Villain The Foe Posted January 17, 2015 Share Posted January 17, 2015 Chan Gailey's Buffalo Bills Offense, Part 3A: The Screen Game By Jason Pieri on Sep 2 2012, 10:23a 22 Getty Images × GET THE LATEST BUFFALO BILLS NEWS WITH BUFFALO RUMBLINGS LIKE BUFFALO RUMBLINGS FACEBOOK TWEET (15) SHARE (2) SHARE This article is the third in a four-part series examining Chan Gailey's Buffalo Bills offense. Part One took a look at Gailey's traditional offensive roots. Part two examined Gailey's use of horizontal timing. Chan Gailey loves the screen game. I make that assumption based on the number of times he calls for screens, and the variety of screens he uses. That said, he doesn't love the play, per se. He likes the space it provides for his playmakers. Fred Jackson, C.J. Spiller, Donald Jones, and even Stevie Johnson get their numbers called on screens. The play puts them into open spaces against lesser defenders. It's an advantageous place to be for Buffalo playmakers. A screen is nothing more than deception. The most reliable form of deception is to show your opponent what they want to see. A screen shows the defense exactly what it wants to see, and then does something different. Defensive linemen think they are beating their blocks. Defensive backs think they are covering their receivers on deep routes. Once the defensive linemen rush close enough to the quarterback and the secondary is deep, the trap is sprung by the quarterback flipping the ball to a back or receiver. It's a neat little combination of Sun Tzu and Bill Walsh, and when it works, it creates a lot of space for big plays. Gailey uses four major types of screens: the classic running back screen, the wide receiver bubble screen (with and without linemen blocking), the receiver center screen, and the tunnel screen. For simplicity, in our models, all defenses play man coverage with extra coverage defenders playing zone (like the free safety playing deep center field), and no blitzes. There are more types of screens and more ways they work against different defenses, but after the jump, we'll use the main four screens against a vanilla defense to broadly show why Gailey likes the screen game. First, an explanation on the method. In the previous two parts, lines were used to show movement. This story shows the players moving along the lines on offense. That allows us to see how the play unfolds over time, how the defense is being tricked, and how the space is being created. The diagrams are meant to be time-lapse as the play continues, with the lines removed on the last diagram to display the space that Gailey is trying to create. Note: receivers must catch the ball behind the line of scrimmage to allow the blockers to block downfield before the catch is made. The Classic Running Back Screen The running back screen is designed to get the running back the ball already past the defensive line. This screen can locate to a side or in the center. In our screen, the running back is working to the right of the formation, with the playside guard and the center "whiffing" on blocks and then pulling out. The receivers run deep to create the space needed between the defensive line and the secondary. The defensive line is making progress against the offensive line. The play looks like a vertical seams play to the secondary, and they think they are covering it well. The defensive linemen start to feel they are being tricked by the deeper drop the quarterback makes, but the ball is nearly gone by the time they figure it out. The offensive linemen fall off their blocks and work to get out in front of the running back. By this time, the inside linebackers and possibly the free safety see what is happening, but it's too late. The screen is set, and they'll need to beat a block to make a play. The running back has the ball with blockers in front and space to work with. Now, the play devolves into backyard football. The running back reads the blocks and runs to daylight, wherever that takes him. In this screen, it's two blockers on three defenders. The running back has to beat the third defender in open space. Gailey takes that situation all game. The Wide Receiver Bubble Screen (No offensive linemen blocking downfield) Bubble screens get receivers the ball in open space with room to run. Some wide receiver bubble screens do not use offensive linemen. Tight ends and other receivers block instead. These types of screens are meant to work fast. The quarterback has to get the ball to the receiver one step after getting the snap. The drill Jon Gruden ran with Tim Tebow throwing the ball the way it was snapped to him is required for this screen. In our bubble screen, the quarterback is throwing to the Z receiver, with the slot receiver and the tight end angling out to make blocks. The quarterback gets the ball to the Z receiver immediately. The playside cornerbacks see and react to the screen, but the tight end and slot receiver are already in position to make blocks because of their blocking angle. The pass rushers have made strong first steps against the offensive line; working back against the Z receiver is a difficult change of direction move only the most agile defenders can make. The Z receiver turns upfield immediately upon making the catch. The Z receiver is in open space against two linebackers and a safety - not the best odds. The receiver made positive yards to get to this point however, and the advantage still goes to the receiver in the open space. