Offensive Line Model and Notes 12/20/09

[Filmstudy]

Offensive Line Scoring and Notes vs. Bears

The Ravens appeared determined Sunday that they would not get beaten by their tackles. Cameron played a high percentage of jumbo and unbalanced sets in the 1st half with terrific success, then all but abandoned such formations after halftime. They used 6 offensive linemen on 11 of the games 1st 14 snaps (excluding a penalty, which was also a jumbo set). They gained 92 yards on those 11 plays, then would use it just 7 times (43 yards, including the TD pass to Williams) the remainder of the game.

Even when the Ravens did not have 6 linemen in the game, they used a multitude of extra set blockers to help both tackles. On 9 of the team’s 35 pass plays they used 2 or 3 set blockers. I’d like to say all that extra help paid off, but both Oher and Cousins turned in mediocre performances.

In the games last 25 minutes (once the score had reached 28-7), the Bears stalled the Ravens’ offense as the Ravens did not mount a single drive of note and recorded just 3 first downs. Amazingly, during that time, the Bears moved the chains just twice.

Scoring from the Detroit and Green Bay games will follow separately.

If you are interested to see how my scoring system works, please check out the following link:

http://www.profootball24x7.com/column_view.php?cid=60&aid=2708&view=archive

The Ravens ran 65 plays from scrimmage, excluding 1 kneel:

Individual Notes:

Oher: Still looks lost at times (I observe this whether he is playing on the left or right, but it’s more costly on the left). He had 2 very similar lapses Sunday.

• With 3rd and 6 (Q2, 0:27) he had Alex Brown opposite him at RDE. The Ravens had McClain kept in to block on the left side. Oher stood up on the rim of the pocket and Brown merely stood up as well approximately 5 yards away. A large gap developed between LT and LG, which Lance Briggs raced through. Oher turned to look at Briggs as McClain moved to pick him up. However, Briggs fought McClain to Flacco and Oher turned his back entirely on Brown to watch the struggle. At that point, Brown came delayed as McClain managed to push Briggs by Flacco. Brown did not miss and slammed Flacco as he threw incomplete to Mason in the end zone. I could not verify it as a QH, so I just charged him a penetration (it would have been 1 less point total had Flacco gone to the ground).

• With the Ravens running down the clock (Q4, 9:40), Flacco nonetheless dropped back to pass on 1st and 10 in what was a very safe pattern. The Ravens kept 3 set blockers in and had all of them (McGahee, McClain, Jones) on the left side! Brown was again in at RDE, but opposite Jones. Brown immediately began to outmuscle Edgar to the inside as Oher patrolled the gap between them and Grubbs without anyone to block. Once again, however, as Jones gave ground in an attempt to square up against Brown, Oher turned his back to the LoS to watch and Hillenmeyer came delayed this time. Jones kept his hand on his man, and eventually pancaked him to the side of Flacco (eerily similar play) as Oher watched. Meanwhile, Hillenmeyer came as a trailer and blew by the distracted MO for the sack.

Michael otherwise had a solid game, missing only 2 other blocks, but that’s like saying Jim Brown was held in check with the exception of his 60-yard run and his 32-yard run. He was flagged for Illegal formation (Q2, 0:35), but it again was not his penalty as Williams failed to set up on the LoS. Scoring: 53 blocks, 2 missed, 1 Penetration, 1 sack, 45 points on 57 plays (.79 per play).

Grubbs: Aside from the hit allowed on Troy Smith, Grubbs played well. He pulled successfully on 4 of 5 attempts, and made 1 block in level 2. He and Birk both like to get a running start into level 2. Despite the fact I have Yanda scored for 2 blocks in L2, he seems more comfortable and effective bulldozing the closest player. Scoring: 58 blocks, 6 missed, 1 QH, 55 points (.85 per play).

