Blitz blocking question
There is a post in the Football 101 thread that raises an issue I wondered about during the game. On the blitz/sack/fumble/TD, Khalid Hill ran right by the blitzing corner. My first thought was that he should have seen the blitz and blocked. My second thought was that Hill was then all by himself in the flat that the blitzer had vacated and maybe going to the empty area was the right thing to do. So my question is, did Speight miss reading the blitz or did Hill miss blocking it?
September 21st, 2016 at 2:12 PM ^
Why do the two have to be mutually exclusive?
September 21st, 2016 at 2:13 PM ^
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September 21st, 2016 at 2:22 PM ^
Trying to make his way home for example?
Is that what you're asking?
September 21st, 2016 at 2:30 PM ^
Just a stranger on the bus, not wearing any pants...
September 21st, 2016 at 2:32 PM ^
Readers of this blog under 21 have no clue what we are talking about.
September 21st, 2016 at 2:45 PM ^
September 21st, 2016 at 2:40 PM ^
If so, I can recommend a guy. (No pants required.)
September 21st, 2016 at 2:33 PM ^
I thought he was a slob like one of us?
September 21st, 2016 at 2:42 PM ^
September 21st, 2016 at 3:16 PM ^
*Except the Pope maybe in Rome.
September 22nd, 2016 at 6:15 AM ^
September 21st, 2016 at 2:13 PM ^
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September 21st, 2016 at 2:32 PM ^
Chipped him...on the shoulder? Is this a new Dantonio strategy???
September 21st, 2016 at 3:22 PM ^
Come pre-chipped.
September 21st, 2016 at 2:15 PM ^
Best case is probably to have Hill chip the guy to slow him up, then roll out into the flat. The gives Speight more time to react, and probably keeps Speight from getting hurt/fumbling on that play if the corner does make a hit after a chip.
September 21st, 2016 at 2:21 PM ^
Hill was lined up on Speight's right. He ran right by the blitzing DB to get to the flat. He needed to disrupt that guy, then move into the flat.
I still don't know what Smith was doing though. He chipped the end and then turned around as if he was a safety valve. Maybe he was supposed to slide over and pick up the blitzer.
September 21st, 2016 at 2:24 PM ^
I think you may want Hill to disrupt him, not sure, but unless Hill completely missed his assignment, I'm guessing that Smith was supposed to read that blitz and move over to block.
September 21st, 2016 at 2:37 PM ^
It wasn't an immediate release into a route, so both obviously had blocking responsibilities before releasing. It looked to me like Hill had responsibility off the right side of the line and missed the blitz because his eyes stayed inside instead of going inside-out. Smith then likely has 7th potential player coming somewhere from the middle, inside of Hill. I should add, there isn't really a scenario where Hill is "chipping". He's either blocking and keeps blocking or he's releasing. Smith may chip to help out Mags before releasing, but if a free man is coming through, those guys are blocking.
Hill blocks then releases into the flat, Smith is supposed to block, then curl to the middle of the field and be a checkdown option. Harbaugh uses that release quite often. Saw a lot of it in his time at Stanford especially.
September 21st, 2016 at 2:41 PM ^
I just don't know. Hill appears to be looking at the end or the Mike.
Smith took a weak fake handoff and goes to chip that same end Hill might have peaked at.
Darboh hesitates off the line at the snap. I don't know if he got the snap count wrong or was surprised the DB knifed it.
And lastly, Speight never even looked over to the right. He didn't listen to Matt Millen and see the stacked DBs. A dead giveaway, accoring the the all-knowing former GM.
It was just a screw up all around that luckily didn't kill us and hopefully taught us a lesson.
September 21st, 2016 at 2:42 PM ^
But there's no way Hill isn't responsible for the CB here. The slide takes care of the 3 DL, the OL that drops, and the MIKE. That leaves Smitha nd Hill for teh WILL and CB. Often times, they have multiple responsibilities based on the blitz, like Hill may have WILL/CB and Smith MIKE/WILL, but I don't see a scenario here where Hill chips then releases in the flat, particularly with the CB coming off the edge.
September 21st, 2016 at 2:49 PM ^
I agree. I think Hill made a mistake.
September 21st, 2016 at 2:26 PM ^
its an ironclad rule that a running back never vacates the backfield if he sees the blitz coming. Even if that's not true 100% of the time, with a relatively new quarterback it makes sense. I wonder if part of the problem was that both Deveon and Khalid were in a position to pick up the blitz. Maybe each thought it was the other's responsibiliy?
