BACH
Superbowl, Homeboy!
I started my weekly analysis because I wanted to contribute more to the board and is very excited about the trajectory of this team and nerdy around O-line play - being a former O-lineman and O-line coach. In my everyday life with an executive level job, two small kids and living across the globe, it’s my little moment of Zen in the week to re-watch the game and analyze the offense and O-line play.
I started by doing a quick take-away from each game with focus on the offense and the O-line, but decided to change the format as it was basicly the same format as Gandhi’s weekly post and decided on a more detailed post on offense and the O-line.
My original thought was to concentrate on the O-line, but so far the focus has been more on the offense and scheme, because I’m fascinated with this futuristic old-school style offense and all the stuff Petzing is coming up with. This week I'll try to do a recap and evaluation of the season so far.
My Question to the board before we start.... Any suggestions or wishes to tweak the format? Something I should focus more on, something less. More detail and examples, or tone that part down?
SCHEME
As usual some comment on the scheme directly correlated to O-line play and blocking to put in the fundamentals.
In my first post I went on a rant on the evolution on the NFL, how it developed into a passing league, how the defense has evolved into a smaller/faster league with flexible coverages. The offense has developed to counter that either by adding more speed to create mismatches (KC, MIA, SF) or simply being more physical to create mismatches (AZ, BAL, LAC).
We are clearly in the latter category of being more physical. But what does that actually mean?
The scheme is build around heavier formations using primarily extra Tight-Ends. McBride has played 79% of all snaps (out for 1 game), Reiman 43% and Higgins 42%, so obviously the preferred play is with more than 1 TE. Default position is a classic 12, Single back, 2 WRs, McBride as on line TE with Reiman as the off-line TE.
This creates an advantage as defenses are forced to decide between nickel and base. If the choose nickel, we can out power them in the run game (See Rams and Bears game), if they choose to defend the run McBride and Higgins are mismatches for the LBs Either man-man Or Sitting in zones (Dolphins). If the defence adjusted then there is the combination (see Chargers and Jets). The scheme is evolving with the TEs used as FB and lining out outside as WR. Just Petzing throwing more stuff at the defense forcing them to pick their poison!
This team is one of the few that has a gap scheme, which is something most teams have abandoned – thanks to zone blocking introducted/perfected by Shanahan Sr. and Alex Gibbs. Most teams have the O-line blocking in zones or direction and the RB will pick the hole, which is either the designed hole or the cut-back hole, that should open, if the hole is filled. This team uses A LOT of pulls by the O-line and leads blocks by the TEs into a specific gap.
ANALYSIS - based on production
I’ll try to do an analysis player by player, but first the scoring and criteria I’m basing the analysis on.
SCORING
10 – All-pro/top 2 at position
9 – Pro-bowl consideration/top 10 at position
8 – Very good player that is player above average without help/scheme tweaks
7 – Above average player with help/scheme tweaks. Average/below average without help/scheme tweaks
6 – Starter with help/scheme tweaks. Below average starter without help/scheme tweaks
5 - Serviceable starter with help/scheme tweaks. Risk to start without help/scheme tweaks
4 – Servicable player with help/scheme tweaks.
3 – Emergency player, that could but would be a risk no matter the help/scheme tweaks
2 – Developmental player that is not there yet and a risk to start.
1 – Should not be on the team
CRITERIA
Intelligence
Very important to O-line play, that I will not go into detail as we do not have much to base this on and there clearly are no issues here across the board. The O-line have very very few mental mistakes (when was the last time there was a false start), they master a complex scheme and biggest tell – the pursuit angles are PERFECT across the board. With the number of pulls this O-line makes, it’s highly unusual to see this low number of missed blocks in space. Not all are perfect, but there are no whiffs.
Run-Blocking in space
Ability to pull, reach second level and make the block.
Run-blocking on the line
Pure power blocking. Hat on hat. Take the right angle on the line to open the hole.
Kick-slide pass-blocking in space.
This is the one separating O-line from D-line. Passive blocking of giving up space and read the pass-rush to buy time for the QB
One-on-One Passblocking
Same technique to above, but with a pre-snap determined blocking assignment
ANALYSIS
Paris Johnson Jr.
Run-Blocking in space: 9
Run-blocking on the line: 9
Kick-slide pass-blocking in space: 8
One-on-One Pass-blocking: 8
Paris is the best player on the line already in his 2nd year. He's a bit under the radar in the national media due to pass-blocking being the premium quality mark for a blindside and Paris not excelling at that. That doesn't mean that Paris is bad in pass-pro - just not elite. He is one of the better in all aspects and ranked as the 12th best overall OT in the league by pff. This is actually too low IMO, because most players are either elite in run or pass and then a bigger gap between the two. Paris is very good at both. He doesn't give up a lot of sacks, but does give up a pressures. He is a very good run-blocker. He seals the edge without help on outside runs and reaches the second level frequently.