Birk: While Birk made the vast majority of his blocks against the Bears, I’d say subjectively that Matt did not fare well against the Bears interior linemen. He was twice beaten by Anthony Adams (once shared with McClain) on plays that resulted in a loss. Scoring: 54 blocks, 1 missed, 1.5 penetrations, 51 points on 57 plays, (.89 per play).

Yanda: Marshal has been one of the best 2 or 3 guards in the NFL since returning there in week 12. He’s now played 4 games there and has been the beast of burden for the Ravens rejuvenated running game. His scores have been modest on my system which rewards players that avoid serious pass blocking mistakes. However, Yanda and Oher are the Ravens most dominant run blockers and my system doesn’t capture the quality of those blocks. Profootballfocus.com does a good job grading run blocks. I’m highly skeptical of new ratings methodologies, so I always try to see if my own observations match such ratings. I’d recommend anyone who wants to gauge their own observations to choose 3 games you have recorded and watch every offensive play, subjectively grading just 1 player all the way through. Then compare the results to the ratings from PFF and I think you’ll gain an appreciation for the quality of their ratings as I have. Scoring: 61 blocks, 3 missed, 1 QH, 58 points (.89 per play).

Cousins: Oniel gives up too much ground in the pocket. The best example I can give is (Q3, 14:55). Despite the fact that Flacco completed that pass for 12 yards, Cousins allowed the pocket to be collapsed by a smaller man. Neither of the penalties called against him was enforced, but one nullified what might have been a 27-yard play (12-yard catch plus facemask) and the other was declined when Flacco threw incomplete on 3rd and 6 (Q3, 3:47). He failed to block inside and allowed Idonije to penetrate and stop Rice for a loss of 1 (Q2, 6:44). He had some good plays, including a block from his knees (Q3, 6:16) and some solid push in the run game, but the outing can’t be considered a success. He moved to LT for the last 8 plays and made all 8 blocks. Scoring: 58 blocks, 5 missed, 1 penetration, 2 penalties (holding and illegal use of hands), 44 points (.68 per play).

Chester: He’s played well as a 6th lineman and got 8 snaps at center. Chris has the athleticism to play opposite most of the smaller edge rushers and they represent better matchup for him than most of the DTs in the league. Scoring: 18 blocks, 0 missed, 18 points (1.00 per play).

Moll: He’d only been on the field for a few snaps all season, but Tony Moll saw 8 plays at RT on the last 2 drives and made all 8 blocks (1.00 per play).

[Filmstudy]

Other Notes:

• I don’t agree with Harbaugh’s decision to punt on 4th and 6 at the Bears 41 (Q2, 0:18). I liked it even less when he declined the running into the kicker penalty that would have set up 4th and 1 at the 36 with just 13 ticks left. I liked Billick’s metaphor (“the price of playing poker has come down”), but that was a situation where the Bears would have run out the clock from either spot.

• Although it resulted in a mere 2 yard loss, Rice’s run (Q3, 9:26) ranks as one of the worst-blocked plays of the season for the Ravens. Every lineman either got beat or did something wrong other that Oher:
• Oher moved a few yards forward and pushed Williams. It wasn’t impressive, but it was the Ravens best block.
• Grubbs pulled right, but didn’t find a block
• Yanda allowed 94 to slip off laterally and make the tackle. Normally Birk would have been in the way, but…
• Birk was driven backwards by Anthony Adams. BTW, did anyone else see the size, shape, and number of that guy and wonder if Sam Adams had somehow returned to the NFL? He certainly looked like Sam Adams circa 2000 on this play.
• Cousins moved into level 2 at the snap and allowed Hillenmeyer to slip off him with little effort

• I know I have never seen this before, but the Ravens managed to get 2 QBs knocked down on the same play (Q3, 2:16) when they ran the wildcat with Flacco split right. Smith was hit by Briggs as he passed backwards (I’m not positive, but would guess this means there can’t be a QH assigned any more than on a running play) to Flacco and Joe was flattened by Afalava (not recorded in the Gamebook) as he threw off target to Heap in the end zone.

