DEs Stop Gut Runs

[TecnoGenius]

This season I've noticed that a lot of up-the-gut runs are getting stuffed by DEs crashing down from the edge behind the LoS.  I'm not sure if it's a particularly new idea, but I don't recall it being as prevalent.  Our scheme falls victim to it too, hampering Brady's success.

It occurs on an A-gap or B-gap run play.  One or both DEs are usually allowed to go straight at the QB (allowing them to pass rush because there's no pass).  The OT will often just jam the DE, or is coming around to run block / road grade.

The idea is the free DE will choose pass rush, and thus be out of the play.  Or they are wide enough that they can't crash on the RB fast enough.  Play action and/or RPO can help trick the DEs.

The main problem is that RBs these days often like to wait for blocks to set up (the oft-heard "RB has patience" thing).  This gives the DE time to get to the RB before he hits the hole.  And even if the RB gets past the LoS, the DE can often get to them before they get momentum and stop them from behind.

Most every team does this.  Strangely, we don't really do this.  Willy cannot/will not do this or it'll ruin his no-injury streak.  But even our other DEs don't do it, because I don't think we scheme for it.

The advantage to the scheme is you don't need to stuff every hole (like we do).  And you can't get washed and double-teamed by hoggies.  It's just one guy on one guy.  And it doesn't let the big powerful backs get momentum, because you're catching them mostly waiting stationary.

The disadvantage is if you guess wrong that's one less hole stuffed.  Or the RB can just hit a hole immediately and the DE is then out of the play in a useless position.  But these days the "patient RB" is more common than the instant hole-hitter (IMHO).

Anyhow, just something I noticed league-wide.  And I notice we get beaten by it a lot.  And I've noticed our D doesn't really do this at all, at least not on purpose as a main scheme.

[Sir Blue and Gold]

What you seem to be taking about is what you'd call a pursuit tackle or backside tackle.

Defensive ends and blitzing linebackers have been doing this since the start of modern football.

[TecnoGenius]

What you seem to be taking about is what you'd call a pursuit tackle or backside tackle.

Defensive ends and blitzing linebackers have been doing this since the start of modern football.

Ya, thanks for the nomenclature!  But I don't recall it working so well in the CFL as it has been lately.  So many of the Brady stuffs are by DEs getting him from the side/behind.

10 years ago we didn't have as much of the "patient RB" thing.  I don't recall Cornish being particularly patient.  He just hit whatever was there instantly and kept those little feet tap dancing and no one could stop him.  Or Sheets.

I think the patient RB thing started around AH33 and Messam.  But I could be misremembering.

Often times now there's a schemed slow-hole-hit where the interior OL will keep the RB directly behind them, but untackled through the wall, and he counts to 2 or something and then hits the C gap... and all of the DL and LBs have already crashed the box and he's wide open.  But if a DE got penetration or left free (often on the non-target side), he can ruin that plan super quick.

The crashing DE pursuit tackle is useless if the RB is already through the hole.  I swear there's some correlation between slower hole setups prevalent these days and RBs getting "pursuit tackled".

[BLUEBOMBER]

Teams are adjusting.. BB needs to adjust how they use Brady as well.