September 21st, 2016 at 2:29 PM ^
But those would be immediate releases (or a screen), and this wasn't that. Hill stepped up, delayed, and then released. In the case of a blitz, this doesn't get him to the void before the blitzer gets to the QB, so it doesn't make sense. He had a blitz pickup responsibility and likely missed it because he was trained that the primary threat was inside (he needs to make sure no one comes between Mags and him) and didn't see the CB coming off the edge.
You'd like to see Speight notice the defensive alignment pre-snap, as CU was tipping that blitz, and neither Hill nor Speight saw it coming.
September 21st, 2016 at 2:32 PM ^
I was just about to post what he said. He also said this play was a slide protection to the left, meaning the OL slid to the left leaving Deveon and Hill as the backside blockers. According to Marcus, the hot read was on the left and not where Khalid was going.
I was thinking that Hill reverted back to his TE days for a play. If the TE is going out for a pass, he is going out for a pass. In this case, as the FB, his top priority was the blocking. Probably just a brain fart on his part.
September 21st, 2016 at 2:39 PM ^
So there really shouldn't have to be a hot read. There may be a quicker route, but there really isn't a need to have a hot throw in place because you have 7 guys in there to block. The defense would have to bring 8 to actually require a hot throw, which would be more obvious based on D alignment, which is why Speight wasn't even looking to throw hot (he shouldn't have been, though you'd like to see him more aware of the blitz coming).
September 21st, 2016 at 2:49 PM ^
Yeah, Speight's eye action is a key indicator for me. Hill isn't a "hot read" because Speight hasn't called for a hot read and looked for it. He was looking left. With no hot read audible called (and I don't think the current offense includes audibles like that, generally) Hill cannot be expecting the hot dump pass that one would expect if his route was a response to the blitzer he just missed.
He needed to pick up the blitzer.
My first thought when I watch the initial replay is that Hill had to run the primary route, but Speight is clearly making reads away from him as he is deploying to the flat. Hill was a safety valve at best, the sort of safety valve that peals out if and only if he is not responsible to block a man.
Which he was.
September 21st, 2016 at 3:08 PM ^
There are audibles, which change the play, and then there are hot reads. Generally, hot reads require the WR to break off his nominal route and go into a quicker route, which the QB will also read and throw. Another option is to have a built in hot, which is simply a quicker route that the QB can throw in the event he is pressured. But it isn't a pre-snap audible, it's something that's either built in or done post-snap.
Harbaugh has utilized both (the classic way in a WCO is to have hot adjustments, but Harbaugh utilized built in hots while in San Fran). But a 7 man protection shouldn't require a hot. That's a reason to have a 7 man protection, it limits the number of things the QB has to read and do on the fly. This is what I tried to indicate when people kept complaining about Borges running 7 man schemes rather than spreading things out. There is an advantage to spreading things out, it does tip the defense's hand to a degree, but it requires the QB to make more reads, something Borges didn't want DG to have to do. Harbaugh, to a large degree, is attempting to do the same thing with Speight right now (there are circumstances where he isn't, typically with quicker concepts that get the ball out immediately).
September 21st, 2016 at 3:30 PM ^
I think we are talking past each other. My point is that Speight was not adjusting his action to the blitz on the play because he clearly wasn't supposed to, and that Hill could not have been a hot read (the only possible excuse for not blocking Awuzie) based on where Speight's read began.
Good point about the difference between hot reads and audibles. I was speculating on uncertainty in that area, but the meat of my point is that the play as designed appeared to obviate the need for such activity. Presumably by calling for a seven man protection, as you said. And thus the actions of Speight make it clear that Hill was the one who failed to execute properly.
September 21st, 2016 at 3:35 PM ^
Agree, Speight is not looking for Hill to be a hot read, as you said. So that's another part of the evidence against that being a possibility.
September 21st, 2016 at 2:32 PM ^
Moved
September 21st, 2016 at 2:42 PM ^
Since we are on topic (kinda) I have been thinking about educating myself on the basics of football coaching/strategy. I have been in the coaching profession for quite sometime (soccer) and I would enjoy expanding my knowldge of other sports especially football.
Is there a book/website/podcast etc etc that you guys would suggest.