• Le’Ron McClain has had a good year as a blocker. He’s fully deserving of his 2nd straight Pro Bowl and the flexibility he provides the Ravens with regard to where he can set up (TE, FB, tailback, or outside) has not received the attention deserved. His pass blocking has been solid to date, but he gave up too much ground in the pocket to Roach (Q3, 1:20), allowing the linebacker to get close enough to Flacco to dislodge the ball for the Bears’ first sack.

• Flacco and Smith threw 6 times to Demetrius Williams and he had a variety of impressive catches:
• (Q2, 4:08) He got good position on the slant, was well-led by Flacco, but watched the ball into his hands, and did not appear to fear contact.
• (Q3, 12:58) He found space behind the corner and in front of the safety and quickly controlled Flacco’s deep out, and tip-toed in bounds.
• (Q3, 12:32) On the very next play, Flacco threw deep for Williams in the left side of the end zone. Williams went up for the ball, but was contacted by Tillman, who had no idea where the ball was. Despite the contact, Williams maintained his concentration and hauled in the ball. I think there might be 10 starting WRs in the NFL who would have simply let their hands drop and start making flag motions after such contact.
• (Q3, 8:07) Flacco overthrew Williams just out of bounds on the right side of the end zone. Williams allowed Tillman to get position and force him out of bounds as the pair moved up the sideline.
• (Q4, 4:11) Smith hit Williams on a curl in front of Tillman. It was a simple outside throw and one of the Ravens’ bread-and-butter plays, but it’s nice to see DWill have the timing and sure hands.
• (Q4, 2:00) Smith underthrew Williams near the goal line and was intercepted by Tillman. The 2 players had their feet tangle, but Williams was the one who went sprawling.

We didn’t see an over the shoulder grab in stride, or a WR screen, but he showed a little of everything else.

[jonboy79]

Did you not see the Blindside? Gaither isn't missed, Oher and Cousins are just fine and we shoudl trade Gaither now for whatever we can.

I like the depth and versatility of our line, that much is for sure.

[sailorsam]

gud job as always Study. seems like some regression in OL play even in a big win.
we NEED max protection against Stoolers this week (hopefully Gaither is back). I predict whoever wins the qb pressure matchup wins the game.

[Rxdoxx]

I think there might be 10 starting WRs in the NFL who would have simply let their hands drop and start making flag motions after such contact.
•We didn’t see an over the shoulder grab in stride, or a WR screen, but he showed a little of everything else.

Those things are what I really look forward to finding in your analysis, Filmstudy.

Not just the stats and breakdowns, but the little insights, "color comentary" if you want to call it that.

I love finding them in your writing, thank you.

[elland]

Thanks Filmstudy.

RE: Jonboy, You have to be joking, rigth?

[Lee Van Cleef]

We didn’t see an over the shoulder grab in stride, or a WR screen, but he showed a little of everything else.

I know I'll probably get a little heat for this, but I don't think Joe quite has the recognition to make those throws just yet. Watch any game where he's successful and you'll see he makes his best throws on those intermediate routes; comebacks, outs and such. But frequently when he throws the ball deep he's slow in getting the ball out and the receiver has to hold up to make the catch. This may be a product of the receivers being slow in coming open, but it may also just be Joe not quite seeing the field yet. It's an area of his game that I'd like to see really pick up because if he can see those he's got a great arm to make the throw.

[jonboy79]

Thanks Filmstudy.

RE: Jonboy, You have to be joking, rigth?

Yes, tongue in cheek comment abotu the discussions the past two weeks that we are just as well off without Gaither and that Oher is better. I've been getting CRUCIFIED accross two boards for claiming that not only is Gaither better then Oher on the left now, but that will continue in the future.

I swear it is due exclusively to the Blindside the movie.

