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Justin Forsett Vs The Patriots
Justin Forsett Vs The Patriots
Justin Forsett Vs The Patriots
Play 1
Situation: 1st and 10 at BAL 21
Description: Q1 (10:44) J.Forsett left tackle to BLT 31 for 10 yards
(D.Hightower; J.Collins).
Play 2
Situation: 1st and 10 at BAL 25
Description: Q2 (9:26) J.Forsett left tackle to BLT 37 for 12 yards
(D.McCourty; P.Chung).
In this play, Forsett cuts inside to pull LB91 Collins up the field so he can
explode outside for a large gain.
As a variation, the Ravens ran the inside zone in combination with a fake wide
receiver end around a couple times against the Patriots seen in Play 3:
Play 3
Situation: 2nd and 4 at BAL 49
Description: Q1 (8:49) J.Forsett up the middle to NE 44 for 7 yards
(K.Arrington).
This play is very similar to Play 1. Forsett takes the snap and reads the
double-team of LG72 Osemele and C53 Zuttah and LB54 Hightower crashing
through the A-gap between C53 Zuttah and RG64 Urschel.
Forsett cuts right to pull Hightower away from the gap allowing Urschel and
RT73 Yanda to pass blocking assignments and then Forsett cuts back left into
the gap created by the LG and C.
The reason I showed this play is to illustrate the teamwork and complexity of
the zone-blocking scheme. Based on the defenders reaction to Forsetts
cutting, the offensive lineman trade blocking assignments. Watch how in the
beginning of the play RG64 Urschel has the inside shoulder and RT73 Yanda
has the outside shoulder of DT75 Wilfork.
Once Forsett cuts back inside, Urschel and Yanda swap assignments to make
sure LB54 Hightower is covered. This is completely due to Forsetts cutting
back-and-forth.
If Forsett didnt cut right and then cut back left to set up this block, Urschel
would have released to block Hightower while Yanda would have stayed on
Wilfork who would have been able to penetrate due to better leverage. It is
these minute differences that allow this play to go for 7 yards as opposed 3-4
yards.
Another staple of the zone-blocking scheme is the outside zone run. The
outside zone is very similar to the inside zone run concept in terms of covered
versus uncovered blocking with the difference that the runningback takes his
first step or two outside to reach the edge and the offensive lineman have to
seal the backside run defenders from making a play. The Ravens run it in Play
4.
Play 4
Situation: 1st and 10 at BAL 31
Description: Q1 (10:08) J.Forsett left tackle pushed ob at BLT 43 for 12
yards (D.Hightower).
Finally in Play 5, the Ravens run a power toss sweep to utilize Forsetts speed
and patience around the edge.
Play 5
Situation: 2nd and 10 at BAL 25
Description: Q1 (:36) J.Forsett right end to BLT 44 for 19 yards
(D.McCourty). BLT-S.Smith was injured during the play.
Play 4 is a power toss sweep where Forsett takes the handoff and
immediately runs laterally to the right setting up his blocks. The two blocks
circled are the most important blocks in this play. If RG64 Urschel lost his
battle and WR14 Brown allowed his man in this play would have been a loss
instead of a large gain. Forsett reads these two blocks and continues outside.
After Forsett escapes to the edge his goal is to watch RT73 Yanda and TE81
Daniels who pulled to power block up the right sideline. They both get inside
leverage allowing Forsett to explode up the field for a 19 yard gain.
In this play, Forsett showed his vision and patience to allow his blocks to form
and not cut prematurely up the field.
Play 6
Situation: 1st and 10 at NE 16
Description: Q3 (10:29) J.Flacco pass short right to J.Forsett for 16 yards,
TOUCHDOWN. J.Tucker extra point is GOOD, Center-P.Scales, Holder-
S.Koch.
Overall, Forsett is a great fit for Gary Kubiaks zone-blocking scheme. The
offensive lineman double-team defensive lineman and swap blocking
assignments to get to the second level linebackers. The main requirements of
a runningback in the zone-blocking scheme are patience, vision and one-cut
ability to find the hole and set up blockers downfield. Forsett demonstrates all
of those traits and should do whatever it takes to stay in a system that utilizes
this if Gary Kubiak leaves this off-season to pursue a head coaching position
elsewhere.