2015 O-line Grades: Week 7 @ Rams

[Tour2ma]

2015 O-line Grades: Week 7 @ Rams

 

There were 13 series with 7 in the 1st half including the one-play 7th series and 6 in the 2nd half.

There were 38 first-half and 37 second-half plays for a total of 75 graded plays.

Note: Graded plays include plays negated, but unaffected, by penalty.

 

Drive Starting Times

1st Half: S1 - 13:16; S2 - 11:59; S3 - 7:33; (Q2) S4 - 11:46; S5 - 9:07; S6 - 4:22; S7 - 0:04

2nd Half: S8 - 15:00; S9 - 8:32; S10 - 2:14; (Q4) S11 - 13:12; S12 - 8:07; S13 - 3:26

 

Weekly Box Count...

1st: 8+ - 11; 7 - 12; 6 - 10; 5 - 3; 4 or less - 2

2nd : 8+ - 4; 7 - 10; 6 - 10; 5 - 3; 4 or less 10

Ttl: 8+ - 15; 7 - 22; 6 - 20; 5 - 6; 4 or less - 12

Three was the lowest box count seen in Game 5. The highest count was eight.

 

Weekly Run Direction...

Here are our game 2 results from WideLeft to WideRight:

WL-0 / L-3 / M-14 / R-1 / WR-0

No designed wide runs this week to either side. In all two middle runs were bounced outside... both by Turbine. The Middle remains our busiest run target. QB scramble runs are not included.

 

The Grades

 

As will come as not surprise to most readers we did not do well this week. Led by Bito's crash to a single digit net, the lowest positive net possible. With one exception all scores were down from our prior week. There were even a few failed plays when more than one OL received D-'s... something relatively rare this season to date.

 

However, there were also significant positive plays including one where for the first time this season D+'s were awarded to four OL on the same play. And one O-lineman, Greco, posted his highest net of the year leading the entire line with a net +21.

 

Last week's increase in the use of the power running game faded very quickly. In all we ran only 3 trap plays with Bito pulling twice and Greco pulling once. Bito's second pull produced Aaron Donald's jaw-dropping gap shot. May simply have been coincidence, but it was our last pull of the day. Bito and Barn each pulled once as part of a PAP's run look.

 

Speaking of Aaron Donald (AD)... someone asked in a thread if AD was the best D-lineman we've faced. Can't say for sure, but we sure approached him as if he was. We doubled him whenever possible... and the Rams used this to set up blitz overloads. AD handed out D- scores to JT, Bito, Greco and Mitch. Only Mack escaped by barely managing to anchor a push shy of McC's lap. But as you will read, despite his one loss, Greco was the man to challenge AD's dominance this game.

 

Joe Thomas: 1st +14-13 net +1 w/ 2D+&3D-; 2nd +18-2 net +16 w/ 2D+&1D- Game Totals: +32-15 net +17

 

Tale of two halves for Joe this week with a bad 1st followed by a very good 2nd. He posted his 2nd highest gross positive total, but also his highest gross negative.

 

Joe's D-'s came for: getting rag-dolled by AD on an middle run (S3P2); getting bull rushed into McC's lap resulting in a pressure and pocket flush to end an early drive (S3P15); a false start (S5); and holding after being beaten by a speed rush (S9P7).

 

Joe's D+'s for the week included: a POA blowout on a zone run his way (S2P3); clearing two defender in pursuit of Duke on a draw (S6P7); totally dominating the defender on another Zone run his way (S9P4); and absolutely burying a rusher on McC's final play of the game (S12P10).

 

Joel Bitonio: 1st +9-18 net -9 w/ 3D+&6D-; 2nd +18-8 net +10 w/ 6D+&2D- Game Totals: +27-26 net +1

 

And just like that Bito's string of strong games is broken. His gross positive total of 27 paled after successive 40+ weeks. His gross negative total of 26 was easily his worst of the year. In one 5-play stretch he posted an accumulative -8 by way of 4 D-'s. A few of his D-'s were courtesy of AD.

 

Bito suffered eight D-'s this week. They were: let the DE split he and Joe on a free run to McC while looking to see if Mack needed help with AD (S4P3); being clubbed out of the way of a rushing AD (S5P3); being bulled by AD who hit McC as he threw (S6P4); pulling and missing the DE (S6P6); sticking with an AD double team with JT as the DE looped inside for a free run and a McC flush (S6P7); a False Start (S6P7+); holding AD after being beaten by a rip (S13P4); and not staying with his block as JM ran up on our final offensive play (S13P7).