Evan Brown
Run-Blocking in space: 7
Run-blocking on the line: 7
Kick-slide pass-blocking in space: 8
One-on-One Pass-blocking: 8
Probably the most boring to rate. Brown is just all around good. He is a very good pass-blocker for a position where you are usually rated on run-blocking. He ranks 24th overall in the NFL, but 11th in pass-pro and 41st in run-blocking. No major issues in run blocking, but Brown is at the same time not asked to make the key blocks to seal as Froholdt and PJJ are asked. In this scheme, surrounded by PJJ and Froholdt he has been excellent.
Hjalte Froholdt
Run-Blocking in space: 10
Run-blocking on the line: 9-10
Kick-slide pass-blocking in space: 8
One-on-One Pass-blocking: 7
While PJJ is the best player on the line, Froholdt is the most important executing the scheme. He is clearly very smart mastering the complex scheme and making the right line calls with the line having so few missed blocks. Not all blocks are perfect, but the players are always in a position to make the block, which comes back to the line calls.
Froholdt is IMO the best in the league in space (with Kelce retired). The ability to pull and reach the 2nd level and make dominant blocks is better than any interior lineman in the league IMO.
On the line he is a really good run-blocker.
Pass-protecting is the weak spot. He is above average without being elite to setting the pocket, but struggles in 1-1 pass-blocking against good DTs. We saw this against Q Williams and especially last year where he struggled mightily against Dewter Lawrence and Madubuike.
Trystan Colon
Run-Blocking in space: 7
Run-blocking on the line: 7
Kick-slide pass-blocking in space: 7
One-on-One Pass-blocking: 6
Colon is playing at a surprisingly high level for a back-up. He doesn't make the same dominant blocks as Hernandez did, but he basicly always make the block he is supposed to make without any impact on the overall offense. I put him overall with a 7 rating, because he is playing well isolated, but Froholdt helping the RG for Combo blocks before Froholdt release and it's also RG hole where most lead blockers are sent through to compensate if Colon struggles.
Isaiah Adams
Run-Blocking in space: 9
Run-blocking on the line: 9
Kick-slide pass-blocking in space: 6
One-on-One Pass-blocking: 5 (developing)
Adams is a fun one. Small sample size, but he looks like a beast in the run game. Absolutes detroys players on pulls like Hernandez and powerful in the run-block. He has struggled in pass-protection. It has improved since very bad showing against the Chargers (I believe). If he becomes a lesser risk, I expect him to be the full-time starter soon. His dominance in the run-game cannot continue sitting on the bench if the risk in pass-protecting is mitigated.
Kelvin Beachum
Run-Blocking in space: 6
Run-blocking on the line: 7
Kick-slide pass-blocking in space: 8
One-on-One Pass-blocking: 7
Beachum has been golden. His level of play is amazing for the swing tackle. Beachum is still a very very good pass-blocking in the classical pass-blocking kick-sliding and setting up the pocket. In terms of output and production there isn't any different for the team between him and PJJ on the other side, BUT Beachum does get the luxury of the scheme and help. He is not asked to reach-block outside to seal block like PJJ and Froholdt and the off line TE in almost always on his side to create traffic and chip if needed. Hence the lower grade.
Will Hernandez
Run-Blocking in space: 9
Run-blocking on the line: 8
Kick-slide pass-blocking in space: 7
One-on-One Pass-blocking: 7
Just a quick one on Hernandez because there is enough sample size. We haven't seen a huge drop off from him to Colon. They match in terms of pass-pro as being solid player in the scheme, but the different is in quality of run-blocking. Colon is getting the job done, but not blowing up the hole like Hernandez would on his best days e.g. against the Rams.
Heck, Williams and Gaines - simply not enough film to evaluate. Heck has played the most and I would give him an overall 5-6 grade. The job got done. He wasn't a liability, but got A LOT of help and the coaching staff changed the scheme to compensate.
OVERALL:
The ratings I've made are based on the production on the field and not on the pure talent. The O-line is one of the better in the league this season, but it's a clear case of the collective outcome is higher than the sum of the individual parts. The individual players ratings at PFF has this O-line as the 16th best in the league, but interestingly enough, the outcome or efficiency is ranked 9th in the league and been top 6 in every single game of the last 6 weeks.
That has something to do with a group of smart players building chemistry.
But more importantly, these players are great for a scheme that utilize these players' strengths and are playing in a scheme and with a QB that hide the weaknesses. Kyler's running ability, elusiveness and his significantly improved pocket presence makes this O-line better than the talent suggest.
Especially the interior line would not rate as highly in a very different scheme, which is the reason e.g. Brown is playing as good and he is far out-producing his salary and career as a journeyman. Brown, Froholdt, Hernandez and Colon ALL are having their highest rated season so far (while being starters)
But overall. This unit is playing better than any O-line I can remember in my 20+ years as a Cardinals fan. The O-line have always seemed to be a weakness for this club and it's no longer the case.