September 21st, 2016 at 2:48 PM ^
I can't speak for others but the vast majority of what I learned was from playing, then coaching grade school, then high school. There are endless opinions on strategies, formations, fronts, coverages, marrying coverages to the fronts (TCU), etc., etc..
The bottom line is, volunteer at the youth or high school level. Get with someone who has had success and longevity. Don't get with a screamer, or someone who coaches 7th grade football who thinks his next gig is UofM. Basics, man. Keep it simple. Gap integrity. Cover 2. Have your linebackers read their guard.
September 21st, 2016 at 3:02 PM ^
I've been asked the question a number of times, I've tried to do some of it on my blog (fairly unsuccessfully) as have a lot of other places. But it's all scattered. There isn't really a good book that goes into the basics, probably because it unravels rather quickly.
The easiet way to learn it is to play and coach. Once you have that foundation, getting more in depth is fairly easy. But it's getting that foundation that is difficult, and certainly I learned most by playing and coaching.
September 21st, 2016 at 3:35 PM ^
One of those things that I will always regret not playing football past the 8th grade. My high school team was good too making it to two consecutive state finals.
Unfortunately playing at my age and fitness level is out of the question, my knees hurt thinking about it.
I do appreciate the reponse though.
September 21st, 2016 at 3:04 PM ^
and Advanced Smart Football, by Chris Brown. They're fantastic. I would also start by throwing yourself into it. Coach youth football and force yourself to grow.
September 21st, 2016 at 3:37 PM ^
I am hoping that the little one will enjoy football so I can coach him but it is still a couple of years off.
I will look into what you mentioned
September 21st, 2016 at 8:25 PM ^
Check out books like "Offensive Football Strategies" and "Defensive Football Strategies" by the American Football Coaches Association. Then I would suggest trying to help out with a youth league or middle school team. Things are so simplified there and often they're so in need of help that you can step in without a great deal of knowledge, learn things on the fly, and expand your knowledge.
The best way to learn is by jumping in and doing it yourself.
September 22nd, 2016 at 1:50 AM ^
Smart Football is pretty interesting stuff, but tends to be too esoteric for what you want to do. Ditto for strategies and schemes, etc. in the AFCA and COY manuals, though they do have some good articles on coaching philosophy and organization, etc.
One book I would seriously recommend starting out with was co-written by former Syracuse and UConn coach Paul Pasqualoni and :
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-baffled-parents-guide-to-coaching-y…
It's not very long, but it does a really nice job covering the basics, yet doesn't dumb things down too much either. I even picked up a drill or two from it for older players. It's what you need to get started.
There are several other longer and more comprehensive ones, such as:
http://www.ayfcoaching.com/ayf-all-products/ayf-all-products/the-coachi…
Another one by Tom Flores, and many more. Read more than one. But don't get overwhelmed, and DON"T OVERWHELM the kids. Take your own ego out of it. I would recommend the Pasqualoni one to start.
For websites go to:
http://usafootball.com/
September 21st, 2016 at 2:46 PM ^
tough to know without being certain of the calls on the field.
hill couldve been right, maybe he was hot and expected a slide or the RB to pick up (though if i recall the play correctly based on initial viewing, i dont recall hill immediately turning to look for the ball - and if hes bypassing a rusher to hit the flat, he needs to snap his head around for a hot ball).
obviously there was a big time miscommunication (the type of thing that cant happen in big games down the line), but its tough to know whos at fault without knowing the calls. could be 1 guy off script or multiple parties could be in error. bottom line - QB, OL and the backs / ends must be on the same page in terms of identifying, communicating and executing
September 21st, 2016 at 2:47 PM ^
Hill isn't the hot route on that blitz. The wide out that the blitzing inside corner was lined up over is the hot route.
Hill's route to me looks like a block the edge and if nobody is there release into the flat. Later in the game when they ran that blizt I recall the back picking it up and not releasing into the flat.
September 21st, 2016 at 3:02 PM ^
on the play. Some plays have automatic dump offs to the running backs in case of a blitz like that. It's hard to say without the play, but I'm going to assume it was Hill, because of how oblivious Speight seemed to it.
September 21st, 2016 at 3:31 PM ^
BTW I upvoted this because it's a technical, on-field football question, something I think this board does very well and something that I hope we continue to see a lot of. The last couple of days have featured several good technical football discussions.
There's a place for the fluff stuff and I don't object to it, but one of the best features of this blog is that people talk actual on-field football. And this is an example of it.