[effo5231]

Yes, tongue in cheek comment abotu the discussions the past two weeks that we are just as well off without Gaither and that Oher is better. I've been getting CRUCIFIED accross two boards for claiming that not only is Gaither better then Oher on the left now, but that will continue in the future.

I swear it is due exclusively to the Blindside the movie.

Gaither might be better on the left right now, but your argument that his ceiling is higher than Oher's is flawed. Oher is in all likelyhood this team's LT of the future and it is likely to be a very bright future.

If we can convince Gaither to play RT this offseason, the switch will happen then.

[Rxdoxx]

I know I'll probably get a little heat for this, but I don't think Joe quite has the recognition to make those throws just yet. Watch any game where he's successful and you'll see he makes his best throws on those intermediate routes; comebacks, outs and such. But frequently when he throws the ball deep he's slow in getting the ball out and the receiver has to hold up to make the catch. This may be a product of the receivers being slow in coming open, but it may also just be Joe not quite seeing the field yet. It's an area of his game that I'd like to see really pick up because if he can see those he's got a great arm to make the throw.

:iagree:
Don't want to take FS thread off topic, but I couldn't agree with you more.

Have seen QBs who are deadly throwing to spots and not so good hitting moving targets.
And have seen QBs who will eat you alive with comebacks and curls and their receivers seem to have to reach back a little on crossings.

Joe ain't there yet with "he can complete all the throws". He has the arm to make them all. but that lightening calculation in his head is good but not fully clicking yet. He appears better when a WR is starting to settle in a hole than when the WR flashing through the spot.
I was encouraged by what I was seeing with Kelly Washington being hit in stride at times. When Joe gets a little faster processing the info (which I'm sure is what you mean when you say 'seeing the field') we will go from having a very good QB to having one of the elite ones, moving from the ability to make all the throws to execution of killing teams by doing it.

[Thrall]

Yes, tongue in cheek comment abotu the discussions the past two weeks that we are just as well off without Gaither and that Oher is better. I've been getting CRUCIFIED accross two boards for claiming that not only is Gaither better then Oher on the left now, but that will continue in the future.

I swear it is due exclusively to the Blindside the movie.

Agreed. Gaither is better now, and will continue to be better than Oher on the left side. And I also think people want him on the left because of the movie. We finally have bookends, why would we let one go ? How often do athletic 6'9" 350 pound lineman come along ?

[Thrall]

Gaither might be better on the left right now, but your argument that his ceiling is higher than Oher's is flawed. Oher is in all likelyhood this team's LT of the future and it is likely to be a very bright future.

If we can convince Gaither to play RT this offseason, the switch will happen then.

No, your argument is flawed. Gaither is a better pass blocker, is taller, and has longer arms, if you were a mad scientist making a left tackle, Gaither is what you would build. Oher is a better run blocker, is shorter, and meaner, a perfect RT. The only way Oher plays LT for the Ravens is if Gaither is playing for someone else.

[effo5231]

No, your argument is flawed. Gaither is a better pass blocker, is taller, and has longer arms, if you were a mad scientist making a left tackle, Gaither is what you would build. Oher is a better run blocker, is shorter, and meaner, a perfect RT. The only way Oher plays LT for the Ravens is if Gaither is playing for someone else.

Whatever.... You have your opinion and jonboy's. I got mine and Jon Ogden's.

We'll see who's right soon enough so I'm not gonna bother arguing. I trust you'll admit you're dead wrong when the switch them though right?

[jonboy79]

No, your argument is flawed. Gaither is a better pass blocker, is taller, and has longer arms, if you were a mad scientist making a left tackle, Gaither is what you would build. Oher is a better run blocker, is shorter, and meaner, a perfect RT. The only way Oher plays LT for the Ravens is if Gaither is playing for someone else.

I think it's much simpler. Oher currently has superior technique, yet is not as good.
Obviously the less skilled, but physically imposing Giather has a higher ceiling then, as technique is far more "trainable" then Freakish size.