 

Quick note on the final D- above... Had Joel stayed with his block, then JM has a cut lane to his left and makes the 1st down easily rendering any slide/ dive debate moot.

 

But not all was bad. Joel posted nine D+'s for the week including: a knock-out pull on a LB during an early power run (S2P2); picking up two rushers on an early pass call, opening the middle for McC to run for 9 yards (S3P1); a path clearing 2nd level block on a Z-middle run (S5P1); stoning a rusher on the 2nd-half's opening play (S8P1); passing AD to JT and picking up an inside loop (S9P3); meeting and turning a determined bull rush (S9P6); handling an AD bull rush (S10P4); driving AD to open a middle hole for Crow that Crow missed (S11P2); and handling a bull rush (S11P3).

 

Alex Mack: 1st +10-6 net +4 w/ 2D+&1D-; 2nd +10-10 net 0 w/ 2D- Game Totals: +20-16 net +4

 

Simply put another disappointingly ordinary day from Alex this week prompting my thread proposing a change. Not so much that there was a lot of really bad play. There's just not that much good play.

 

Here are this week's three D's: unable to backfill Bito's pull... not the AD shot, but a different play (S6P6); not picking up an inside loop by a DE (S9P3); and beaten by a swim move from a three-man front on our final play flushing JM from the pocket (S13P7).

 

Alex's garnered 2 D+'s this week were: a great seal behind Bito's pull (S3P2); and a grinding POA block on a Z-middle run (S6P3).

 

John Greco: 1st +17-5 net +12 w/ 3D+&2D-; 2nd +16-7 net +9 w/ 3D+&3D- Game Totals: +33-12 net +21

 

Another good game by Mr. Consistency. As I stated in my Rx thread John anchors better than any of our OL and it showed this week vs. AD.

 

John's five D-'s came for: missing the hole on his lone pull... he went to the edge instead of reacting to where the hole was developing inside JT (S3P2); cleanly beaten by an AD swim move (S3P10); missing a gap-shooting Laurinaitis blitz (S9P4); inexplicably looking out to Mitch's speed rusher instead of aiding Mack inside vs. AD (S9P7); and going inside and missing another Laurinaitis blitz (S12P5).

 

Both Greco's six D+'s included: handling AD on our opening run (S1P1); a devastating drive block clearing the way for McC's QB sneak (S3P12); a very pretty chip+2nd-level effort (S6P6); stoning his rusher on our opening 2nd-half beauty (S8P1); and handling an AD bull late (S9P8).

 

Mitchell Schwartz: 1st +18-6 net +12 w/ 2D+&2D-; 2nd +15-9 net +6 w/ 1D+&2D- Game Totals: +33-15 net +18

 

Another good effort by Mitch... not his best, but a good effort. Where he had been avoiding the costly errors recently, he gave them up to the Rams. I did not note Mitch punching rushers this week as I have recently.

 

D-'s came Mitch's way for: the first speed beat he's suffered in weeks resulting in strip sack #1 (S2P5); a False Start (S5P2+); giving up an inside rip when he let a DE get to his body resulting in a sack (S10P3); and getting bull rushed into McC's lap yielding strip sack #2 (S12P10).

 

His D+'s came for: a pretty chip+2nd on our opening run (S1P1); and sweetly handling a speed rushes (S3P15) and (S8P1).

 

Cam Erving: Game Totals: +1-6 net -6 w/ 2D-

 

Cam made two appearances at TE that I noted. Both were part of three TE sets. The first put him next to Thomas as usual, but the second flanked him at the outside wing outside both Dray and Barn... and he ran into the pattern. At TE cam posted +0-5 net -5 w/ 2D-. For his first D- Cam was badly beaten by a swim move (S2P1). His 2nd came for holding (S9P4).

 

More importantly we got our first look at our rookie in the OL... specifically at RG. There he posted a +1-1 net 0 in our JM led, seven-play, final series against three-DL, prevent looks. Never really tested, but his form looked good and he really popped a DE Mitch had stoned. Concern playing him would be his mental game as he was suckered out of position by an LB faking a blitz.

