Tag: Blocking

There is a statistical basis behind starting Jake Haener in Week 15

There may be a statistical precedent showing why the Saints chose Jake Haener to start Week 15 over Spencer Rattler:

The New Orleans Saints decided to go with Jake Haener to start in their Week 15 game over Spencer Rattler, who started three games the last time Derek Carr went down. This choice was one that many had not anticipated, as Rattler had the experience with this offense this season, and would have been presumed as the incumbent.

However, Haener had been listed as the No.2 quarterback for the whole season, while Rattler was listed as the emergency No. 3, so logistically this was the option on paper that was going to happen. Beyond that, there may be a statistical precedent for starting Haener in this game over Rattler.

As WWL Radio’s Jeff Nowak noted, in the three weeks Spencer Rattler started, the opposing teams accrued a whopping 16 sacks, over five a game on average. However, in the weeks Derek Carr has started, they have allowed only 8 sacks, half the total in over three times the games. This was one of the biggest issues for the Saints under Rattler, is he had immense trouble sensing pressure and getting away from it on time, and with the injuries to the Saints offensive line previously, that made things even more difficult.

Jake Haener may give you the alternative in that he will get the ball out quicker and get away from pressure, but obviously we do not know that as his playing time is limited to only 61 total snaps, and in those he has taken 3 sacks. Regardless, the Saints having another option at quarterback allows them to try this out and just see if it works, and test out Haener to see what he has in the tank.

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Chiefs TE Travis Kelce receives praise from coaches for his blocking: ‘He’s not selfish’

Kansas City #Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce receives praise from coaches for his blocking: ‘He’s not selfish’ | @EdEastonJr

Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid provided an update on the team during his weekly Zoom press conference with reporters on Monday. He spoke highly of tight end Travis Kelce’s contributions as a blocker aside from being an offensive target.

“He’s (Travis Kelce) so willing to do that (block). He just wants to win, which is what he wants to do, and make sure that we’re doing well offensively,” said Reid. “He’s not selfish (in) that way; he just wants to be in there, right? He wants to be in and playing, and as a result – if you take the offensive lineman out of the picture – he’s always one of the top play-per-game guys, and that’s him, and he prepares that way during the week. He busts his tail during the week, and part of that is the run game, and he makes sure that he stays on top of that.”

Kelce hauled in four passes for 17 yards as backup tight end Noah Gray led the team with four receptions for 66 yards. The multiple-time pro bowler makes a difference in the running game as the Chiefs continue to damage on the ground with running back Kareem Hunt.

Alvin Kamara excelling despite facing second-most loaded boxes

Defenses are selling out to stop Alvin Kamara and it isn’t working anyway. This is a testament to his offensive line:


Here’s an impressive New Orleans Saints stat for you. Alvin Kamara has ran for the sixth-most yards on the ground in the NFL and scored the most touchdowns despite seeing the second-most attempts with eight or more defenders in the box.

Defenses load up the box specifically to stop the run, and it happens 45% of the time when Kamara carries the ball. Everyone knows what the Saints want to do, but this tactic hasn’t been effective in stopping the Kamara.

Why? Taliese Fuaga, Lucas Patrick, Erik McCoy, Cesar Ruiz and Trevor Penning are five reasons. The impact of the unit is seen through the near three yards before contact per carry against the Carolina Panthers by all Saints running backs.

You don’t beat heavy boxes purely on the strength of your running back. Kamara has phenomenal contact balance, but even with that he can’t consistently beat the odds by himself.

The front line is doing a good job resetting the line of scrimmage and getting to the second level to block linebackers. That’s why he’s been so successful despite running against heavy boxes on nearly half of his attempts.

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Chris Olave embracing run blocking: ‘Trying to add more to what I can do’

Run blocking is new to Chris Olave, but it’s something he was looking to add to his game. It’s all about being a good teammate:

Going into the offseason, New Orleans Saints wide receiver Chris Olave wanted to become a better blocker. When the Saints hired Klint Kubiak to spearhead an offensive change, Olave’s interest fit into an important part of the Saints’ new philosophy on offense.

Look at Kubiak’s most recent home, the San Francisco 49ers. From Brandon Aiyuk to Jauan Jennings, receivers block.

Emphasizing run blocking is new to Olave, but he says “It’s been good. I’m not used blocking. I’m used to catching the ball, running the ball, scoring touchdowns, but that ain’t really been working for us in the winning column.” For the wide receiver, it all comes down to being a good teammate and “Trying to add more to what I can do.”