I started by doing a quick take-away from each game with focus on the offense and the O-line, but decided to change the format as it was basicly the same format as Gandhi’s weekly post and decided on a more detailed post on offense and the O-line.
My original thought was to concentrate on the O-line, but so far the focus has been more on the offense and scheme, because I’m fascinated with this futuristic old-school style offense and all the stuff Petzing is coming up with. This week I'll try to do a recap and evaluation of the season so far.
My Question to the board before we start.... Any suggestions or wishes to tweak the format? Something I should focus more on, something less. More detail and examples, or tone that part down?
SCHEME
As usual some comment on the scheme directly correlated to O-line play and blocking to put in the fundamentals.
In my first post I went on a rant on the evolution on the NFL, how it developed into a passing league, how the defense has evolved into a smaller/faster league with flexible coverages. The offense has developed to counter that either by adding more speed to create mismatches (KC, MIA, SF) or simply being more physical to create mismatches (AZ, BAL, LAC).
We are clearly in the latter category of being more physical. But what does that actually mean?
The scheme is build around heavier formations using primarily extra Tight-Ends. McBride has played 79% of all snaps (out for 1 game), Reiman 43% and Higgins 42%, so obviously the preferred play is with more than 1 TE. Default position is a classic 12, Single back, 2 WRs, McBride as on line TE with Reiman as the off-line TE.
This creates an advantage as defenses are forced to decide between nickel and base. If the choose nickel, we can out power them in the run game (See Rams and Bears game), if they choose to defend the run McBride and Higgins are mismatches for the LBs Either man-man Or Sitting in zones (Dolphins). If the defence adjusted then there is the combination (see Chargers and Jets). The scheme is evolving with the TEs used as FB and lining out outside as WR. Just Petzing throwing more stuff at the defense forcing them to pick their poison!
This team is one of the few that has a gap scheme, which is something most teams have abandoned – thanks to zone blocking introducted/perfected by Shanahan Sr. and Alex Gibbs. Most teams have the O-line blocking in zones or direction and the RB will pick the hole, which is either the designed hole or the cut-back hole, that should open, if the hole is filled. This team uses A LOT of pulls by the O-line and leads blocks by the TEs into a specific gap.
ANALYSIS - based on production
I’ll try to do an analysis player by player, but first the scoring and criteria I’m basing the analysis on.
SCORING
10 – All-pro/top 2 at position
9 – Pro-bowl consideration/top 10 at position
8 – Very good player that is player above average without help/scheme tweaks
7 – Above average player with help/scheme tweaks. Average/below average without help/scheme tweaks
6 – Starter with help/scheme tweaks. Below average starter without help/scheme tweaks
5 - Serviceable starter with help/scheme tweaks. Risk to start without help/scheme tweaks
4 – Servicable player with help/scheme tweaks.
3 – Emergency player, that could but would be a risk no matter the help/scheme tweaks
2 – Developmental player that is not there yet and a risk to start.
1 – Should not be on the team
CRITERIA
Intelligence
Very important to O-line play, that I will not go into detail as we do not have much to base this on and there clearly are no issues here across the board. The O-line have very very few mental mistakes (when was the last time there was a false start), they master a complex scheme and biggest tell – the pursuit angles are PERFECT across the board. With the number of pulls this O-line makes, it’s highly unusual to see this low number of missed blocks in space. Not all are perfect, but there are no whiffs.
Run-Blocking in space
Ability to pull, reach second level and make the block.
Run-blocking on the line
Pure power blocking. Hat on hat. Take the right angle on the line to open the hole.
Kick-slide pass-blocking in space.
This is the one separating O-line from D-line. Passive blocking of giving up space and read the pass-rush to buy time for the QB
One-on-One Passblocking
Same technique to above, but with a pre-snap determined blocking assignment
ANALYSIS
Paris Johnson Jr.
Run-Blocking in space: 9
Run-blocking on the line: 9
Kick-slide pass-blocking in space: 8
One-on-One Pass-blocking: 8
Paris is the best player on the line already in his 2nd year. He's a bit under the radar in the national media due to pass-blocking being the premium quality mark for a blindside and Paris not excelling at that. That doesn't mean that Paris is bad in pass-pro - just not elite. He is one of the better in all aspects and ranked as the 12th best overall OT in the league by pff. This is actually too low IMO, because most players are either elite in run or pass and then a bigger gap between the two. Paris is very good at both. He doesn't give up a lot of sacks, but does give up a pressures. He is a very good run-blocker. He seals the edge without help on outside runs and reaches the second level frequently.