 

 

Other Blockers:

 

TEs:

• Barn: +4-3 net +1 w/ 1D+ for a nice driving block on a LB at the POA (S9P1).
• Dray: +5-7 net -2 w/ 3D- Dray had a great first half only to yield all his D-'s in the 2nd. He started with a False Start and a hold on back-to-back plays (S9P1&1) and three plays later when he missed his block on a Z-middle (S9P4).
• Housler: DNP

RBs:

• M. Johnson: +3-7 net -4 w/ 1D+&3D- Really popped an LB in the hole for his D+ (S8P2), but earlier earned D-'s for leading into the wrong hole on a draw (S3P4) and not budging Laurinaitis an inch (S4P1).
• Crow: +1-0 net +1 got a chop block on a McC flush-run.
• Duke: +9-2 net +7 w/4D+ for getting good piece of a DE the OL gave a free run (S4P1); and taking on a blitzing Laurinaitis high and stopping him (S6P5) and again (S9P7) and again (S12P5)... great bonus from a developing 3rd-down back.
• Turbin: +4-1 net +3 w/1D+... and he's on the board... D+ for cutting a blitzer and getting his hands down (S4P2). A good start...

WRs: A little this week at third level...

• Gabe: +1-2 net -1 w/ 1D- for whiffing a DB run-blitz (S8P3).
• Benji: +4-4 net 0 w/ 1D+&2D- all in the 1st half, a busy half for our reluctant warrior. D+ for sustained downfield block on Gabe's long reception off PA (S3P3). D-'s for no attempt to block DB on bubble screen to Gabe (S1P3) and missing cut block by throwing at DB's ankles on Swing pass to Hart (S3P11).
• Hart: +0-0 net 0
• Hawk: +0-0 net 0
• Bowe: still basking in the glow of his one point.

General Notes:

 

1. Our run game

Turbine gave it life. Crow continues to miss opportunities. Duke is a fine 3rd down back, but is simply too easy to bring down.

 

2. Our RB Corps

Saw the beginning of the coming of the Turbine.

 

3. Pass Blocking

We have to anchor the middle.

 

4. Play action

Very effective at times despite the scarcity of a run game.

 

5. Hot reads

I did not note any this week...

 

6. Snap Counts

Got us a few cheap yards.

 

7. Prettiest new to me play

Only noted two new ones this week. The first was the 3TE set with Erving on the wing. Went for 5, but doesn't qualify as "pretty". See below for the 2nd...

 

8. Personnel

I saw a 0TE set... really, I did. Unfortunately it was the week's lone Pistol with the FB lined up as in an I-right look (S9P3) so it also was not pretty, but also went for 5 yards. But for the first time this season there was no TE on the field for a play.

 

10. Fun with Three TEs...

They are no fun anymore.

 

11. Shifty Flippy

No mass shifts this week.

 

Revelation(s) of the week:

Less revelatory... more desperation-atory... time to shake up the OL...

 

Rant of the week:

Too late... too tired...

 

Weekly Special Request:

I was asked about bounced runs and noted a couple, but will try to focus more this week.

 

Reminder: I do take requests. If what you are interested in interests me and/or is not a major time commitment, I may well do it.

 

Go Browns...

[wargograw]

Thanks as always.

 

May have asked this before, but can we get separate pass and run blocking grades?

[Zombo]

2015 O-line Grades: Week 7 @ Rams

 

There were 13 series with 7 in the 1st half including the one-play 7th series and 6 in the 2nd half.

There were 38 first-half and 37 second-half plays for a total of 75 graded plays.

Note: Graded plays include plays negated, but unaffected, by penalty.

 

Drive Starting Times

1st Half: S1 - 13:16; S2 - 11:59; S3 - 7:33; (Q2) S4 - 11:46; S5 - 9:07; S6 - 4:22; S7 - 0:04

2nd Half: S8 - 15:00; S9 - 8:32; S10 - 2:14; (Q4) S11 - 13:12; S12 - 8:07; S13 - 3:26

 

Weekly Box Count...

1st: 8+ - 11; 7 - 12; 6 - 10; 5 - 3; 4 or less - 2

2nd : 8+ - 4; 7 - 10; 6 - 10; 5 - 3; 4 or less 10

Ttl: 8+ - 15; 7 - 22; 6 - 20; 5 - 6; 4 or less - 12

Three was the lowest box count seen in Game 5. The highest count was eight.