September 21st, 2016 at 6:35 PM ^
September 21st, 2016 at 7:07 PM ^
If you want to know football, volunteer at the local level, even if you don't have a son on the team. You'll be surprised at what you will pick up. While coaching at this level - never thought I'd move on - just wanted to give my son and his future h.s. teammates a good understanding, I was surprised at how many questions I received from other volunteer coaches on a variety of football questions they were unsure of. How to seal the outside for sweeps - many were unaware of using skill positions flanked out to take care of DEs and OLBs while bringin OLmen around to lead. Some were unsure of even more basics like rules - how far can my OLmen go downfield w/o receiving illegal man downfield penalties. One question will open up a conversation that will lead to many more questions and answers.
And if you're wondering about not having sufficient knowledge to volunteer, that is not a problem in the least. That's what you are there for, to help the kids and you will learn what you set out to learn. I always hated fans in the stands who would voice their opinions on non-paid coaches. I am not the only one who feels an unpaid volunteer is worth three loud moths in the stands, regardless of whether they know the game or not.
Weis always bragged about his "schematic advantages" or some such bullshit. But if you've watched the Pats over the years, it is obvious all OCs use the offensive philosophy that Belichick made a part of that team when he took over. There is going to be nothing new incorporated unless he checks off on it.
Locally, we had a long-time Head Coach at the Class CC division inducted into the Coaching Hall of Fame and he never played a down of football. In fact, he was the mascot for the Muskegon Big Reds while in high school. He would have never received that coaching gig though if he hadn't started by volunteering at the youth level, going to countless clinics on his own dime, etc. BTW, he won multiple state championships. And just as an aside, you already know a hell of a lot more football than you think you do. You might not be aware of the football vocabulary but you already know to watch the guards on running plays, keep gap integrity in all aspects including STs, how to determine the hot read etc. And yes, on that play if Wilton has surveyed the entire field prior to the snap he would have called for an adjustment. Good news is, under Harbaugh he won't make that mistake twice. He's just a baby as to football experience.
September 21st, 2016 at 7:08 PM ^
If you want to know football, volunteer at the local level, even if you don't have a son on the team. You'll be surprised at what you will pick up. While coaching at this level - never thought I'd move on - just wanted to give my son and his future h.s. teammates a good understanding, I was surprised at how many questions I received from other volunteer coaches on a variety of football questions they were unsure of. How to seal the outside for sweeps - many were unaware of using skill positions flanked out to take care of DEs and OLBs while bringin OLmen around to lead. Some were unsure of even more basics like rules - how far can my OLmen go downfield w/o receiving illegal man downfield penalties. One question will open up a conversation that will lead to many more questions and answers.
And if you're wondering about not having sufficient knowledge to volunteer, that is not a problem in the least. That's what you are there for, to help the kids and you will learn what you set out to learn. I always hated fans in the stands who would voice their opinions on non-paid coaches. I am not the only one who feels an unpaid volunteer is worth three loud moths in the stands, regardless of whether they know the game or not.
Weis always bragged about his "schematic advantages" or some such bullshit. But if you've watched the Pats over the years, it is obvious all OCs use the offensive philosophy that Belichick made a part of that team when he took over. There is going to be nothing new incorporated unless he checks off on it.
Locally, we had a long-time Head Coach at the Class CC division inducted into the Coaching Hall of Fame and he never played a down of football. In fact, he was the mascot for the Muskegon Big Reds while in high school. He would have never received that coaching gig though if he hadn't started by volunteering at the youth level, going to countless clinics on his own dime, etc. BTW, he won multiple state championships. And just as an aside, you already know a hell of a lot more football than you think you do. You might not be aware of the football vocabulary but you already know to watch the guards on running plays, keep gap integrity in all aspects including STs, how to determine the hot read etc. And yes, on that play if Wilton has surveyed the entire field prior to the snap he would have called for an adjustment. Good news is, under Harbaugh he won't make that mistake twice. He's just a baby as to football experience.
September 22nd, 2016 at 1:22 AM ^
Looked like Hill did not have a free release- he was supposed to check rushers not accounted for by the OL- i.e, blitzers- inside-out, before releasing to the flat. He checked the LB (inside), not coming, but thought, "Cool, I'm gonna release to the flat, and look at all that space..." Uh-oh, Forget to check the rush outside.