ESPND: A look at New England's "12" personnel

[WoodysGirl]

May 1
9:31
AM CT
By Todd Archer | ESPNDallas.com

We offer a Q&A with ESPNBoston’s Mike Reiss for an explainer on how New England uses its “12 personnel.”

Archer: What makes the Patriots' use of the two-tight end package work so well?

Reiss: It starts with the unique talents of the tight ends themselves. Rob Gronkowski (6-foot-6, 265) is obviously a very tough matchup for a linebacker or safety. He's more likely to be aligned closest to the offensive tackle, but because he runs so well, the Patriots will also split him out wide. He's equally as effective as a blocker or pass-catcher, making him a true "combination" tight end. Aaron Hernandez (6-foot-1, 245) is a nice complement to Gronkowski. He is more receiver-like and thus is split out wide more often, or on the move, although he does align close to the tackle on occasion and is competitive as an in-line blocker even though it's not his forte. We've seen the Patriots run the same offense with different tight ends and it hasn't been as effective (e.g. last year's playoffs when Gronkowski was out with injury), so I think the first key is to acknowledge that it's more about the players than the scheme when it comes to the Patriots' two-tight end package and its success.

Archer: How does it differ, in your mind, in how other teams use the package?

Reiss: Probably the biggest thing is how many formations and adjustments they can run out of it, which comes back to the versatility and unique skills of the top two tight ends, Gronkowski and Hernandez. They could be empty in the package, with both tight ends split out wide, or more tightly compact in a traditional look with both tight ends aligned next to the tackles. Sometimes they play up-tempo with it. Other times they slow it down. So there are really so many things you can do out of the package, which again is tied to the uniqueness of Gronkowski and Hernandez. When one of those players has been injured, the package isn't as dynamic and at times in those situations the Patriots will use a third receiver over a second tight end.

Read the rest: http://espn.go.com/blog/dallas/cowboys/post/_/id/4708264/a-look-at-new-englands-12-personnel

 

[arglebargle]

Nice move by Archer to actually delineate the New England two TE offense with someone who covers it up close. Leads to some interesting conclusions on why it might not have worked here before.

Hope the Cowboys got it right this time, so we can give drafting TEs a break for a year or two.

 

[dogberry]

Per interview NE didn't have a pure FB on the squad.

 

[Galian Beast]

Per interview NE didn't have a pure FB on the squad.

Correct they had signed Fiametta and another player, neither of whom made the team. Well I think Tony made the team, but took the year off. Regardless he wasn't on the team.

The success of the formation here will depend on Escobar's development as well as the coaches using it correctly.

 

[Nation]

Without even getting into the fact that our owner is heavily involved in football operations and there business model is predicated on the fact that the owner stays completely out of things, the biggest difference here is personnel.

The Patriots offensive line is elite in run blocking and pass protection, and Aaron Hernandez has borderline-elite talent and was only drafted in the 4th round due to character concerns. Our line is bad, and Gavin Escobar and James Hanna have a lot to prove in that department.

 

[Galian Beast]

Without even getting into the fact that our owner is heavily involved in football operations and there business model is predicated on the fact that the owner stays completely out of things, the biggest difference here is personnel.

The Patriots offensive line is elite in run blocking and pass protection, and Aaron Hernandez has borderline-elite talent and was only drafted in the 4th round due to character concerns. Our line is bad, and Gavin Escobar and James Hanna have a lot to prove in that department.

Elite in run blocking?

17th in yards per attempt last year. 24th the year before that. Hardly elite.

Our line was bad, and certainly got better as the year went on. A full offseason being healthy in addition to some upgrades will go along way.

I don't think Gavin Escobar has a lot to prove. He had better numbers than Hernandez coming out of school. He needs to do his job, but the attitude that he has a lot to prove? I'm not sure where that comes from.

Aaron Hernandez has also not been nearly as productive as people make it sound.

He has been ranked 14th among tight ends in yards, 4th, and 26th. You use elite and borderline elite pretty generously.

 

[Nation]

Elite in run blocking?

17th in yards per attempt last year. 24th the year before that. Hardly elite.

Our line was bad, and certainly got better as the year went on. A full offseason being healthy in addition to some upgrades will go along way.

I don't think Gavin Escobar has a lot to prove. He had better numbers than Hernandez coming out of school. He needs to do his job, but the attitude that he has a lot to prove? I'm not sure where that comes from.

Aaron Hernandez has also not been nearly as productive as people make it sound.

He has been ranked 14th among tight ends in yards, 4th, and 26th. You use elite and borderline elite pretty generously.

Look at where the Pats offensive line ranks in Football Outsiders more detailed metrics getting into situation football. They had them overall at 4th in 2012, 2nd in 2011, and 1st in 2010. They've established themselves as a team that can run when they want to.

Hernandez has been injury prone, but when he's healthy he is a serious weapon.

I'd do backflips if the Cowboys line in 2013 was as good as New England's as of late, and the same for if Hanna or Escobar turn into a Hernandez-quality player. I would think most of our fans would as well.

 

[Galian Beast]

Look at where the Pats offensive line ranks in Football Outsiders more detailed metrics getting into situation football. They had them overall at 4th in 2012, 2nd in 2011, and 1st in 2010. They've established themselves as a team that can run when they want to.

Hernandez has been injury prone, but when he's healthy he is a serious weapon.

I'd do backflips if the Cowboys line in 2013 was as good as New England's as of late, and the same for if Hanna or Escobar turn into a Hernandez-quality player. I would think most of our fans would as well.

"Teams are ranked according to Adjusted Line Yards. Based on regression analysis, the Adjusted Line Yards formula takes all running back carries and assigns responsibility to the offensive line based on the following percentages:
Losses: 120% value
0-4 Yards: 100% value
5-10 Yards: 50% value
11+ Yards: 0% value"

 

[Nation]

"Teams are ranked according to Adjusted Line Yards. Based on regression analysis, the Adjusted Line Yards formula takes all running back carries and assigns responsibility to the offensive line based on the following percentages:
Losses: 120% value
0-4 Yards: 100% value
5-10 Yards: 50% value
11+ Yards: 0% value"

What's the issue here?

 

[Kristen82]

Would Witten end up lining up on the right side in two-TE sets because he'd be the better blocker and the right-side is iffier, e.g. Murray only ran for 3.2 ypc to the right last year?

 

[Galian Beast]

What's the issue here?

You don't see that, that is a completely arbitrary system of delineating value and rank?

 

[Nation]

You don't see that, that is a completely arbitrary system of delineating value and rank?

I think for the most part it makes sense, as far as allocating responsibility for the offensive line. If a running back goes for 12 yards on a play or 60, I think that's more on the running back than it is the offensive line. And if a running back is tackled in the backfield I'd think that's more on the offensive line than it is the running back. In the context of the numbers and looking at historical results the numbers certainly check out.