 

Weekly Run Direction...

Here are our game 2 results from WideLeft to WideRight:

WL-0 / L-3 / M-14 / R-1 / WR-0

No designed wide runs this week to either side. In all two middle runs were bounced outside... both by Turbine. The Middle remains our busiest run target. QB scramble runs are not included.

 

The Grades

 

As will come as not surprise to most readers we did not do well this week. Led by Bito's crash to a single digit net, the lowest positive net possible. With one exception all scores were down from our prior week. There were even a few failed plays when more than one OL received D-'s... something relatively rare this season to date.

 

However, there were also significant positive plays including one where for the first time this season D+'s were awarded to four OL on the same play. And one O-lineman, Greco, posted his highest net of the year leading the entire line with a net +21.

 

Last week's increase in the use of the power running game faded very quickly. In all we ran only 3 trap plays with Bito pulling twice and Greco pulling once. Bito's second pull produced Aaron Donald's jaw-dropping gap shot. May simply have been coincidence, but it was our last pull of the day. Bito and Barn each pulled once as part of a PAP's run look.

 

Speaking of Aaron Donald (AD)... someone asked in a thread if AD was the best D-lineman we've faced. Can't say for sure, but we sure approached him as if he was. We doubled him whenever possible... and the Rams used this to set up blitz overloads. AD handed out D- scores to JT, Bito, Greco and Mitch. Only Mack escaped by barely managing to anchor a push shy of McC's lap. But as you will read, despite his one loss, Greco was the man to challenge AD's dominance this game.

 

Joe Thomas: 1st +14-13 net +1 w/ 2D+&3D-; 2nd +18-2 net +16 w/ 2D+&1D- Game Totals: +32-15 net +17

 

Tale of two halves for Joe this week with a bad 1st followed by a very good 2nd. He posted his 2nd highest gross positive total, but also his highest gross negative.

 

Joe's D-'s came for: getting rag-dolled by AD on an middle run (S3P2); getting bull rushed into McC's lap resulting in a pressure and pocket flush to end an early drive (S3P15); a false start (S5); and holding after being beaten by a speed rush (S9P7).

 

Joe's D+'s for the week included: a POA blowout on a zone run his way (S2P3); clearing two defender in pursuit of Duke on a draw (S6P7); totally dominating the defender on another Zone run his way (S9P4); and absolutely burying a rusher on McC's final play of the game (S12P10).

 

Joel Bitonio: 1st +9-18 net -9 w/ 3D+&6D-; 2nd +18-8 net +10 w/ 6D+&2D- Game Totals: +27-26 net +1

 

And just like that Bito's string of strong games is broken. His gross positive total of 27 paled after successive 40+ weeks. His gross negative total of 26 was easily his worst of the year. In one 5-play stretch he posted an accumulative -8 by way of 4 D-'s. A few of his D-'s were courtesy of AD.

 

Bito suffered eight D-'s this week. They were: let the DE split he and Joe on a free run to McC while looking to see if Mack needed help with AD (S4P3); being clubbed out of the way of a rushing AD (S5P3); being bulled by AD who hit McC as he threw (S6P4); pulling and missing the DE (S6P6); sticking with an AD double team with JT as the DE looped inside for a free run and a McC flush (S6P7); a False Start (S6P7+); holding AD after being beaten by a rip (S13P4); and not staying with his block as JM ran up on our final offensive play (S13P7).

 

Quick note on the final D- above... Had Joel stayed with his block, then JM has a cut lane to his left and makes the 1st down easily rendering any slide/ dive debate moot.

 

But not all was bad. Joel posted nine D+'s for the week including: a knock-out pull on a LB during an early power run (S2P2); picking up two rushers on an early pass call, opening the middle for McC to run for 9 yards (S3P1); a path clearing 2nd level block on a Z-middle run (S5P1); stoning a rusher on the 2nd-half's opening play (S8P1); passing AD to JT and picking up an inside loop (S9P3); meeting and turning a determined bull rush (S9P6); handling an AD bull rush (S10P4); driving AD to open a middle hole for Crow that Crow missed (S11P2); and handling a bull rush (S11P3).

