isolation block on the RILB Scooby Wright.
• But Wright does exactly what an ILB is taught to do on isolation blocks—-run downhill and meet it in the hole. Coleman’s block is on time, but not effective. Wright is more physical.
• In fact, Wright does more than his job because he takes on the block and is able to assist in the tackle with ILB Josh Bynes (#57) who scrapes and fills just the way he is taught to.
• On the backside of the play, TE John Wetzel (#73) makes a clean seal on the DE, RT Andre Smith (#71) pancakes his man, the RG (can’t make out his number—-I hope it’s not Justin Pugh—-this effort is awful) whiffs on his block and dives to the turf, allowing the inside DT quick penetration. It looks like the DT (can’t make his number out—-but great job—-it wouldn’t surprise me if this was Pasoni Tasini, because goaline penetration is his forte) is able to get to David Johnson’s ankle.
• C Mason Cole (#64) makes a good stick block up the middle. LG Evan Boehm (#70) doubles inside, and then tries to bounce to the ILB, but is much too late. His assignment is to chip inside and then get to the LILB (Bynes)—-this is where Boehm’s feet come into question—-getting to the second level. Boehm’s strength at the point of attack is good, but at G he needs to thud, slip and deliver on the LB, which he doesn’t come close to doing. Bynes runs right by him. Boehm should see on tape that he had a straight shot at Bynes, if he gets off his block.
• The defense won this play because Gabe Holmes didn’t adjust and get upfield, because the RG whiffs and the backside DT gets a hand on DJ’s ankle and because ILBs Scooby Wright and Josh Bynes react immediately to their keys and blow the play up in the hole. Football is often a battle of one on ones—-and this time Scooby Wright won his isolation block battle with Derrick Coleman and Josh Bynes was there to clean up.
• Good Grades: QB Rosen, LT Humphries, C Cole, RT Smith, RTE Wetzel, LTE Seals-Jones, backside DT (Tasini?), ILB Scooby Wright, ILB Josh Bynes.
• Poor Grades: RG (Pugh?), LG Boehm, HB Holmes, FB Coleman, DT Pierre, DE Jones.
• Conclusion—-this is how Scooby Wright can make the 53 man roster as a goaline short yardage ILB and STs stalwart. Can you picture Deone Bucannon blowing up this play the way Wright did? At $8.7M a year one would think Bucannon would—-but taking on blockers has not been a strength of Bucannon’s game, thus it would be great if Bucannon changed that perception this year. Just the same, to have an ILB who can take on blocks in the hole and win those battles is an asset.