The Football Brainiacs

Hey, it’s my first crack at the Defense so take it easy on me!  Right here, you have Phillips top arrow and Striker bottom.  Phillips comes off with a great quick swim, and causes the Center to completely whiff.  Striker is going to be picked up by the fullback.

This just shows how quick in a short distance Jordan is.  He’s even with Q. Hayes who is a DB.  He’s one of those guys blessed with God given talent that makes it unfair.  He’s bigger than centers and guards.  He’s quicker.  And like a boxer, you can’t get inside that massive reach.  So getting your hands on him when he’s technically sound is nearly impossible.  So when you think about how your nose has a reach longer than most of your O-Tackles, that’s scary.

This is a great shot of what run fits are supposed to look like.  Jordan Evans is the bottom arrow and Dominique Alexander is the top.  Dom wouldn’t have made this play last year early on, but since he’s playing more instinctively, he beats the center to the point and you can see the “fit” he has to make.

Here it was a frame earlier and you can see where if he hesitates (top arrow), then the center cuts him off and it’s a big run play.  Striker has outside contain, and Evans has that C-gap.  Dom is “fitting” into the frontside A-Gap

And since our D-line held the point and demanded double teams, Dom is able to scrape over and make a nice play.  He’s so much bigger and stronger physically that he looks like a different player.  Now that he’s playing with instinct and not over thinking it, if he and Evans can stay healthy this D will be sick filthy.

A reader pointed it out how much of a difference that Boulware has made on special teams.  Look at the effort from Phillips and Sanchez.    This was just a great job.

Here’s Obo on Sanchez’s pick.  He’s already got the tackle beat.  He’s got that inside hand washing that tackle out and with that strong initial move, look how he’s turned the tackle outside.

Now it’s a straight shot to the QB, and he’s gotta stay on his feet.  If he doesn’t fall here, it’s most likely a hit and fumble.  Look at the pocket collapse in one second.  Striker has outside.  Geneo has beaten his man.  Gastelum is closing the pocket in the middle, and Dom is spying just in case.  One second was all it took to blow this thing up.

And talk about some big time hops!  Look at Sanchez get up for the pick.  Looks like Sterling is taking a picture of it behind em.  Heck of a nice play.

This was a screen play, and I wanted to point out how well coached our defense is.  You’ve got six red shirts in the picture, and Two of them are D-Linemen that didn’t go for the fake.  This was just a swarm.

This was another play I don’t think Dom makes last year.  Striker almost gets the tackle off the jump and rather than getting sucked inside, Dom stays where he’s supposed to.

And as the back gets away from Striker, Dom meets him with a perfect form tackle.  Kid has grown up.

Here Striker is at it again, and Obo (on the 2nd & 10 graphic) must’ve thought he heard a whistle.  Dimon’s on a loop twist.

Here again, you see that motor that won’t quit from Dimon, and Obo you see is still confused.  We came up with the sack on a play that we haven’t made in years past.  I gotta think that if Obo doesn’t think the play is over he crushes the QB as he was unblocked the whole time.

Phillips is just a landbeast.  This is one of those plays that he could have tackled everybody in the backfield.  Look at how deep he is on the first step.

This play is Charles Walker.  Textbook, picture perfect technique by the young buck here.  Locks out the guard and drives him a couple of yards deep.  If you listen closely I’m sure you can hear Coach Montgomery yelling “press, press, press!!!!”

And on a 3rd and two, when a big play is needed.  C-Dub just goes beastmode and makes a play for a three yard loss.  Kid may end up doing that #97 proud.

Here’s Devante Bond #23 (top arrow)  Julian #2 has got contain, so it frees up Bond to crash.  On play away, you’re scheming to leave that end unblocked, and you hear it in practice that if that backside end can make this play we’re in trouble.

Well guess what, you are in trouble, because he’s that fast and athletic.  You don’t see normal DEs/LBs on play away able to make this play often.

For the second blocked kick in the game and second of his career, Dimon just crushes the center and blocks the XP.  Again great effort up the middle.