Olave is on the mission to add more to his skillset to impact the game in multiple ways. That includes when the ball is in the runner’s hands. This would inherently would keep him on the field in nearly every situation.

He spent the time in the weight room for this exact reason, installing a home gym and picking up a new weightlifting regimen to help improve his play strength. Olave emphasized this is something he wanted to do after last season. That’s good to hear because that desire will lead to willingness as a blocker opposed to him simply going through the motions. They say willingness is half the battle, and he’s already won that.

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The run game is Derek Carr’s favorite part of Klint Kubiak’s offense

Of all the new aspects of Klint Kubiak’s offense, Derek Carr’s favorite is how they teach run concepts. That could pave the way for an Alvin Kamara resurgence:

When you’ve been a part of eight offensive schemes since entering the NFL, you tend to think you’ve seen or heard everything there is to see or hear. Derek Carr realized that’s not true by watching Klint Kubiak teach his run schemes at New Orleans Saints training camp.

Kubiak is Carr’s eighth offensive coordinator since his rookie year in 2014 and is showing the veteran new verbiage. “There’s some things in the run game, the way they teach things and say things, that I haven’t heard before.”

Carr pointed out the multitude of offenses he’s been in over his decade long career to emphasize how many different schemes he’s learned. Still, Kubiak’s is unique.

Not only unique, it’s effective. Kubiak’s offense may be easy on the quarterback, but how it impacts the Saints’ running backs is the main event.

“We can all look back to the history of this offense and see guys who ran the ball well,” Carr said. There’s a reason he labeled the run game as his favorite part of the new offense. If guys like Alvin Kamara can meet expectations set for them with fresh play designs setting them up, maybe they can get the Saints were this team wants to go.

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WATCH: Louis Rees-Zammit blocks rookie LB at Chiefs training camp

Check out this video of #Chiefs RB Louis Rees-Zammit honing his skills as a blocker during Kansas City’s training camp practice on Friday.

The Kansas City Chiefs are honing their game during training camp at Missouri Western State Univerity in St. Joseph. With each passing day, players are getting more into their grooves ahead of the team’s preseason debut against the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Though veterans like Patrick Mahomes, Travis Kelce, Chris Jones, and Trent McDuffie are already starting to peak, some of the younger players are still perfecting their techniques before next week’s regular season exhibition.

One such player is former rugby star Louis Rees-Zammit, who was seen running blocking drills against rookie linebacker Swayze Bozeman in a video posted to Twitter by Fox 4 K.C.’s PJ Green:

Though Rees-Zammit won’t be expected to compete with starting running back Isiah Pacheco for the top spot on Kansas City’s depth chart, his effort during practice could help him earn a valuable backup role in his first season with the Chiefs.

Be on the lookout for Rees-Zammit in Kansas City’s three preseason games to see if his rugby background helps him thrive in the NFL.

Underperforming Saints offensive line has more tough sledding ahead of them

The New Orleans Saints offensive line has struggled this year, and they have more tough sledding ahead in the next two weeks | @southexclusives

The struggles of the New Orleans Saints offensive line has been the biggest storyline of the team’s season. The opposing defensive line has won the battle in the running and passing game, and it’s been the biggest impediment to the Saints offense. New Orleans has allowed a dozen sacks in just three games. The complaints about the line only grew after Derek Carr’s injury. 

Unfortunately, the Saints won’t get a reprieve from in the near future. Their next two games feature more difficult tests for the struggling unit. This Sunday, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers come to town. They have 9 sacks on the season with trench players like Shaquil Barret and Vita Vea who can wreck the game on any play. 

The following week the Saints travel to face New England Patriots defensive end Matthew Judon. Judon currently has the fourth-most sacks in the league and he lines up on both sides of the formation, so both Trevor Penning and Ryan Ramczyk are going to be tested.

Both games provide their challenges. It’ll be on the Saints offensive line to improve as they stare down two difficult challenges with a backup quarterback behind them. Highly-paid veterans like Ramczyk and center Erik McCoy can’t continue to be liabilities when they’re expected to be cornerstones.

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Rookie Malik Heath wants to be Packers’ new ‘goon’ at WR

Allen Lazard was the enforcer at WR for the Packers offense, but now he’s in New York. Malik Heath is ready to be Matt LaFleur’s new “goon.”

Matt LaFleur often called Allen Lazard the “goon” of his Green Bay Packers offense. Now that Lazard is in New York with Aaron Rodgers, LaFleur needs a new enforcer at the wide receiver position.