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Villain The Foe Posted January 17, 2015 Share Posted January 17, 2015 Chan Gailey's Buffalo Bills Offense, Part 3B: The Screen Game The Wide Receiver Bubble Screen (Offensive linemen blocking downfield) The bubble screen with offensive linemen takes longer to set up, but the effects can be the same as the running back screen. In our screen, the Z receiver moves into the spot that the running back had in the classic running back screen. The play design, other than that change, is nearly the same. The play unfolds like the classic running back screen: the defensive line makes progress against the offensive line, and the secondary thinks it's covering a vertical seams play. The offensive linemen fall off their blocks and work to get out in front of the receiver. The inside linebackers and possibly the free safety see what is happening, but the blocks are ready by the time they figure out that the play is a screen. The Z receiver catches the ball with blockers in front and space to work with. Now, it's a receiver against one linebacker and a safety, better odds for the receiver than the last bubble screen. The Center Screen The running back screen can route the running back to the center of the defense, but that's still a running back screen. The center screen is similar, except that a receiver runs into the center from the side of the field to catch the ball. In our center screen, the running back is moved into the slot, and run into the center of the field. An advantage is gained in spreading the running back out to the slot. A defender has to cover him, removing that defender from the center of the field, leaving less defenders to block later in the play. Most of the action is the same as the running back screen: the pass rushers make progress and the secondary covers a vertical pass play. The screen is sprung and the running back gets the ball, hopefully in stride, in the middle of the field and with two blockers in front. With the defensive line out of the way, the back has two blockers in front with one linebacker to block - the linebacker in coverage on the running back is behind him due to the route. When done correctly, the center screen can be devastating. Jackson scored his long touchdown against Pittsburgh in 2010 on a center screen. The Tunnel Screen The tunnel screen is a sneaky little play that Gailey likes to call. Of all the screens, it most resembles a regular play. This play looks exactly like a regular vertical seam pass, except for the actions of the right guard and the running back. Everything else looks the same to the defense. As the play unfolds, the defense looks solid against the vertical seam pass. Then the right guard falls off a block, and the running back turns around. This screen happens so fast in such a small area that many defenders will not know what is happening until the running back has gained significant yardage - see the 2011 Philadelphia game to see a tunnel screen in action. The running back has a blocker out front, lots of room, and only those defenders that saw what happened in his way. Summary The screen is Gailey's best weapon to get playmakers in space. It's also relatively safe for the quarterback. Ryan Fitzpatrick already knows where the ball is going pre-snap, can easily see if the defense is aligned to stop it, and can audible out of the play. Once the play starts, Fitzpatrick usually isn't taking a huge hit on the play, it's an easy throw, and he can always throw the ball into the turf if the defense snuffs the screen out. Gailey uses space, deception, and niche players in his offense. The screen game works directly with two of these concepts, and possibly three depending on how you view players like CJ Spiller and Donald Jones. With everything else Buffalo does - spreading the field horizontally with multiple receiver formations, running receivers on shorter timing routes, and throwing deep - accounting for Buffalo's best playmakers in space on screen plays is a tall task. Gailey hopes it's too tall a task in 2012. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Villain The Foe Posted January 17, 2015 Share Posted January 17, 2015 Chan Gailey's Buffalo Bills Offense, Part 4A: The Run Game By Jason Pieri on Sep 8 2012, 9:12a 24 Getty Images × GET THE LATEST BUFFALO BILLS NEWS WITH BUFFALO RUMBLINGS LIKE BUFFALO RUMBLINGS FACEBOOK TWEET (5) SHARE (3) SHARE This article is the fourth and last in a series examining Chan Gailey's Buffalo Bills offense. Part One took a look at Gailey's traditional offensive roots. Part Two examined Gailey's use of horizontal timing. Part Three outlined how Gailey uses various screens to get the ball to his playmakers in space. Buffalo is not a running team. Surprised? As effective as Fred Jackson and C.J. Spillerare, Chan Gailey ran the ball only 40 