Cardinals’ Poor PFF Offensive Line Grades | Forum

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laiyongcai92
laiyongcai92 Nov 26 '18

 A Rebuttal PFF’s offensive line grades are generally lower and more heavily scrutinized than other positions. Part of the problem is that their evaluators do not know for certain what the team’s blocking assignments are for each play. They can make some assumptions based on generally practiced blocking rules Arizona Cardinals Hats , but what they may not know, for example, is whether a G or C is assigned a reach block on the play---and reach blocks are very much in vogue these days. But often times, the G or C needs to scrap his reach block assignment if his play side gap is being blitzed---or of there is a twist stunt and thus a switch needs to be made.Offensive line play is so nuanced (with changes made on the fly) that it would be difficult for PFF to achieve the kind of accurate grades that the teams themselves would be able to assess knowing the play call, the prescribed assignments and switch rules versus blitzes and stunts.I agree with many of you that the Cardinals’ offensive line has been pretty solid, especially based on the fact that they have matched up against 3 of the best defensive lines in the NFL---AND---that the Cardinals’ play calling has been ultra conservative to the point where the defenses can load up the box and feel like all they have to defend is a 20 yard box. The Cardinals have to start backing defenses off---and let’s face it---they also haven’t shown that they can keep hard rushing defenses honest by executing good screen and draw plays---plus, they have not posed a scrambling and escape threat at the QB position.As Seth points out, the Cardinals’ offensive line have one of the highest run blocking grades—-but how can that be? Typically they have been blocking against staked boxes and teams are run blitzing when they see running formations. Under the circumstances, the Cardinals’ offensive line has stood up fairly well—-but—-here again—-even when the grades are in the Cardinals’ favor—-the reality is that the Cardinals’ rushing attack has yet to get on track—-partly due to predictable and conservative play calling, but also partly due to the team having to play so often from behind.From this fan’s perspective—-I would give the unit a B- overall after 3 weeks, especially based on the quality of the opponents. The individual grades are as follows:LT D.J. Humphries——run blocking: B; pass blocking: C+ (overall grade: B-)LG Mike Iupati—-run blocking: B-; pass blocking: C- (overall grade: C)C Mason Cole—-run blocking: B-; pass blocking: B (overall grade: B)RG Justin Pugh—-run blocking: B-; pass blocking: C+ (overall grade: B-)RT John Wetzel—-run blocking: B-; pass blocking: A- (overall grade: B+)I think that Ray Brown is doing a commendable job—-and now with a more mobile QB as the starter, who can do a better job of keeping defenses somewhat off-balance—-the offensive line could start to get into a groove. It will help their cause too to have Jermaine Gresham back as the blocking TE. Perhaps FB Derrick Coleman will be used more in the games ahead. Moreover, the Cardinals need to get better pass pro blocking from their RBs—-which also stands as one of the reasons why the unit’s PFF grade is low.How often are we hearing that a RB missed his block? Enough already. Josh Rosen said yesterday in his press conference that the RBs and Chase Edmonds in particular have been nailing down the blocking assignments big-time this week. Let’s just make sure that David Johnson isn’t being tutored on the sideline with a close game on the line.Teaching Points (Kanoff to Kirk) Thanks to a Ronnie Laybold tweet here is the breakdown of a successful flat pass left by QB Charles Kanoff versus a Cover 3 zone to WR Christian Kirk. Good quick over-the-top release by Kanoff (#6) Black Andre Smith Jersey , who quickly squares his shoulders to the target (textbook) and hits Christian Kirk (#13) in stride.Would like to see Kanoff’s tee (ball) position during his dropback be a little higher.Kirk catches the football cleanly with his hands, not his body, which allows him to accelerate for extra yards after the catch. WR Trent Sheffield makes a good, alert side block on chasing NCB Bene Benwikere (#23)..Excellent fan block by LT John Wetzel (#73) on RDE Cap Capi (#61). Not good by Capi to stop his feet.Good double team on DT Olsen Pierre (#72) by RG Will House (#60) and C Daniel Munyer (#62). That’s a good inside pass rusher they nullified, which is the key to the play. Although Pierre stands up on the snap and gets off the ball too late. Poor technique.Notice because of the effective double team and fan block by the LT—-the wide open passing lane the offense creates for Kanoff and Kirk.DT Rodney Gunter (#95) stands up too quickly off the snap and gets planted by the RG who could be flagged for holding behind the top Gunter’s left shoulder.RT Will Holden (#69)executes a perfect fan block away from the play.RB T.J. Logan (#22) is protecting against an A gap blitz, but none comes and the pocket is clean.Defense is playing zone. LB Scooby Wright (#56) gets to his hook zone, but doesn’t react quicker to Kirk who crosses Wright’s face. Wright needs to communicate with the CB. The key here is to play man in your zone until the receiver leaves it when you pass the man over to the defender in the next zone (here it’s the NCB in the flat).The nickel CB (#23) Bene Benwikere has the flat, but like Wright, he’s late to react and only gets one hand on Kirk. In zones you have to react quickly to the ball because ideally you want to arrive just after the ball does so you can bust the play up.The CB (#33) Chris Campbell comes up from his deep third to make the tackle, but over-pursues it, allowing Kirk a possible cutback—-although—-Wright hustles well from the inside to help. The rule for the CB is to break down and to use the sideline as an extra defender, which Campbell did not do.Good grades on this play: QB Kanoff, WR Kirk Black Tre Boston Jersey , LT Wetzel, LG House, C Munyer, RT Holden, RB Logan, WR Sherfield.Poor grades on this play: RG (couldn’t make his number out—-his hold could have ruined the play), DT Gunter, DT Pierre, DE Capi, LB Wright, NCB Benwikere, RCB Campbell.Excellent play design versus zone by Mike McCoy. Double teaming the play-side tackle with the LG and C. Filling/protecting the opposite A gap with the RB. Running the WR quickly into the gray area between and underneath the ILB and the flat NCB and setting up a crack-back block by the WR.

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