Back again with another breakdown. This is a much shorter one as last week was way too bloated for a FB TD haha. Eagles fans should be happy about the way their team fought and specifically the way they gameplanned for an amazing defense in the vikings. Is it true the eagles scored 2 big TDs on total breakdowns by the defense…yes…BUT they do so much weird things and do them well that the defense has to be on their toes at all times. This play took me 4 rewinds the first time I saw it, and a couple phone calls with friends who run QB run offenses to try and figure out what was happening.

This was a weird play that took me a while to figure out. I have a friend who coaches a QB run system who helped me understand it from his angle but with my pro focus I saw how it was adapted for the NFL game. Pretty cool to see the evolution of the pin and pull blocking technique, Zone read, and Reverse blocking schemes all in one play. The future of football is bright with these minds behind it.

TL;DR

• 11 (1 TE and 1 RB) personnel to get Nickel Defense
• Cross block (pin and pull) right with Back action Left
• Outstanding Outside blocking
• Don’t get shoestringed Jay!

• TV Copy
• Normal Cross Blocking Play
• EZ Coaches Film

Back again with another breakdown. This time its not a touchdown just a really weird play I saw when watching the NFC championship. The Pin and Pull technique is for outside zone has become really popular. The Eagles love to run it especially because it keeps lineman from getting down field on RPOs (Run Pass Option).

This play kinda flips normal pin and pull on its head. It is borrowing from college plays where QB runs are more used and flips the normal zone read responsibilities. The RB is going against the flow of the line, which rarely happens, and then QB has to choice to take it strong with the blocking scheme.

Above is an example of a normal cross blocking play that the Chargers ran earlier this year.

• SL Pre-Snap Gif
• SL Pre-Snap IMG

Gun Right 16 Sweep

Gun-Shot gun formation

Right-Y to the Right

1-QB run option

6-Direction of main play

Sweep-Far outside zone run looking to get the edge and pulling lineman far side

Lets jump into it. Biggest thing to see from this angle is that the defense is in Nickel Defense and in a 4-2 over SUP. BUT when that S/S comes this far down into the box and you do something called “Re-MIKE” the point and push the MIKE point one over. This now makes the S/S the SAM and makes the Nickel WILL the F/S.

Also from the sideline angle you can see how spread out the defense gets with the 11 personnel on the field. With only 1 TE and 1 RB the defense then get spread so far out, where normally the Vikings want to pack it in and play physical.

• EZ Gif Drawings
• EZ Pre Snap IMG
• EZ Mid play IMG
• EZ End PLay IMG
• EZ GIF

Full EZ breakdown. Most important part of this angle is to identify the Backers eyes and how frozen they get from the “Opposite” Backfield action. With the Line pulling Right and the Back going left the Defense is frozen and is getting out leveraged on both sides.

RB goes on a flat track to avoid the DE coming up field. HERE IS WHERE THE PLAY GETS INTERESTING! Like stated earlier this play is a college play where teams run the QBs more. But NO WAY does Dougy Visor want to have Foles do a designed run. Sudfeld is not going to Cardale Jones this game and be the third string QB and win a championship.

This is technically a KEEP read (Where the QB should keep the ball instead of handing it off. But now lets look deeper at the Line blocking. All the line is blocking with the plan to get the RB playside shoulder. This is the same technique you use on a reverse or an end around. Watch the LT attack the WILL and get to the outside shoulder and run him upfield. Left Guard does the same thing when focusing on the nose guard.

This is what was so confusing for me, it is a QB run play but they have no intention of actually running the read. Cool adaptation of D.Visor to trust Ajayi and his ability to beat a DE 1:1 with speed. If he doesnt this is a 5 yard loss on the first rush of the game.

Lastly touch briefly on the WR blocking. So good. Hold their blocks for a long time and make a clear lane to run through. Ironically this was a calling card for Chip Kelly, His Oregon teams had great WR blocking schemes and execution, and even RPO execution, but this Doug Pederson team looks more like what people thought a Chip Kelly team would.

Hope you enjoy the Short breakdown and look forward super bowl.