percent of the time in 2011. Buffalo threw the ball 578 times, the tenth-highest total in the league and more than even the Green Bay Packers, a team characterized as a pass-first team. Those same Packers, with Ryan Grantand James Starks at running back, ran the ball four more times than Buffalo did (395 to 391 rushing attempts) last season. A quick trend check shows that Buffalo ran the ball 43 percent of the time in 2010. They are a passing team. With that in mind, Buffalo is an extremely effective running team. When Buffalo does run, they are among the best at doing so. In 2011, Buffalo was the 5th best team in the league in yards per rushing attempt, gaining 4.9 yards per carry and a total of 120.1 yards per game, 13th best in the league. It was no fluke, as a poor Buffalo team was 13th best in 2010 in the same category, gaining 4.3 yards per rushing attempt. So how does it work? As we've seen in the previous three stories, Gailey likes to use the spread formation to create space. It works for the passing game and the running game alike. With fewer defenders at the line of scrimmage, the run game is often wide open for Buffalo. Buffalo's yard-per-carry statistic for 2011 is deceptive. When Jackson and Spiller ran, they gained 5.5 and 5.2 yards per carry, respectively. Defenses are given the choice of spreading out to cover receivers, or stacking the line of scrimmage to stop the run. When defenses spread out, Gailey gashes them with a mix of standard runs and misdirection-type runs, the latter designed to deceive the defense. Gailey combines two standard run types, the dive and the zone read, with misdirections runs, such as the draws and traps. Buffalo is also very creative, using trap-like movement to set up standards runs, like isolation runs. We'll look at the dive, the zone-read, the trap, a pulling isolation featuring the tight end, and the draw. The diagrams depict the offense with a tight end and one running back working against a defensive six-man front and a strong safety. The format is the same as the screen game, using a frame-by-frame time-lapse design. The diagrams exclude the receivers and defensive secondary so we can zoom in the the run game movement that often happens so fast in such a confined space that we, the fans, miss its intricacies. The Dive We won't spend much time on this run. Most fans are familiar with it. The linemen block the defenders in front of them, and the running back aims his run to a hole. In this case, it's between the center and the right guard. The dive is mostly a contest of strength to see if the offensive line can drive the defense off the ball. The Zone Read The zone read is the run design that Mike Shanahan-coached teams made famous. The zone read is designed to create favorable blocking angles for the offensive line, as well as take advantage of offensive linemen that can move. Additionally, the basic concept is pretty simple: everyone blocks in one directions, and blocks the first defender they see. Here, the line is moving right. The running back does not have a particular "hole" to run through. As the blocks develop, the running back needs "vision" to see the seam as it emerges, then cut and get through it. Here we see that most of the defenders are flowing to the offensive right, the same direction that the blockers are moving. A linebacker has gone unaccounted for between the right guard and right tackle. That's alright though. The running back needs to see that, and also see the cutback lane emerging behind the center. Another linebacker is unaccounted for on the left side of the offense. That linebacker has contain responsibilities, and the running back can negate him by avoiding cutting back to the outside left. The left guard engages the defensive tackle not to drive him off the ball, but to shift his hips and feet from left to right. As the defensive tackle pushes, the left guard lets him go generally in the direction he wants, choosing to move around him rather than fight him. The linebacker between the right guard and right tackle is getting "washed out" or "lost in the trash." He's not being blocked, but his reaction to the play has put him in between the right guard and the defensive tackle, with no straight line to the running back. The right tackle is blocking on the "second level," meaning that he is downfield blocking. The center can also get to the second level, or seal off the washed out linebacker. The center moves around the right guard and defensive tackle, turning out to seal off the linebacker. The left guard shifted in front of the defensive tackle. The lane emerges, the runner sees it, and bursts through. The zone read is Fred Jackson's best run, allowing him to use his superior vision to pick and choose which way he wants to go. The zone read also takes patience. The runner needs to start out at less than full speed in order to read the blocks, then burst through the hole once he sees it. Spiller's rookie issues in the run game came, in part, because he pressed the line of scrimmage too fast on zone read runs and didn't give himself enough time to see the developing blocks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Villain