Amoeba Front - Miami Dolphins 2020

Call this front by any name. Miami has been running it fairly often, particularly as a 3rd down passing defense. In week 10 vs the Broncos, Miami called this 6 times, 5 of 6 on 3rd downs. 

Results of this call are:

1 INT

2 PBU

2 Allowed First Downs

1 Tackle short of the 1st

This front works well vs the pass thanks to the constant movement and shifting causing uncertainty in the QB and OL pass blocking call.

Typically Miami has their standard pass rushers in and does send them, but there is the possibility to run very light packages like the dollar to further hide who is coming and who is dropping. 

The dolphins often will run line twists or looping blitzes with this front, as well as overloading a single side of the line. 

The ability to drop or rush from various locations also lends itself to many different easily disguised coverages. 

1. 3rd&10, 1st quarter, INT

DOLLAR personnel. 4man rush, with a strong addon (sam-aligned player). Looks like a C3 variant. 

2. 3rd&9, 1st quarter, PBU

DIME personnel. 5man rush with strong addon (sam loops inside-out). C1 spy. 

3. 3rd&10, 1st quarter, 12yd scramble

QUARTER personnel. 4man rush, 3 strong. 3 deep 4 under. 

4. 3rd&5, 2nd quarter, 4yds

DIME personnel. 4man rush, strong slot blitz. C1 robber. 

5. 3rd&3, 3rd quarter, 15yd quick out

DIME personnel. 4man rush. C1 spy. 

6. 3rd&8, 3rd quarter, PBU

DIME personnel. 5man rush, Mike addon. C1 robber. 

Miami Dolphins - Run Fits - Quick Notes

2020 Week 11, vs Denver Broncos

In this writeup, we are taking a look at how Miami used their DBs in the run fit. 

This is primarily in their 3-3-5, with OLBs on the line presenting a 5man front and SS in the box to the strength with the Nickle close to the box on the backside. The only LB not on the LOS is the Mike. 

This is not only snaps from this alignment. Also not all snaps in the game from this alignment.

Miami DBs have good impact when playing downhill between the tackles, getting to their gap, finding the ball carrier, and securing tackles. Miami's nose tackle in these plays also has very good impact. 

Problems begin to arise when the ball carrier takes an outside path, with lead blockers taking on the edge. 

See film cutups at the bottom of the page.

SOLID FITS

1. 

Mike is making the Nose right, with nose playing either A gap. The nose shows his helmet to the left, forcing the ball carrier to the right and then shedding the Center and getting hands on the ball carrier.

The blitzing down safety to the strength meets the ball carrier in the hole, beating WR insert block to the inside.

2. 

The Nickle to the backside plays patiently in the run, since the backside is fully gapped out and he is a +1. When the ball carrier heads to his side, the Nickle triggers down and meets the HB in the hole. 

Like the prior play, the Nose is staying square on the Center and threatening both A gaps. Nose shows his helmet to the right in the strongside A gap, and after the ball carrier bounces to the backside A gap the Nose sheds his man and again gets to the ball carrier at the line. 

3. 

TE meant to come up off his playside double and pick up #21 misses his block. #21 makes the tackle at the line. 

MISSED FITS

4. 

Double fold blocks with the Center pull here gives a +1 to the playside for the offense. Due to the front, there are no defenders able to adjust to the center pull.

Down safety #21 following TE motion is the target of the Center pull, and does get kicked out of the picture leading to an explosive run. 

5. 

TE forces #44 to go under the block, taking him behind the ball carrier. #53 gets kicked wide.

Down safety #21 gets over the crack block untouched, but gets beaten to the sideline for an explosive run. CB to the playside stayed on the crack runner and did not replace the edge fast enough, also gets beat to the sideline.

6. 

Denver pulls 3 blockers. Miami #44 and #21 would need to both gap down with pullers, but were both a step too slow. #44 misses 

#29 to the strength gets kicked out wide on his blitz. 

7. 

Playside edge gets logged by pulling guard.

#29 meets pulling BST on the edge., and gets tossed to the ground.

