If the Detroit Lions want to reestablish themselves as Super Bowl contenders, improving the run game has to be at the top of the priority list. Week 1 against the New Orleans Saints was a strong start.
Throughout the season, I plan on writing these film studies to breakdown different elements of the game. Each week will focus on something different or build on a previous film study. Some weeks it will be the offense, others the defense. It could be a single play in great detail, a critical series,
or anything that catches my eye and that I think will be interesting to dig into.
This week its the run game that will be put under the microscope.
With that said, I want to make one thing clear: I do not have all of the answers. The approach to this series will be one where I am learning, studying the film and growing my own knowledge of the Lions and the ever-evolving game of football.
So if you have questions, disagree with something, or have constructive criticisms and corrections, please join the discussion in the comments section.
Main takeaways
After watching all of the Lions’ run plays from Week 1, there are three main takeaways I came away with:
- Occasional “key breaker” changeups
- A detailed in making similar schemes look different
- Isaac TeSlaa is a difference-maker
“CRUNCH” key breaker
My favorite run play of the game is in this first one featured below.
This run scheme is known as a “CRUNCH” concept. Fundamentally, the concept involves cross-blocks with roots in trap and belly schemes.
This concept, visually shown below, hinges on backside trap blocks (yellow) from the tight end as well as both the left and right guards. The run is designed to hit the strong-side C gap, between right tackle Blake Miller and tight end Brock Wright.
Miller (green) kicks out the wide-9 edge defender, while the Wright follows behind and traps the inside 3-technique defensive tackle. This cross-block concept continues down the line as center Juice Scruggs and left tackle Penei Sewell (orange) glide up to the second level.
This run scheme creates two advantages worth highlighting.
First, the cross-blocks between the right tackle the tight end gives each blocker an advantageous angle for his respective assignments, putting each player in a better position to succeed. Those angles create a natural wall in the C-gap alley, similar to classic belly and trap schemes.
Second, linebackers are often given keys to follow pulling guards. This CRUNCH concept is designed to break those keys.
On this play, both guards give pull to their left, while the intended run gap is to their right, creating a false read for the linebackers. When you watch the video clip of the play below, keep your eyes on linebackers No. 55 and No. 20.
No. 55 immediately points in the direction of the pulling guards and hesitates, while number 20 is off to the races to filling in the direction of the pulling guards.
Key breaker plays are a great changeup to have in any good scheme, both for the current game and for future opponents to be cognizant of while game planning.
The next play shows a slightly similar action, but in a zone-blocking scheme. Watch right tackle Blake Miller similarly kick out the edge defender, while tight end Sam LaPorta slides inside with a lead fold block into the play-side zone scheme.
A critical takeaway here is that the good coaches make the same schemes look different while making different schemes look the same. Drew Petzing gives a small taste of that with those blocking actions above. In the series of plays, its taken to another level.
Heavy personnel shell game
Throughout Dan Campbell’s tenure as the Lions’ head coach, the team has consistently used six offensive lineman personnel packages, previously featuring Dan Skipper. Now Skipper is wearing a headset, but the heavy personnel packages are here to stay.
Petzing called heavy personnel five times in Week 1, each with a different twist.
Now, I don’t know the exact verbiage for these plays, but for sake of clarity in showing the differences in each variation, I’ll use some of my own terms to define elements.
Play 1 – Heavy Left, Tackle Swap, Power Right
The Lions’ first touchdown of the season grabbed plenty of attention as Petzing pulled out a wrinkle by swapping Penei Sewell back to the right side with Blake Miller to the left, while sixth offensive lineman Larry Borum checked in and declared as eligible.
The Lions immediately ran right behind the All-Pro with a power concept.
Note LaPorta’s strong combination block with Sewell, initiating the double-team before peeling off to block the second-level linebacker allowing Gibbs to walk in untouched.
Heavy Left: six offensive linemen, with the sixth lined up to the left.
Tackle Swap: left and right tackles swap positions.
Power Right: run concept.
Play 2 – Heavy Right, DUO Right, “tag” Man
On the second called play with heavy personnel, the Lions did not line up with any personnel deception. Sewell was in his normal left tackle position, with Miller and Borum to the right.
This is where I will be honest, I am not entirely sure what the run concept initially called here was, but my suspicion here is that it was a DUO scheme with a “man” tag based on the defensive alignment.
The Saints respond to the heavy personnel with two 2i-techniques in the A gaps. This throws a wrench in traditional DUO concept.
DUO typically presents with double-teams of the guard and center against the A-gap defender, with a second double team of the other guard and tackle against the opposite B-gap defender.
With both A gaps occupied and neither B gaps occupied, adjustments have to be made. Borum and Miller double the strong-side C-gap defender, while the “man” tag calls for each guard to take a man base block of the 2i-techniques. Center Scruggs immediately releases to the second-level linebacker.
Heavy Right: six offensive linemen, with the sixth lined up to the right.
DUO, “tag” Man: run concept.
Play 3 – Heavy Left, Miller Extra, Inside Zone Right
Next, a new variation of heavy emerges, with Blake Miller is the “extra” sixth offensive lineman and lining up outside of and next to left tackle Sewell. The Lions also ran this with an unbalanced alignment, putting two tight ends on the Heavy Left side.
With all the attention of the tight ends and both starting tackles on the left side, Petzing calls the an inside zone run concept to the weak side with Borum at right tackle.
Heavy Left: six offensive linemen, with the sixth lined up to the left.
Miller Extra: Blake Miller becomes the extra lineman.
Inside Zone Right: run concept.
Play 4 – Heavy Right, Sewell Extra, DUO Right, “tag” Man
The fourth iteration of heavy is a blend of Plays 2 and 3.
Heavy Right: six offensive linemen, with the sixth lined up to the right.
Sewell Extra: Penei Sewell becomes the extra lineman.
DUO, “tag” Man: run concept.
Play 5 – Heavy Left, Tackle Swap, Power Right
Same as Play 1, and almost another Gibbs touchdown.
A few key notes here.
On all five of the heavy personnel plays, Larry Borum declared as the eligible receiver, regardless of the various alignments. Given that the Lions varied how they aligned all three tackles, it is not hard to image how difficult this could be for a defense to track.
Who is eligible? Where is the eligible receiver aligned? Where is the strength?
It’s a game of Three-Card Monte, but with Sewell, Miller, and Borum.
Isaac TeSlaa shoutout
The last play of this film study is a quick shoutout to the wide receivers and their role in the run game, particularly Isaac TeSlaa.
While TeSlaa was limited to zero receptions on a single target, he was still a difference-maker in the game.
This outside zone toss sweep only works because TeSlaa down-blocks on edge defender Tyree Wilson. TeSlaa strains and maintains his block until Gibbs rounds the corner.
Despite finishing the play on his tail, TeSlaa will earn the respect of his teammates and coaching staff for doing the dirty work.