[Jeremiah W]

:iagree:
Don't want to take FS thread off topic, but I couldn't agree with you more.

Have seen QBs who are deadly throwing to spots and not so good hitting moving targets.
And have seen QBs who will eat you alive with comebacks and curls and their receivers seem to have to reach back a little on crossings.

Joe ain't there yet with "he can complete all the throws". He has the arm to make them all. but that lightening calculation in his head is good but not fully clicking yet. He appears better when a WR is starting to settle in a hole than when the WR flashing through the spot.
I was encouraged by what I was seeing with Kelly Washington being hit in stride at times. When Joe gets a little faster processing the info (which I'm sure is what you mean when you say 'seeing the field') we will go from having a very good QB to having one of the elite ones, moving from the ability to make all the throws to execution of killing teams by doing it.


I think Joe has come a long way since early last year on his deep ball placement but it still needs work. Williams is a hell of a lot easier to hit down the field than Clayton or Mason is though. With the shorter Wrs the ball pretty much needs to be perfectly placed and Joe did not seem as comfortable flaoting the ball out there for them he tried to drop it in the bucket and did not really know where it was supposed to be. The fade stop td to Mason last time vs Taylor and the pass to Williams showed me a lot of improvement and taking the coaching and practice reps seriously.

I am not sure why so many are convinced already that Oher would make a better LT than Gaither. He looks like he could pretty much make a good DT or 3-4 DE too, but I do not see him playing there unless there is a lot of injury issues.

One area where I do not doubt the coaching staff at all is on the O line.

[Thrall]

Whatever.... You have your opinion and jonboy's. I got mine and Jon Ogden's.

We'll see who's right soon enough so I'm not gonna bother arguing. I trust you'll admit you're dead wrong when the switch them though right?

When was Ogden hired as a coach ? Oh, he isn't a coach. I could care less what JO thinks. Does he have the same agant as Oher or something ? Did Gaither bang his woman ? Do you consult JO before making all your decisions, and opinions ? The only way Oher ends up at LT is if another team throws a boat load of $ at Gaither. " But the movie is called the Blind Side, he has to play LT. " :eyes:

[effo5231]

When was Ogden hired as a coach ? Oh, he isn't a coach. I could care less what JO thinks. Does he have the same agant as Oher or something ? Did Gaither bang his woman ? Do you consult JO before making all your decisions, and opinions ? The only way Oher ends up at LT is if another team throws a boat load of $ at Gaither. " But the movie is called the Blind Side, he has to play LT. " :eyes:

Yea... way to dismiss the opinion of perhaps the greatest left tackle of all time. There's NO WAY that guy knows what he's talking about... and even if he does, You DEFINITELY know more than he does right?

Talk down to me all you want, you're the one dissing the best offensive player the Ravens have ever had. That totally makes you sound smarter.


I think it's much simpler. Oher currently has superior technique, yet is not as good.
Obviously the less skilled, but physically imposing Giather has a higher ceiling then, as technique is far more "trainable" then Freakish size.

You seem to assume that Oher's superior technique is already as good as its going to be. Filmstudy's breakdown does a good job of showing that as polished as he is, Oher has a looooong way to go to reach the peak that his physical abilities allow. That is what I mean by a high ceiling. He only looks incredibly polished because he's got good technique most of the time and is physically overmatching a lot of the competition, but wait 2 years and the Oher we have then is going to make the Oher we have now look like the rookie he is. Furthermore, Michael has only been physically training to play football at a serious level for 4 years. He is only just beginning to scratch the surface of his physical ability.

PSU tried to explain this to you already and did a better job than I will, but the fact is that odds are that Gaither has much less room for improvement than Michael. He's been in the league longer, and just because you think they'll be able to teach him great technique doesn't make it so. Ask Al Davis how well that approach is working out for him, he loves drafting height weight speed specimens and hoping he can teach them technique.

