OT: will that FG block by the Pats fundamentally change kicks?

[Success]

Honestly, a tip of the cap to the mighty hoodie.  That was something else, and as soon as it happened, it was like, how has no one else thought of this?  He should have kept it in his back pocket for a bigger game, imo.

 

I can see multiple variations of that kind of disruption. Obviously, teams will prep better for it now.  But in some ways, it seems like that move in "Karate Kid" for which there is no real defense.

 

Gotta wonder if we'll try a wrinkle or 2 in that respect, but at minimum, we need to prepare for it.

 

Thoughts?

 

[RiotAct]

care to elaborate?  Was it something about the scheme in the way they lined up that’s a huge mismatch or something?

[Big Turk]

3 minutes ago, RiotAct said:

care to elaborate?  Was it something about the scheme in the way they lined up that’s a huge mismatch or something?

 

dude lined up near the sidelines and then before the kick came screaming in like he was in motion towards the LOS and then hit the LOS perfectly as the ball was snapped and got there so easily it will be almost impossible to make another FG if this becomes standard operating procedure without some major adjustments...

 

It was like the punt block when the guy lines up to cover the gunner then before the snap comes flying in towards the LOS to block the punt leaving the gunner uncovered...except in this case he was out there covering nobody and then did the same thing.

Edited September 18, 2023 by Big Turk

[MJS]

2 minutes ago, RiotAct said:

care to elaborate?  Was it something about the scheme in the way they lined up that’s a huge mismatch or something?

They ran a guy parallel to the line of scrimmage to get him momentum for when the ball was snapped.

[Fleezoid]

That was a good design. He was able to watch the snap of the ball and had some speed when he cut up field. It'll be hard to repeat as the end guys will see it coming now. 

[MJS]

1 minute ago, Big Turk said:

 

dude lined up near the sidelines and then before the kick came screaming in like he was in motion towards the LOS and then hit the LOS perfectly as the ball was snapped and got there so easily it will be almost impossible to make another FG if this becomes standard operating procedure without some major adjustments

I mean, the "major" adjustment is have a guy ready to block him.

[Big Turk]

Just now, MJS said:

I mean, the "major" adjustment is have a guy ready to block him.

 

Then that opens up other holes.

[LABILLBACKER]

Holders will have to delay the snap to cause off sides.  It was a brilliant timing play.

[Franco_92]

First counter is to be unpredictable about the snap to either neutralize the guy completely or cause an offside penalty

[Doc Brown]

One time thing.  Easily defendable with delayed snap and extra blocker.  Nice job by BB though for trying to make up for not signing Hopkins to make the offense at least average.

[MJS]

1 minute ago, Big Turk said:

Then that opens up other holes.

Not really, because if you devote a guy to do the run, you are taking him away from the rush anyway.

 

Plus, all you really need to do is wait to snap it until he runs in and is forced to stop, or snap it before he is close enough.

[HoofHearted]

3 minutes ago, MJS said:

I mean, the "major" adjustment is have a guy ready to block him.

The major adjustment is to vary the snap like it's coached to be. This is what happens when there's poor coaching of special teams.

[QCity]

It wasn't just a block, the play was designed to score. Check out Miller running down field in case the blocked ball comes to him. Never seen anything like that.

 

 

[MJS]

Just now, Doc Brown said:

One time thing.  Easily defendable with delayed snap and extra blocker.  Nice job by BB though for trying to make up for not signing Hopkins to make the offense at least average.

Yeah, it was a nice play, but it isn't going to revolutionize anything.

[Motorin']

1 minute ago, arcane said:

First counter is to be unpredictable about the snap to either neutralize the guy completely or cause an offside penalty

 

Which they did a little bit on the next fg. But it seemed to throw the timing off, and you have to think the kicker is a bit distracted by a guy screaming down the line. 

[HoofHearted]

7 minutes ago, QCity said:

It wasn't just a block, the play was designed to score. Check out Miller running down field in case the blocked ball comes to him. Never seen anything like that.

 

 

All FG blocks are taught that way. There's always a block guy to one side and a scoop and score guy to the other. This is nothing new.

 

EDIT: @QCity - not sure what you're disagreeing with. Do some research about FG Block Schemes if you don't believe me. The information is out there lol.

Edited September 18, 2023 by HoofHearted

[MJS]

Just now, Motorin' said:

Which they did a little bit on the next fg. But it seemed to throw the timing off, and you have to think the kicker is a bit distracted by a guy screaming down the line. 

They had a sucky kicker from long range anyway.

[Big Turk]

Just now, Motorin' said:

 

Which they did a little bit on the next fg. But it seemed to throw the timing off, and you have to think the kicker is a bit distracted by a guy screaming down the line. 

 

yup, he missed quite badly

[stevewin]

FWIW it wasn't the fat miserable cheating ball coach who drew it up - it was mastermind Joe Judge

 

Quote

"(Special teams coaches Joe) Judge, (Joe) Houston, and Cam (Achord), they dialed up a really good scheme for that block and saw a weak point on their field goal operation," Schooler said after the game. "We worked it during the week and felt pretty confident about it going into the game."

 

[Rock'em Sock'em]

Another brilliant part of the play for New England is that the off rushing end (#27) did not rush the kicker.  He was awaiting to pick up a blocked football for a scoop and score.  Yesterday, the ball did not bounce he was, but it would seem likely to do so based on where he was waiting.

https://www.patriots.com/video/brenden-schooler-blocks-dolphins-field-goal

 

Having a speedy edge blocker capable of blocking that player, or putting the edge blocker more off the LOS would have its own consequences. The best counter of this will be changing the snap count and perhaps even using well timed offensive motion and hard counts to draw that player offside. And of course doing that could diminish the ability to focus on the kick.  I'm curious to see how prevalent this becomes.

 

On a similar note, Kam Chancellor had a few blocked kicks before the NFL put in a rule preventing his technique. https://www.seahawks.com/video/seahawks-safety-kam-chancellor-leaps-to-block-field-goals-184788