Undrafted rookie Malik Heath submitted his application with video evidence during Friday’s preseason opener against the Cincinnati Bengals. On a quarterback keeper play, Heath blocked a Bengals cornerback completely out of bounds and eventually drew a penalty.

It was the definition of a “goon” play.

“They are looking for a goon, so I’m going to try and fill that role,” Heath said Sunday. “I’m going to try to do anything to make this team.”

Here’s the All-22 view of the play, via Ben Fennell:

Heath, who also caught three passes, said the block was one of the “most exciting” plays of his football career. The entire Packers sideline erupted as Heath drove the cornerback out of bounds, opening the backside for Sean Clifford to race for a big gain. The penalty tacked on 15 more yards, and the Packers finished the drive with a touchdown.

The block was the perfect example of the type of play style the Packers want in the run game.

In fact, LaFleur said blocking at the wide receiver position is an “important” part of the Packers offense even if it’s “not always the sexy thing to do” for a pass-catcher. It’s tough work that gets noticed by the coaching staff and can help a young, undrafted player find a role on a roster.

The 6-2, 213-pound Heath said he embraces blocking and the physical side of the game. He got experience blocking in the run game at Ole Miss and is ready to do more of it for LaFleur in Green Bay.

Assuming the Packers keep six receivers, it’s possible Heath is currently the front runner to be the sixth receiver on the 53-man roster. He was impressive during the offseason workout program, made catch after catch during training camp practices and now has an excellent preseason debut on tape.

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Joe Thuney offers advice on blocking for Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes

Kansas City #Chiefs guard Joe Thuney offered some advice on blocking for quarterback Patrick Mahomes. | from: @EdEastonJr

The secret to the Kansas City Chiefs’ success stretches beyond their marquee talent who are often publicized for their incredible exploits. A significant shift in recent years has been due to the Chiefs’ decision to fortify their offensive line to better protect quarterback Patrick Mahomes.

Kansas City made a statement when they signed veteran guard Joe Thuney before the 2021 season. The investment in the offensive line gave Mahomes more time to operate and play his game, while a Pro Bowl guard with prior championship experience could show younger players the right way to get things done. Thuney gave insight on how he describes blocking for Mahomes during Friday’s post-practice press conference.

“I think [you have to] just play through the echo of the whistle,” Thuney explained. “It’s you never know what’s going to happen back there. When you’re blocking, and Pat’s [Patrick Mahomes] got the ball, he can make a lot of great plays happen and just, straight through the echo the whistle straight through it all and, you know, try and play with great technique and effort.”

Thuney has significantly adjusted his blocking techniques transitioning from the pocket passing style of Tom Brady to the improvisation of Patrick Mahomes. He has shown that veteran savvy to find the winning formula with two game-changing quarterbacks and is influencing the younger offensive linemen on the roster.

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Packers rookie Luke Musgrave getting crash course on blocking from Preston Smith

Blocking will be a point of emphasis for Packers TE Luke Musgrave, and veteran edge rusher Preston Smith is giving him all he handle to open training camp.

Luke Musgrave played almost 600 run-blocking snaps during his collegiate career at Oregon State, but the Green Bay Packers rookie tight end probably never saw a player quite like veteran outside linebacker Preston Smith.

Smith is 6-5 and 265 pounds, an elite athlete (9.8 RAS) and battle-hardened from playing over 130 NFL games.

Needless to say, Smith is giving Musgrave a crash course in the difficulties of blocking edge rushers in the NFL.

“The blocking is definitely different. Going up against someone like Preston Smith…it’s different. They are fast, they are big, they are physical, they are on you quick,” Musgrave said after Thursday’s practice. “It’s great, I want to go against those guys because those are the (type of) guys I’m going to go against on gamedays.”

During each of the first two days of practice, Musgrave lost at least one battle in the trenches against Smith. The rookie is hopeful that the losses in training camp will get him ready for his first NFL season.

“They are making me better,” Musgrave said. “Preston, he’s an 11-year guy, he’s really good. I’m glad I’m going against him. At times, it’s frustrating, but it’s really good.”

Musgrave has consistently run with the No. 1 offense to open camp and is a near-lock to be a starter at tight end come Week 1. He needs to acclimate to blocking at the professional level, or there’s risk in being a one-dimensional player as a rookie.

Smith, a veteran leader on defense, is making sure the Packers’ first-team defense is giving Musgrave and the young offense everything they can handle during training camp.

“We’re just trying to do our better to help them get better,” Smith said. “We know we have a lot of young guys with a lot potential…we just have to make sure we’re the best competition so when we get to the season, they don’t see anyone better than us.”