O-line blocking schemes

[Tidewater]

Got a question on o-line blocking schemes.

I was watching Bama-OU from last year and this really befuddles me.
Let me set the stage. This was the last play of the 3rd quarter against OU. Bama down 24-3, but driving.
2nd and 2 on the OU 34 yard line.
Bama and OU line up like this:

OU has three guys with hands ion the dirt, 3 LB and and outside LB/pass rusher. 2 corners and 2 safeties.
On the snap, Bama's left receiver (#18) runs a post (He was open). The left flanker (#5) runs to the left flat. The outside LB goes with him. The right wide receiver (#2) runs a post or a deep crossing route.
This is where it gets weird, line blocking.

On the snap, OU has three rushers, all who started with their hands in the dirt.
Bama's right tackle, right guard and center triple team the OU left defensive tackle. Bama's left tackle and left guard reach block (!?) the OU nose. Nobody blocks the OU right defensive tackle until Jam MIller steps up and tries to block him (with limited success because the defensive lineman outweighs him by 100 pounds).
The Bama TE (#80) blocks no one, but he has to be there in case the OU outside rusher comes. The outside rusher goes to the flat to cover Germie Bernard, so the TE ends up blocking no one. Not much else he could do, but the OU defensive tackle is unblocked until Jam tries to block him.
QB feels the pressure, dumps the ball out of bounds.
My question is do we really want the left tackle reach blocking a Nose lined up between the right guard and the center? Why triple team the defensive left end, but leave the right end unblocked?
This was typical of how discombobulated Bama was all night.

 

[MikeInBama]

 

[Tidewater]

Thanks.
I was just curious whether Proctor and the left guard made a mistake, or this was intentional.
Having the left tackle and left guard ignore the defensive tackle llined up between them and block a nose guard lined up between the center and the right guard strikes me as odd.
I would love to have been in the film room on Sunday asking Proctor, "Who did you think was going to block that guy?"

 

[stlimprov]

Noticed:
-The play before that one we run a trick screen, as if one counter for direct pressure wasn't enough.
-I wondered if the TE could actually be a screen or fake screen option here, but he turns around as if he's more concerned about the block that didn't happen.
-There's not visual indication of protection adjustments at the line of scrimmage, nor really time. (A guard points to his wrist moving to the LOS.) I figured maybe someone called a shift into where we already had numbers up, but it doesn't look like it. I then wondered if the first option on this could be QB running something like a sweep to the right, but the OL are pass protecting the whole way.

I suspect that it was a common issue that we couldn't get 11 guys running the same play.

 

[Tidewater]

Noticed:
-The play before that one we run a trick screen, as if one counter for direct pressure wasn't enough.
-I wondered if the TE could actually be a screen or fake screen option here, but he turns around as if he's more concerned about the block that didn't happen.
-There's not visual indication of protection adjustments at the line of scrimmage, nor really time. (A guard points to his wrist moving to the LOS.) I figured maybe someone called a shift into where we already had numbers up, but it doesn't look like it. I then wondered if the first option on this could be QB running something like a sweep to the right, but the OL are pass protecting the whole way.

I suspect that it was a common issue that we couldn't get 11 guys running the same play.

Your analysis seems correct.

For the play that was called, it seems like a blocking scheme like this would have been simpler and more apppropriate:

I admit, I am not a coach, butbut it seems that sometimes the coaching staff, especially the oline blocking schemes, get too clever by half. The net result was a deep passing play (which was there is the attempt could have been made) while leaving the DT unblocked.

 

[NoNC4Tubs]

TBF, Milroe was tipping the play call off by his stance, so the defense could show us one thing and immediately put themselves in the right position to make the play...

 

[gtgilbert]

Your analysis seems correct.

For the play that was called, it seems like a blocking scheme like this would have been simpler and more apppropriate:
View attachment 51912
I admit, I am not a coach, butbut it seems that sometimes the coaching staff, especially the oline blocming schemes, get too clever by half. The net result was a deep passing play (which was there is the attempt could have been made) while leaving the DT unblocked.

I would hypothesize that this mistake, on this play, is not on the coaching staff and is a player execution issue. While that type of protection would certainly be part of the over all scheme, that level of detail typically gets called on the field once the defense is aligned and the O can see if the D is overloaded to one side or has a player that requires being doubled. If that slide was called, it was called on the field. Typically would be the QB working with the OC to call the shifts (over 1, over 2). It's either that or Proctor, and potentially, Booker, screwed up in a big way. The OC was sliding right, which leads me to think it was an adjustment problem called at the line since it wasn't just the LT and LG doing mysterious things.

 

[Tidewater]

I would hypothesize that this mistake, on this play, is not on the coaching staff and is a player execution issue. While that type of protection would certainly be part of the over all scheme, that level of detail typically gets called on the field once the defense is aligned and the O can see if the D is overloaded to one side or has a player that requires being doubled. If that slide was called, it was called on the field. Typically would be the QB working with the OC to call the shifts (over 1, over 2). It's either that or Proctor, and potentially, Booker, screwed up in a big way. The OC was sliding right, which leads me to think it was an adjustment problem called at the line since it wasn't just the LT and LG doing mysterious things.

Thanks for that explanation.
George Patton said, "a simple plan violently executed today beats a more complicated plan that takes months and months to execute."
Something similar might apply here. "Block the man lined up closest to you, and it there is no one, look for the nearest linebacker coming."

 

[4Q Basket Case]

This is an outstanding examination of what is clearly a mistake.....the only question is who made it.

With the information about the OL pointing to his wrist indicating a play clock about to run out, it looks like several things came together:
- The play's late getting in, which is why the guard is signalling time running out.
- Everybody knows we can't afford a DOG penalty, so they're trying so hard to get the snap off that blocking calls don't get the consideration the need. So....
- Somebody (QB or Center) didn't get the right adjustments called. Or maybe time was so short that there were no adjustments at all. Or....
- The LT and / or LG simply messed up.

