Sunday, August 5, 2018

Gregg Williams' Scheme, Ogunjobi, and yes, More Josh Gordon

I stand corrected.  In this article about Larry Ogunjobi by Dan Labbe, Dan talked about how Larry was working at nose tackle, and I got ready to inform him that Gregg Williams isn't using nose tackles in the 4-3 again.

Then, as I read on, Larry and Clyde Simmons talked about Ogunjobi working at "nose". Unlike a lot of people, I admit when I am wr...wrroo...incorrect.

I had thought that Gregg was running a conventional 4-man front which has the "over" tackle shaded inside the right guard (and I still think he might have done that in 2017).

But that "nose" designation puts the left inside down lineman (probably) as a "one technique", on the guard's right shoulder.

This explains some things, including Jamie Meder currently starting there.

I like it!  A lot of teams use the center to chip a defensive tackle and then target a linebacker in space on runs. Centers tend to be athletic, and are often smaller and less powerful than guards.

Williams is keeping the center off the linebackers, and also trying to overpower him vs the pass (looking for a mismatch).

Naturally, the right guard can "broadside" the nose to seal him off from the strong side on runs, or else go linebacker-hunting himself, but in today's NFL, right guards tend to be ponderous drive-blockers.  They can pull and run a pre-scripted "route" to lead-block, but they don't generally adjust well in space when they're not sure where the running back is.  

The right guard can also make sure the defensive end on his side can't cross the right tackle's face and come inside, or even rotate back behind the right tackle to free him up and "ride" the end wide...

Uh sorry.  I listen to Pat Kirwan too much.

Anyway this alignment seems to open up a big gap in the defensive line, with one guy at one, and the right defensive end at five (outside the right tackle's right shoulder), but of course the linebackers and safeties know all about that.

If you see a nice, inviting soft spot in a Gregg Williams front, you should probably do the opposite of what you want to do.

Besides, now I know why Gregg has been so fixated on defensive ends who can line up "inside". Ogbah (or whoever rotates in), will probably set up on the right tackle's left shoulder a lot...dayumm...

Nobody runs a scheme like this!  It's like 3-4 and 4-3 tossed into a blender!

I can hardly begin to unravel this.  It's like what happens in the box where I stash my connectors and wires.  

Ok but all four defensive linemen (including the nose) attack and seek penetration; no two-gapping "read and react" stuff.

That's kind of obvious with Ogbah, Garrett, Brantley, Ogunjobi, Nassib et al.

I'm getting into the weeds here again skip it.

Anyway Ogunjobi is working with a couple superstars to learn the ropes, and is working at both nose and 3-tech.

With all due respect to Labbe, Larry ranked high last season vs the pass as well as the run per PFF, and is first and foremost a quick-twitch explosive penetrator ideally suited to the 3-technique "under" spot here.

I can't take the latest depth chart too seriously.  Regardless of who starts, Ogunjobi will play a whole lot.

As I've said before, Larry can play both inside positions.  I'll take a 300 pounder with 6% bodyfat over a Danny Shelton every day of the week (twice on sundays).

Some comments by Hue Jackson on the Bitonio-Corbett duo were informative for those of us who listen:

Hue was really impressed by how they handled some "twists" (and stuff). Slang aside, they're already stifling stunts (by Myles Garrett, among others), which is indeed downright amazing.

Not so much for Bitonio, but Corbett never played inside in college.  

...okay see the left guard is tied up with his defensive tackle, and rarely sees a defensive end sneaking around behind the guy he's blocking.

But when Corbett sees Bitonio engaging his guy, he instantly disengages (with a final shove) and slides right to intercept Garrett (or whoever).

Of course, Bitonio is also probably yelling stuff at him, but still, Corbett is not playing like a rookie at all.

As for Bitonio, he has the mental part of left tackle down already (no surprise).  I still expect opposing defenses to just try to outsprint him outside, and burn him outside if he doesn't have tight end help.

That's not the disaster that some spoiled Joe Thomas fans think it is, because when a defense commits an edge-rusher like that, it's exploitable, and Todd Haley has the skill talent here to burn it, consistently.

If the "twists" don't work on the left side, opposing defenses will have to go around Bitonio...predictably.  

I probably screwed up again (see last post) on the Bitonio to left tackle move.  It's way too early to settle this bet, but right now it looks like it should work (see several earlier posts: MOST of the playoff/Superbowl teams in the last five years have not had a left tackle in Joe Thomas's time zone).

A lot of people resent how the team is "coddling" Josh Gordon, and feel it's setting a bad example, etc.

I hear that.  I really do.

But Josh Gordon is a proven game-breaking superstar, and business is business. The risk here is the last roster spot, and the reward is several Superbowls.  However you feel about this, the Browns are doing the only rational thing with him.

See last (and other) posts: Dorsey might have used this as an excuse to get younger wide receivers more reps, etc: If you're too pissed off to see the logic here, you need to be sedated.

Josh's actual prognosis is anxiety disorder.  He is not (neccessarily) prone to addiction.  This is why he used every drug in the book (without preference) to escape reality.

He was never physically addicted to anything.  His issue was exclusively psychological.

His prognosis is good.  His being in Gainesville instead of here is good. The Browns' cutting him slack is common sense.

Business is business.  Josh's teammates (including the other wide receivers) get it.  Raise hell over what Morton Downey Jr got paid for his last movie all you want, but you watched it, didn't you?

Business is business.

And you know what?  Josh Gordon is a good person!  A nice guy!  And he EARNED all this!

Raise hell with God for not giving you those genes if you want, or making life so unfair, but you buy the tickets and watch the games, and you can't wait to see Josh Gordon, right?  Right?

Business is business, and it is what it is.

Think with your brain.


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