Evan Brown
Run-Blocking in space: 7
Run-blocking on the line: 7
Kick-slide pass-blocking in space: 8
One-on-One Pass-blocking: 8
Probably the most boring to rate. Brown is just all around good. He is a very good pass-blocker for a position where you are usually rated on run-blocking. He ranks 24th overall in the NFL, but 11th in pass-pro and 41st in run-blocking. No major issues in run blocking, but Brown is at the same time not asked to make the key blocks to seal as Froholdt and PJJ are asked. In this scheme, surrounded by PJJ and Froholdt he has been excellent.
Hjalte Froholdt
Run-Blocking in space: 10
Run-blocking on the line: 9-10
Kick-slide pass-blocking in space: 8
One-on-One Pass-blocking: 7
While PJJ is the best player on the line, Froholdt is the most important executing the scheme. He is clearly very smart mastering the complex scheme and making the right line calls with the line having so few missed blocks. Not all blocks are perfect, but the players are always in a position to make the block, which comes back to the line calls.
Froholdt is IMO the best in the league in space (with Kelce retired). The ability to pull and reach the 2nd level and make dominant blocks is better than any interior lineman in the league IMO.
On the line he is a really good run-blocker.
Pass-protecting is the weak spot. He is above average without being elite to setting the pocket, but struggles in 1-1 pass-blocking against good DTs. We saw this against Q Williams and especially last year where he struggled mightily against Dewter Lawrence and Madubuike.
Trystan Colon
Run-Blocking in space: 7
Run-blocking on the line: 7
Kick-slide pass-blocking in space: 7
One-on-One Pass-blocking: 6
Colon is playing at a surprisingly high level for a back-up. He doesn't make the same dominant blocks as Hernandez did, but he basicly always make the block he is supposed to make without any impact on the overall offense. I put him overall with a 7 rating, because he is playing well isolated, but Froholdt helping the RG for Combo blocks before Froholdt release and it's also RG hole where most lead blockers are sent through to compensate if Colon struggles.
Isaiah Adams
Run-Blocking in space: 9
Run-blocking on the line: 9
Kick-slide pass-blocking in space: 6
One-on-One Pass-blocking: 5 (developing)
Adams is a fun one. Small sample size, but he looks like a beast in the run game. Absolutes detroys players on pulls like Hernandez and powerful in the run-block. He has struggled in pass-protection. It has improved since very bad showing against the Chargers (I believe). If he becomes a lesser risk, I expect him to be the full-time starter soon. His dominance in the run-game cannot continue sitting on the bench if the risk in pass-protecting is mitigated.
Kelvin Beachum
Run-Blocking in space: 6
Run-blocking on the line: 7
Kick-slide pass-blocking in space: 8
One-on-One Pass-blocking: 7
Beachum has been golden. His level of play is amazing for the swing tackle. Beachum is still a very very good pass-blocking in the classical pass-blocking kick-sliding and setting up the pocket. In terms of output and production there isn't any different for the team between him and PJJ on the other side, BUT Beachum does get the luxury of the scheme and help. He is not asked to reach-block outside to seal block like PJJ and Froholdt and the off line TE in almost always on his side to create traffic and chip if needed. Hence the lower grade.
Will Hernandez
Run-Blocking in space: 9
Run-blocking on the line: 8
Kick-slide pass-blocking in space: 7
One-on-One Pass-blocking: 7
Just a quick one on Hernandez because there is enough sample size. We haven't seen a huge drop off from him to Colon. They match in terms of pass-pro as being solid player in the scheme, but the different is in quality of run-blocking. Colon is getting the job done, but not blowing up the hole like Hernandez would on his best days e.g. against the Rams.
Heck, Williams and Gaines - simply not enough film to evaluate. Heck has played the most and I would give him an overall 5-6 grade. The job got done. He wasn't a liability, but got A LOT of help and the coaching staff changed the scheme to compensate.
OVERALL:
The ratings I've made are based on the production on the field and not on the pure talent. The O-line is one of the better in the league this season, but it's a clear case of the collective outcome is higher than the sum of the individual parts. The individual players ratings at PFF has this O-line as the 16th best in the league, but interestingly enough, the outcome or efficiency is ranked 9th in the league and been top 6 in every single game of the last 6 weeks.
That has something to do with a group of smart players building chemistry.
But more importantly, these players are great for a scheme that utilize these players' strengths and are playing in a scheme and with a QB that hide the weaknesses. Kyler's running ability, elusiveness and his significantly improved pocket presence makes this O-line better than the talent suggest.
Especially the interior line would not rate as highly in a very different scheme, which is the reason e.g. Brown is playing as good and he is far out-producing his salary and career as a journeyman. Brown, Froholdt, Hernandez and Colon ALL are having their highest rated season so far (while being starters)
But overall. This unit is playing better than any O-line I can remember in my 20+ years as a Cardinals fan. The O-line have always seemed to be a weakness for this club and it's no longer the case.
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