The Foe Posted January 17, 2015 Share Posted January 17, 2015 Chan Gailey's Buffalo Bills Offense, Part 4B: The Run Game The Trap The trap is designed to create a running lane by deceiving a playside defender. That defender is left unblocked and is allowed to aggressively attack the football. A blocker from the opposite side of the formation "pulls" across the formation to make the block by using a good blocking angle. In our trap, all but one of the blockers are moving in one direction, like the zone read. One blocker, the left guard, is pulling across the formation from left to right. The running back and quarterback open to the left side to get the defenders moving in that direction, creating good blocking angles. The runner cuts back right, gets the football, and runs in the lane created by the line down-blocking and the left guard's seal block. The offensive line is blocking left, and the defenders initially move to the offense's left because of the backfield counter action. The playside outside linebacker is unblocked, and begins to crash in on the runner. So far, this doesn't look that great for the offense. Boom! The running back cuts right off the counter movement, and all the blocks are set. Everyone is accounted for, and each blocker is in-between the defender and the runner. The left guard has moved to the right side of the formation and is about to seal off the outside linebacker. All the blocks are made. The blockers don't need to pancake the defender, just get in the way. The back has a lane to run through, with only the strong safety to beat. The runner gains five yards before needing to make a move. Getting Jackson or Spiller into space one-on-one with a safety is a match-up Gailey takes all game. The Isolation (with a pulling blocker) Gailey runs a neat isolation play. Normally, an isolation means the runner follows a fullback into the hole. The line blocking essentially turns the play into an isolation between the fullback and a linebacker. The runner cuts off the block of the fullback. Buffalo does not use a fullback much, but Gailey still runs the play, pulling a tight end (or sometimes a receiver) across the formation to make the isolation block. In our isolation, the hole is designed to open in between the left tackle and the left guard. The tight end pulls across the formation at the snap and becomes the "iso" blocker. The runner and quarterback maintain the backfield counter action from the trap. The big difference in our isolation play is the center. The center is making a "combo" block. He blocks two players. Initially, he double teams the defensive tackle over the right guard. Once the defensive tackle is pushed in front of the right guard, the center peels off to block the linebacker. The center and right guard execute their double team block on the defensive tackle. The tight end is running across the formation. The quarterback and running back open to the right, getting the defense to move that way, which sets up the blocking angles. The inside linebacker across from the left guard is left unblocked for the moment; he is the target of the isolation block. All the blocks are set. The inside linebacker over the right guard is again washed out by the right guard and defensive tackle. The center has pushed the defensive tackle to the right enough to set the blocking angle for the right guard. The center moves off the block to seal off the linebacker. The runner makes his cut and is now right behind the tight end moving at the inside linebacker. The isolation is set. The hole is left with the tight end one-on-one with the linebacker. The block does not need to be of the destructive pancake variety. Getting in the way works just as well. Whichever way the linebacker goes, and the tight end gets in the way, the runner goes the other way. The isolation play takes patience; a runner going too fast in the backfield can outrun the pulling isolation blocker. Spiller was guilty of this during his rookie year. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Villain The Foe Posted January 17, 2015 Share Posted January 17, 2015 Chan Gailey's Buffalo Bills Offense, Part 4C: The Run Game The Draw Bill Walsh called the draw Thurman Thomas' "favorite play, his best play" in the AFC Championship Game versus the Los Angeles Raiders. His comment might extend to Jackson and Spiller. Getting a running back moving forward against a spread out defense is very effective. The defense is spread out in the same manner as the screen play: get the defense thinking it is playing the pass, and then do something different. In our draw, the line is pass blocking, the running back looks like he's blocking from the backfield, and the tight end runs toward the middle, looking like he is running a pass pattern. The defensive line makes progress against the offensive line, and the secondary is run off into coverage. The linebackers step forward to check for run, then drop into their short zones, creating space between them and the line. The quarterback executes a standard-looking pass drop. The center slides left, creating the seam for the runner to go through. The