[jonboy79]

You seem to assume that Oher's superior technique is already as good as its going to be. Filmstudy's breakdown does a good job of showing that as polished as he is, Oher has a looooong way to go to reach the peak that his physical abilities allow. That is what I mean by a high ceiling. He only looks incredibly polished because he's got good technique most of the time and is physically overmatching a lot of the competition, but wait 2 years and the Oher we have then is going to make the Oher we have now look like the rookie he is. Furthermore, Michael has only been physically training to play football at a serious level for 4 years. He is only just beginning to scratch the surface of his physical ability.

PSU tried to explain this to you already and did a better job than I will, but the fact is that odds are that Gaither has much less room for improvement than Michael. He's been in the league longer, and just because you think they'll be able to teach him great technique doesn't make it so. Ask Al Davis how well that approach is working out for him, he loves drafting height weight speed specimens and hoping he can teach them technique.

Yet, despite the fact that they are the same age, and Gaither is better already, that is supposed to change, why? Because Oher is supposed to improve more on his technique then Gaither? Why do you assume that will be so? It's an odd assumption if it has nothing to do with the movie.

[Jeremiah W]

Yea... way to dismiss the opinion of perhaps the greatest left tackle of all time. There's NO WAY that guy knows what he's talking about... and even if he does, You DEFINITELY know more than he does right?

Talk down to me all you want, you're the one dissing the best offensive player the Ravens have ever had. That totally makes you sound smarter.



You seem to assume that Oher's superior technique is already as good as its going to be. Filmstudy's breakdown does a good job of showing that as polished as he is, Oher has a looooong way to go to reach the peak that his physical abilities allow. That is what I mean by a high ceiling. He only looks incredibly polished because he's got good technique most of the time and is physically overmatching a lot of the competition, but wait 2 years and the Oher we have then is going to make the Oher we have now look like the rookie he is. Furthermore, Michael has only been physically training to play football at a serious level for 4 years. He is only just beginning to scratch the surface of his physical ability.

PSU tried to explain this to you already and did a better job than I will, but the fact is that odds are that Gaither has much less room for improvement than Michael. He's been in the league longer, and just because you think they'll be able to teach him great technique doesn't make it so. Ask Al Davis how well that approach is working out for him, he loves drafting height weight speed specimens and hoping he can teach them technique.

So now the coaches are wrong? PSU may crunch numbers well, but I would take Filmstudy's take on O line play or football in general 10 times out of 10 over his.

Gaither has not gotten enough credit for the job he has done at LT and Oher has gotten too much. I guess the draft status always affects perception, but the coaching staff clearly has a lot more confidence in Gaither than many of the fans do.

If J.O. was our O line coach, maybe he would make the swap, but Matsko has been almost a miracle worker with our O line and if he thinks Gaither has what it takes, how is that not good enough for you?

RT is no longer a spot you can get away with filling with a big body. You need an athlete like Oher over there to matchup with 3-4 edge rushers and 4-3 guys like Mathis. Too many teams either have book end rushers in a 4-3 or 3-4 to leave a lumbering RT out there 1 on 1, but they also have to be able down block on DTs or take them on heads up like a traditional power player.

This is not a real issue, and even if it was it is a great problem to have. Gaither has played very well at LT, so unless he is hurt, there is no reason to move them any more than they already do with the unbalanced looks.

[sailorsam]

Gaither has 2 yrs nfl exp.
win/win whomever plays where. just hope we can keeps them both.

[jonboy79]

Gaither has 2 yrs nfl exp.
win/win whomever plays where. just hope we can keeps them both.

And Oher had a full HS and College career(and before) and Gaither had VERY limited pre- NFL coaching.

Maybe Gaither understands the NFL game better then Oher(as would seem apparent) but Oher understands the nuances of lecerage and hand fight much better. There is plenty of reason to believe that both will continue to improve.