 

Alex Mack: 1st +10-6 net +4 w/ 2D+&1D-; 2nd +10-10 net 0 w/ 2D- Game Totals: +20-16 net +4

 

Simply put another disappointingly ordinary day from Alex this week prompting my thread proposing a change. Not so much that there was a lot of really bad play. There's just not that much good play.

 

Here are this week's three D's: unable to backfill Bito's pull... not the AD shot, but a different play (S6P6); not picking up an inside loop by a DE (S9P3); and beaten by a swim move from a three-man front on our final play flushing JM from the pocket (S13P7).

 

Alex's garnered 2 D+'s this week were: a great seal behind Bito's pull (S3P2); and a grinding POA block on a Z-middle run (S6P3).

 

John Greco: 1st +17-5 net +12 w/ 3D+&2D-; 2nd +16-7 net +9 w/ 3D+&3D- Game Totals: +33-12 net +21

 

Another good game by Mr. Consistency. As I stated in my Rx thread John anchors better than any of our OL and it showed this week vs. AD.

 

John's five D-'s came for: missing the hole on his lone pull... he went to the edge instead of reacting to where the hole was developing inside JT (S3P2); cleanly beaten by an AD swim move (S3P10); missing a gap-shooting Laurinaitis blitz (S9P4); inexplicably looking out to Mitch's speed rusher instead of aiding Mack inside vs. AD (S9P7); and going inside and missing another Laurinaitis blitz (S12P5).

 

Both Greco's six D+'s included: handling AD on our opening run (S1P1); a devastating drive block clearing the way for McC's QB sneak (S3P12); a very pretty chip+2nd-level effort (S6P6); stoning his rusher on our opening 2nd-half beauty (S8P1); and handling an AD bull late (S9P8).

 

Mitchell Schwartz: 1st +18-6 net +12 w/ 2D+&2D-; 2nd +15-9 net +6 w/ 1D+&2D- Game Totals: +33-15 net +18

 

Another good effort by Mitch... not his best, but a good effort. Where he had been avoiding the costly errors recently, he gave them up to the Rams. I did not note Mitch punching rushers this week as I have recently.

 

D-'s came Mitch's way for: the first speed beat he's suffered in weeks resulting in strip sack #1 (S2P5); a False Start (S5P2+); giving up an inside rip when he let a DE get to his body resulting in a sack (S10P3); and getting bull rushed into McC's lap yielding strip sack #2 (S12P10).

 

His D+'s came for: a pretty chip+2nd on our opening run (S1P1); and sweetly handling a speed rushes (S3P15) and (S8P1).

 

Cam Erving: Game Totals: +1-6 net -6 w/ 2D-

 

Cam made two appearances at TE that I noted. Both were part of three TE sets. The first put him next to Thomas as usual, but the second flanked him at the outside wing outside both Dray and Barn... and he ran into the pattern. At TE cam posted +0-5 net -5 w/ 2D-. For his first D- Cam was badly beaten by a swim move (S2P1). His 2nd came for holding (S9P4).

 

More importantly we got our first look at our rookie in the OL... specifically at RG. There he posted a +1-1 net 0 in our JM led, seven-play, final series against three-DL, prevent looks. Never really tested, but his form looked good and he really popped a DE Mitch had stoned. Concern playing him would be his mental game as he was suckered out of position by an LB faking a blitz.

 

 

Other Blockers:

 

TEs:

• Barn: +4-3 net +1 w/ 1D+ for a nice driving block on a LB at the POA (S9P1).
• Dray: +5-7 net -2 w/ 3D- Dray had a great first half only to yield all his D-'s in the 2nd. He started with a False Start and a hold on back-to-back plays (S9P1&1) and three plays later when he missed his block on a Z-middle (S9P4).
• Housler: DNP

RBs:

• M. Johnson: +3-7 net -4 w/ 1D+&3D- Really popped an LB in the hole for his D+ (S8P2), but earlier earned D-'s for leading into the wrong hole on a draw (S3P4) and not budging Laurinaitis an inch (S4P1).
• Crow: +1-0 net +1 got a chop block on a McC flush-run.
• Duke: +9-2 net +7 w/4D+ for getting good piece of a DE the OL gave a free run (S4P1); and taking on a blitzing Laurinaitis high and stopping him (S6P5) and again (S9P7) and again (S12P5)... great bonus from a developing 3rd-down back.
• Turbin: +4-1 net +3 w/1D+... and he's on the board... D+ for cutting a blitzer and getting his hands down (S4P2). A good start...