tight end is in great position to block against a linebacker, who does not know that the play is a run yet. A slight of hand by the quarterback, and the runner has the ball. The runner bursts into open space, reading the block of the tight end to an extent. Much like the screen, the play turns into playground football, with the running back moving to daylight. Buffalo has the advantage with Jackson or Spiller in this type of space. Summary Buffalo gets a lot of bang for the buck for each running attempt. They don't emphasize the run like other teams, but they get similar, or better results. San Francisco ran 47 times more than they passed in 2011, and called 107 more runs that Buffalo over the course of the season. Yet, for their big, power line and dedication to the run, they averaged about seven more rushing yards per game more than Buffalo. Through the spread scheme Gailey designed, he gets fantastic production. Buffalo's running game should improve in 2012. Offensive line play is all about working as a unit, as you can see above. Andy Levitre, Eric Wood, Kraig Urbik, and Erik Pearshave been working together for over a year; Levitre and Wood are three year starters. Add in talented left tackle Cordy Glenn, and Buffalo has a massive and talented front line used to working together. Chad Rinehart, Chris Hairston, and Colin Brown are reserves with starting experience (a novel concept). Combine talent, experience, chemistry, and scheme, and you get the makings for a top ten rushing attack. Series Conclusion Hopefully we've done a good job walking everyone through how Buffalo attacks defenses. Brian set the conceptual basis. Buffalo's offense works through spacing, deception, and niche players. Gailey creates spacing through formation, by using older Erhardt-Perkins pass plays, through horizontal timing, screens, and misdirection running. The 53-man roster is full of players that work in the scheme: Brad Smith, Donald Jones, C.J. Spiller, Scott Chandler, etc. And deception is woven through the whole scheme, through various types of screens, draws, and traps. The scheme itself is creates space to deceive by spreading the defense through formation only to blow through them with the run. The scheme is unique, not so difficult to understand, but not that easy to stop. The Achilles' Heal of the entire scheme remains the requirement to stretch the defense vertically. The majority of plays designed to get their playmakers the ball in space do so inside of ten yards from the line of scrimmage. Without a vertical threat, the defense can walk up safeties and crowd the line of scrimmage, frustrating draws and screens with numbers, and clogging the short passing windows. After Buffalo lost their deep threats to injury in 2011, we saw what that looks like. It's not pretty. If the offense stays reasonably healthy, Ryan Fitzpatrick avoids slumps, and the team executes well, the Bills offense should be in the top ten league-wide. They were 14th overall in scoring and yards in 2011, so top ten in both categories is not that big of a stretch. For Buffalo to end the longest current playoff drought in the NFL, they'll need to not only be in the top ten in offense, but remain consistent throughout the season. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Villain The Foe Posted January 17, 2015 Share Posted January 17, 2015 Given that Chan Gailey is our new OC and the zone read will probably be part of our game and the fact that Marcus Mariota will probably be there at #6, I figured I'd put this in the mix as well, just in case we end up drafting this guy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jetrider Posted January 18, 2015 Share Posted January 18, 2015 Who's our OL coach for 2015? Timing plays work flawlessly on paper, iPads, and dry erase boards but not so well on the field when the OL is thrown on their asses or plowed into the QB. Jus sayin' Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Villain The Foe Posted January 18, 2015 Share Posted January 18, 2015 Who's our OL coach for 2015? Timing plays work flawlessly on paper, iPads, and dry erase boards but not so well on the field when the OL is thrown on their asses or plowed into the QB. Jus sayin' Don't know who the oline coach will be but it would have been cool to get Bill Callahan back before he joined the redskins to be our Oline coach. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
