AMERICAS_FAN
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The real problem was blitz pick-up; you can’t just throw a blanket criticism to the OL, because if you dissect what really happened, it clearly becomes too generic to say the problem was with the OL. It’s better to really analyze what happened, and based on commentary I’ve read/heard from coaches/players and non-Cowboys reporters, this is what I’ve come to determine:
The OL did a great job run-blocking all the way around. When it came to pass-blocking it was a different story. But the real problem was on the left side of the line; Adams and Kosier had mental lapses.
The other linemen (Center through the right side) did a good job pass-protecting. That might seem odd since we had a lot of rush come up the middle. But if you have 3 OLinemen blocking the middle/left and the defense sends 4 rushers then one guy must come through the line unblocked. The Center through the right side picked up/bloced the right rushers most of the time. The extra rusher coming through becomes the responsibility of the back(s) in the backfield. They were horrible at picking that up, and that’s what led to the middle rush. Also, because the backs did not pick up their blitzing man, they were not able to set themselves up as the safety valve for the blitz. In other words, the pressure is not slowed enough to give the QB ample time to release to the safety valve.
On a blitz, the RB assigned to the rusher needs to set up in front of the Blitzer and direct the rusher inside. Then the RB should release/flair-out, if possible, to the outside, on the same side of the filed where the rusher came from. Successfully setting up the rusher will slow him down just enough to allow the QB to read the blitz and release/throw the ball to the area of the safety valve - where the RB should go after first setting up the rusher. If it’s executed properly then the blitz is nullified and the runner has the ball to run on the side where there is one less defender (one less because the rusher coming through that side is already behind the play.).
In short, missed rushes/blitzes that came from the left side of the OL were the result of Adams/Kossier missing blocking assignments, and rushes coming from the center/right side of the OL were the result of the backs missing blocking assignments. So before we blame the line for bad blocking let’s focus on the ones who missed assignments. But let’s also praise the whole OL for good run-blocking. And while we can also praise the RBs for good running, let’s remember that they were liabilities also in the passing game by missing blocks and not setting up proper safety-valves as a counter to the blitz.
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The OL did a great job run-blocking all the way around. When it came to pass-blocking it was a different story. But the real problem was on the left side of the line; Adams and Kosier had mental lapses.
The other linemen (Center through the right side) did a good job pass-protecting. That might seem odd since we had a lot of rush come up the middle. But if you have 3 OLinemen blocking the middle/left and the defense sends 4 rushers then one guy must come through the line unblocked. The Center through the right side picked up/bloced the right rushers most of the time. The extra rusher coming through becomes the responsibility of the back(s) in the backfield. They were horrible at picking that up, and that’s what led to the middle rush. Also, because the backs did not pick up their blitzing man, they were not able to set themselves up as the safety valve for the blitz. In other words, the pressure is not slowed enough to give the QB ample time to release to the safety valve.
On a blitz, the RB assigned to the rusher needs to set up in front of the Blitzer and direct the rusher inside. Then the RB should release/flair-out, if possible, to the outside, on the same side of the filed where the rusher came from. Successfully setting up the rusher will slow him down just enough to allow the QB to read the blitz and release/throw the ball to the area of the safety valve - where the RB should go after first setting up the rusher. If it’s executed properly then the blitz is nullified and the runner has the ball to run on the side where there is one less defender (one less because the rusher coming through that side is already behind the play.).
In short, missed rushes/blitzes that came from the left side of the OL were the result of Adams/Kossier missing blocking assignments, and rushes coming from the center/right side of the OL were the result of the backs missing blocking assignments. So before we blame the line for bad blocking let’s focus on the ones who missed assignments. But let’s also praise the whole OL for good run-blocking. And while we can also praise the RBs for good running, let’s remember that they were liabilities also in the passing game by missing blocks and not setting up proper safety-valves as a counter to the blitz.
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