We made plenty of blocking breakdowns during the season. So even if we'd had more time after breaking the huddle, there's still no guarantee that all would have been different. But it looks both coaches and players had their share of blame.

 

[Tidewater]

This is an outstanding examination of what is clearly a mistake.....the only question is who made it.

With the information about the OL pointing to his wrist indicating a play clock about to run out, it looks like several things came together:
- The play's late getting in, which is why the guard is signalling time running out.
- Everybody knows we can't afford a DOG penalty, so they're trying so hard to get the snap off that blocking calls don't get the consideration the need. So....
- Somebody (QB or Center) didn't get the right adjustments called. Or maybe time was so short that there were no adjustments at all. Or....
- The LT and / or LG simply messed up.

We made plenty of blocking breakdowns during the season. So even if we'd had more time after breaking the huddle, there's still no guarantee that all would have been different. But it looks both coaches and players had their share of blame.

Thanks. I agree.
For the record, even if Alabama had scored the touchdown on that play, Bama would still be down 2 TDs with a quarter to play so this probably did not change anything.

 

[MikeInBama]

I don't know if we have the personal and/or coaches for it now but it would be nice to dominate road games like we did circa 2015:
@#8 UGA won 38-10
@#9 Texas A&M won 41-23
@#17 MS State won 31-6
@Auburn(6-5) won 29-13

It'd also be nice to deny Auburn a 7th win in the regular season

 

[stlimprov]

It is an interesting example because it pretty much sums up the season: less than the sum of it's parts.

 

[Coach D]

Oline has made mistakes like this for years and even with BY at qb. Coaching has been poor along with players at the position. One reason I was very hopeful for a new coach there and well also for the DL.

 

[gtgilbert]

This is an outstanding examination of what is clearly a mistake.....the only question is who made it.

With the information about the OL pointing to his wrist indicating a play clock about to run out, it looks like several things came together:
- The play's late getting in, which is why the guard is signalling time running out.
- Everybody knows we can't afford a DOG penalty, so they're trying so hard to get the snap off that blocking calls don't get the consideration the need. So....
- Somebody (QB or Center) didn't get the right adjustments called. Or maybe time was so short that there were no adjustments at all. Or....
- The LT and / or LG simply messed up.

We made plenty of blocking breakdowns during the season. So even if we'd had more time after breaking the huddle, there's still no guarantee that all would have been different. But it looks both coaches and players had their share of blame.

but there was no play clock and the clock was not moving at the time. the only clock was to the end of the quarter. We were coming off a clock stoppage from the D having a player injured. The play had been with the guys on the field for a quite a while before they ever moved to the line and the clock was not going to start until the ref signaled ready for play. The players had all the time they needed - or at least should have. We literally snapped the ball immediately as the clock started without any time running off. If for some reason the players were not ready b/c of something they saw in the alignment they couldn't get adjusted to in 5 seconds then the smart thing to do would have been to NOT snap the ball and just wait till the start of the 4th instead of wasting a down. This was 100% a player debacle...

 

[uaintn]

It is just incomprehensible to me. Thanks for the analysis. All the “explanations” that occur to me are of the wild-eyed conspiracy nature.

 

[4Q Basket Case]

but there was no play clock and the clock was not moving at the time. the only clock was to the end of the quarter. We were coming off a clock stoppage from the D having a player injured. The play had been with the guys on the field for a quite a while before they ever moved to the line and the clock was not going to start until the ref signaled ready for play. The players had all the time they needed - or at least should have. We literally snapped the ball immediately as the clock started without any time running off. If for some reason the players were not ready b/c of something they saw in the alignment they couldn't get adjusted to in 5 seconds then the smart thing to do would have been to NOT snap the ball and just wait till the start of the 4th instead of wasting a down. This was 100% a player debacle...

And that's what makes this board so great. Thanks so much, gt.

I do have to wonder how two players of that caliber messed up so bad on the same play. But I appreciate you narrowing down the issue.

 

[dtgreg]

but there was no play clock and the clock was not moving at the time. the only clock was to the end of the quarter. We were coming off a clock stoppage from the D having a player injured. The play had been with the guys on the field for a quite a while before they ever moved to the line and the clock was not going to start until the ref signaled ready for play. The players had all the time they needed - or at least should have. We literally snapped the ball immediately as the clock started without any time running off. If for some reason the players were not ready b/c of something they saw in the alignment they couldn't get adjusted to in 5 seconds then the smart thing to do would have been to NOT snap the ball and just wait till the start of the 4th instead of wasting a down. This was 100% a player debacle...

But the players didn't put themselves in the game. Although that's what's been floated for last year. I'll give the staff a first-year mulligan. No more.

 

[Tidewater]

And that's what makes this board so great. Thanks so much, gt.

I do have to wonder how two players of that caliber messed up so bad on the same play. But I appreciate you narrowing down the issue.

I guess they are just human, prone to mistakes.
Still, I would not discount the virtues of a simple blocking scheme sometimes.

 

[gtgilbert]

And that's what makes this board so great. Thanks so much, gt.

I do have to wonder how two players of that caliber messed up so bad on the same play. But I appreciate you narrowing down the issue.

Its very likely someone other than those two made a call in error. Either the center or QB made the wrong call, or they made a call for a single slide, and it was misunderstood or communicated wrong by Booker out to proctor.

 

[BamaMoon]

Isn't Grubb supposed to be noted for impacting the OL as well as play calling? IIRC, we had a discussion about his influence, likely causing the OL to be meaner/better.

In this case, hopefully smarter too!