win4ever Posted January 18, 2015 Share Posted January 18, 2015 Given that Chan Gailey is our new OC and the zone read will probably be part of our game and the fact that Marcus Mariota will probably be there at #6, I figured I'd put this in the mix as well, just in case we end up drafting this guy. Thanks for posting the videos and articles. I've really been wanting to use the spread offense way more than we currently do. We run archaic offenses that somehow NEED to be run from under center, when there were stats that said shotgun has become more efficient than under center snaps. Heck, it even is more efficient for running backs as well. But nope. Not us. I think that was the downfall of the West Coast offense for us, because it's measured in drop back steps from under center, so going away from that screws up the timing for the QB. At first I was hesitant about the move to Gailey because all I remembered was that he was old, and that his Buffalo team was terrible. But the more I read about him, the more I have hope. A spread offense and zone blocking can really help out the offense, as long as their are certain pieces. A good pass catching RB (Spiller or even CJ coming back), a deep threat (Harvin? Cobb?), and good blocking guards. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Villain The Foe Posted January 18, 2015 Share Posted January 18, 2015 Thanks for posting the videos and articles. I've really been wanting to use the spread offense way more than we currently do. We run archaic offenses that somehow NEED to be run from under center, when there were stats that said shotgun has become more efficient than under center snaps. Heck, it even is more efficient for running backs as well. But nope. Not us. I think that was the downfall of the West Coast offense for us, because it's measured in drop back steps from under center, so going away from that screws up the timing for the QB. At first I was hesitant about the move to Gailey because all I remembered was that he was old, and that his Buffalo team was terrible. But the more I read about him, the more I have hope. A spread offense and zone blocking can really help out the offense, as long as their are certain pieces. A good pass catching RB (Spiller or even CJ coming back), a deep threat (Harvin? Cobb?), and good blocking guards. No problem. That youtube channel has a great amount of information and I love the zone run scheme and I hope that Gailey is able to implement something similar. Hopefully we have the oline talent for zone blocking. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
32EBoozer Posted January 18, 2015 Share Posted January 18, 2015 Bleacher Report has Mirotta to the Jets at #6. I wonder what Mac, Bowles and especially Gailey would do in this situation? 6. New York Jets Jae C. Hong/Associated Press Marcus Mariota, QB, Oregon If Marcus Mariota is still sitting in the green room when the Jets go on the clock, they will be hard-pressed to go in any other direction. According to Rich Cimini of ESPN.com, Chan Gailey will become the offensive coordinator in New York. That furthers a possible marriage between Mariota and the Jets. Gailey's offenses space the field particularly well and are friendly to quarterbacks. He has pulled production out of brutal NFL passers in the past. Mariota will have a bigger adjustment to the NFL than top quarterback prospects of the last few years. While he worked through more reads at Oregon than often credited for, Mariota is accustomed to throwing into truck-sized passing windows. His ball placement is behind schedule as a result. Any OC who is tasked with building Mariota will have to ease him into things at first, focusing on the tools he already possesses as a thrower. New York would be a fitting landing spot for Mariota because Gailey can craft an offense around the QB that can be successful but also keep sight of long-term development. http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2329667-2015-nfl-draft-finding-the-dream-fit-for-every-team/page/7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
win4ever Posted January 21, 2015 Share Posted January 21, 2015 No problem. That youtube channel has a great amount of information and I love the zone run scheme and I hope that Gailey is able to implement something similar. Hopefully we have the oline talent for zone blocking. Yeah, I watched a few of their videos. I really wanted Helfrich as a possible coach, because they really take advantage of the talent that they have there with the system. Until recently, I don't think they were even that highly ranked in recruiting, yet always fielded competitive teams. I think the pace of the game is extremely important to the system because it leaves the defenses in vanilla formations, not enough time for the DC to adjust plays multiple times. I think that's why we always had trouble with the end of halves or games, where our defense would get killed, because teams ran hurry up and Rex didn't have a shot to call plays to counter some advantage the other team saw, or sub in guys to match the attacking style. From the videos and articles, Gailey seemed to emphasize the need to perfecting a smaller amount of plays, so maybe that helps them go in the hurry up as much as possible, and just call plays at the line. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maxman Posted January 21, 2015 Share Posted January 21, 2015 No problem. That youtube channel has a great amount of information and I love the zone run scheme and I hope that Gailey is able to implement something similar. Hopefully we have the oline talent for zone blocking. The guy speaking sounds like a computer. If Siri ever retires this guy has a nice gig waiting for him. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HessStation Posted January 21, 2015 Share Posted January 21, 2015 LOL nvmind. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.