WRs: A little this week at third level...

• Gabe: +1-2 net -1 w/ 1D- for whiffing a DB run-blitz (S8P3).
• Benji: +4-4 net 0 w/ 1D+&2D- all in the 1st half, a busy half for our reluctant warrior. D+ for sustained downfield block on Gabe's long reception off PA (S3P3). D-'s for no attempt to block DB on bubble screen to Gabe (S1P3) and missing cut block by throwing at DB's ankles on Swing pass to Hart (S3P11).
• Hart: +0-0 net 0
• Hawk: +0-0 net 0
• Bowe: still basking in the glow of his one point.

General Notes:

 

1. Our run game

Turbine gave it life. Crow continues to miss opportunities. Duke is a fine 3rd down back, but is simply too easy to bring down.

 

2. Our RB Corps

Saw the beginning of the coming of the Turbine.

 

3. Pass Blocking

We have to anchor the middle.

 

4. Play action

Very effective at times despite the scarcity of a run game.

 

5. Hot reads

I did not note any this week...

 

6. Snap Counts

Got us a few cheap yards.

 

7. Prettiest new to me play

Only noted two new ones this week. The first was the 3TE set with Erving on the wing. Went for 5, but doesn't qualify as "pretty". See below for the 2nd...

 

8. Personnel

I saw a 0TE set... really, I did. Unfortunately it was the week's lone Pistol with the FB lined up as in an I-right look (S9P3) so it also was not pretty, but also went for 5 yards. But for the first time this season there was no TE on the field for a play.

 

10. Fun with Three TEs...

They are no fun anymore.

 

11. Shifty Flippy

No mass shifts this week.

 

Revelation(s) of the week:

Less revelatory... more desperation-atory... time to shake up the OL...

 

Rant of the week:

Too late... too tired...

 

Weekly Special Request:

I was asked about bounced runs and noted a couple, but will try to focus more this week.

 

Reminder: I do take requests. If what you are interested in interests me and/or is not a major time commitment, I may well do it.

 

Go Browns...

 

 

Do you score negatively for getting penalized?

 

I know Bito got flagged a couple times.

 

And when you review each play, what do you think of penalites that are called versus penalties that should have been called ... are refs pretty consistent in what they call?

 

Zombo

[gumby73]

So done with M. Johnson. Give Bibbs a shot. Give Duke & Turpin the reps. Rotate with Crow. Mack gets 1st half due to stamina with Leg. Open 2nd half with Greco @ C & Cam @ RG a few series & can go back if not going anywhere. Don't think Pet has the balls to do it with Mack due to trade deadline this week but when Mack drops his no trade clause later this week there would be all the answers we need to move on with out Mack in the Plan? The Old Up & In The Middle is Not Working Flip.. High marks for Cam reporting as a TE? The 1st TE in his lifetime with no flags, god we see enough those..

[wargograw]

Only took a few hours to get burned by your not including your usual rake-warning, Tour .

[Tour2ma]

LOL... and for it to be Z of all people. But in his defense, he may not have been to bed yet...

 

Do you score negatively for getting penalized?

 

I know Bito got flagged a couple times.

 

And when you review each play, what do you think of penalites that are called versus penalties that should have been called ... are refs pretty consistent in what they call?

Yes... you get a flag, then you get a D-. They are in the notes.

 

I've seen precious few OL penalties that should not have been called. I usually see a couple a week that we got away with. Mostly the latter are holds, but Week 6 (IIRC) both JT and MS got away with False Starts. When we "get away with" a hold it is usually because our OL's hands are inside the defender's arms often grabbing the breast plate of their shoulder pads.

 

Consistency on the above calls is pretty good... at least I've never seen one and thought, "Last week that would/ would not have been a call."

 

Other penalties? Not so much... Case in point, the big hit McC took under his throwing arm late vs. the Rams. Not only did the DB lower his head before impact... he launched. Can't remember seeing that not called in a couple seasons.

[gftChris]

Tour, a request, if you don't mind. How often do we run multiple tight end sets (not counting Erving as a TE)? Wondering about getting Bibbs, Barnidge & Dray as bigger threats around the red zone.