While sound against interior runs, Miami did have some struggles this game with runs to the edge, thanks often to the mismatches their alignment and personnel created against pulling linemen. See film of these plays below. 

Keiser Seahawks - Screens

 This is part 2 of our look at the Keiser Seahawks, aiming to get an idea of what they have been doing across all 3 phases to achieve their dominant start as a program under head coach Doug Socha.

Like part 1, this is from their first game as a program back in 2018.

8 total screen calls. 

• 5 Bubbles
• 2 HB Slips
• 1 Now Screen

SEE FILM AT THE BOTTOM.

In order of appearance in the game:

1. HB Slip

Field edge sinks to the hook, while Will sits in his hook to curl and eyes QB. Blows up the play as HB gets the ball. 

The 3 interior linemen all pass-set and begin working out to block after a 2 second count.

2. HB Slip

Here we have a full pivot play-action to the bubble, with the QB turning his head far behind the LOS directly towards the orbit runner. 

With the slip, the HB comes down as if picking up a block and after a 2count releases with the guards. RG turns around to see the pass rather than pick up his block, who gets into position to make an immediate stop if the pass to the halfback is completed. 

3. Bubble HB

QB eyes the slot crossing, keeping the overhang honest. 

After a 1count, the LT, LG, and RG come off their blocks. LT works to the swing side, while the guards both run the opposite direction. Camera does not show what happens to the boundary side where both guards are working. 

4. Bubble Slot

Soft PA with HB picking up the backside C gap, while the O-line full slides to the boundary.

The slot bubbles with crossover steps, while #1 and #3 pace themselves to take most dangerous and create some defined lanes for #2 to attack. 

5. Bubble Slot (1st-level RPO)

O-line full slides to the field with a Y arc, leaving the PSDE unblocked. Play may be DOA if PSDE continues his path to the mesh at full speed. 

QB pulls on DE crashing mesh, and throws the bubble. 

6. Bubble Orbit

PA, followed by QB setting feet and looking deep MOF as a timing mechanic to allow the bubble runner to get additional width.

O-line zone blocking left, pulling the defense away from the orbit. 

7. Bubble Slot RPO

Zone blocking left, leaving PSDE unblocked to be read. QB reads step-down, so keeps. 

QB then progresses to read the Will who expands with the QB keep, and then comes down on the ball. Seeing this, QB throws the bubble. Solid execution.

8. Now Screen

#1 takes a couple jab steps vertical, before turning inside for the ball.

#2 widens outside slightly before approaching a block. C and LG both take a 2count before releasing for their blocks.

FILM CUTUP

Keiser Seahawks - Jet Sweep Series

Keiser put up an impressive record in their first 3 years as a program, going 24-6 overall. This is part 1 of who knows how many writeups, looking at some of the things they do well and attempting to get an idea of how they have been so dominant. 

In this part, we are looking at their jet sweep series in their first game as a program back in 2018. 

Keiser gets a favorable alignment out of their 2x2 jet, in 3 of the 4 jet calls. Great angles to block the Sam or Will to the interior. 

There are 3 calls in their first possession, and one in the 3rd quarter. This does not include one call where there is no sweep action since ball is snapped after the jet motion is across. 

See cutup of these plays at the bottom of the page.

1. Fk Jet Duo

Line blocking duo, driving doubles and only coming off once backers declare. Y off slices backside. Ball is jumbled at the mesh. +2yds.

2. PA Jet Flood

All OL open to sideline and begin running to block for the sweep. QB fakes the jet give, and boots away. HB olays the standing DE and goes flat. Backers are influenced by the sweep action with no reaction to the split flow. HB ends up uncovered for a solid gain. +10yds.

3. Jet sweep lead

OL playing for doubleteam reach blocks on playside DL. C and LG drive nose into Mike 6yds deep. HB aims to lead up the edge, to the first threat (this time PSDE).  +7yds.

4. Jet sweep lead

Same offensive call as above, now in 3rd quarter. PSDE does not get reached, and CB plays hard on edge. +0yds. 

FILM CUTUP