Welcome to Establish The Fun, the place to spread the joy of football. We're trying harder to spread the joy than the NFL did in Week 1 of the regular season. We're back again, ready to talk about a week of football that warmed my heart.
Running that damn ball might get me back, and I'll be excited.
The 2-high shell defense is starting to fight back, forcing teams to either work their way up the field with quick games and RPOs or run the football. With all the linebackers at 220 pounds, the run game could be back. They throw the ball too many times, so having some beefy guys back in the run game is just my preference. So strong, this week's ETF will be entirely focused on the run game, because that's what people need.
So let's watch some film and take a look at a fun running game, starting with Houston.
The Texans found their curveball.
Last season, Houston TexansThe biggest weakness of their offense is their inability to run the ball. They finished 26th in the entire NFL in expected points added per run and never got the ground game going. Even more interesting is that the Texans ran a 21-man lineup (2 RBs, 1 TE) primarily, but were the second-worst team in football as measured by EPA/rush when they used up the 21. After acquiring WR Stefon Diggs in a trade and RB Joe Mixon in free agency, the question was how that would affect the run game (26th in early-down passing percentage), which is what they really wanted to accomplish last year.
If the win against the Colts showed anything, it's that they might have found a way to fight back. Houston won by rushing for 213 yards against a very physical Indianapolis. Joe Mixon turned back the clock and rushed for 159 yards and a touchdown, which impressed me greatly. Let's break down how they did it and what made it so entertaining.
Houston didn't drop back or run from 21 personnel the entire game, yet still got some really great opportunities and results from their offense. The answer? More 12 personnel! Houston finished 29th in 12 personnel percentage in 2023, but against Indianapolis they ran virtually their entire run game with 12 personnel. Last year, the most the Houston Texans ran with 12 personnel was 15 carries for 73 yards. On Sunday against the Colts, the Texans ran with 12 personnel for 131 yards on 21 carries. The use of TEs Dalton Schultz and Brevin Jordan really helped fuel the run game, and it will be very interesting to see that continue.
They used a lot of the concept of an outside zone run from the shotgun out of 12. The Colts are on the nickel line, which is huge for Houston to be successful here. The Texans can't run guys from the nickel line, which makes passing difficult. They move Jordan left and put Mixon and Schultz in the backfield. This is more of a pin pull with Jordan and Schultz on the pull line, WR Nico Collins pinning the nickel line and a convoy of blockers in front of Mixon.
It happens again, but this time the Colts walk to a five-man front. Jordan blocks the edge defender, and left tackle Laremy Tunsil goes upstairs and introduces himself to LB Zaire Franklin. Mixon makes a nice cut, only to watch as he finishes this run through contact. Being able to fight for extra yards is super important. This will make the Texans' offense more lethal than ever.
Now, let's talk about Mixon. His final year in Cincinnati wasn't his best, but I think Mixon is at his best when he can use his vision and power in the run game under center to cause problems for defenses. Now he's able to get back to that in Houston.
The concept of this run will be familiar to most fans. 49ers George Kittle and Kyle Juzek run often. The Texans run with Cade Stover and Jordan. Again, watch Mixon run strong. Jordan tips this edge defender to the nickel and Stover takes on the edge from his backfield position. Mixon gets the ball and gets plenty of use out of the turf. Watch Mixon slash through the defense. He might come back. This placement is also important because instead of putting a fullback on the field, the Texans opted for a tight end. This kept Indy in the nickel, which led to this result.
I also wanted to highlight this zone concept because it has a higher success rate for blocks. Stover and Jordan are the TE pair again, but Jordan is wide so he's locked on the edge. The Colts are on the base and Stover blocks the corner because WR Robert Woods beats the LB and induces a run for Mixon. Run blocking is a team sport.
The Texans Chicago Bears It's going to be another heavy run defense on Sunday, and I'll be interested to see how they build off of these foundational concepts in the run game and incorporate Jordan, Schultz and Stover in the passing game as well.
Ramondre Stevenson: Duo Demigod
The biggest upset this week New England Patriots tear down Cincinnati Bengals On the road, New England dominated Cincinnati. New England's standout performance was with Patriots running back Rhamondre Stevenson, who ran 25 times for 120 yards and a touchdown. New England especially dominated Cincinnati with a running concept called the Duo, a vertical run scheme.
Stephenson is a really cool runner and I think these concepts really highlight his lightning speed and deceptive agility as a runner, as well as the impressive blocking by the Patriots offensive line.
The concept of the duo run is based around a double team. The center and backside guard double team the nose tackle and attack towards the backside LB. Then the frontside guard and frontside tackle double team the other DT and attack towards the frontside LB. Another player, usually a tight end, makes a solo block on the EDGE. In simple terms, the duo tries to force everything and everyone inside through the double team.
This forces cornerbacks, who are paid to cover and not tackle, to do something they don't want to do – actually attack the guy. I think in 1-on-1 situations with a running back and a cornerback, there's a chance the running back can get past the DB and gain a lot of yards. Would the Patriots take this deal?
The Patriots' goal was to take advantage of Cincinnati's weak defense and have running back Rhamondre Stevenson shore up the Cincinnati defense, and Stevenson did just that, showcasing some of his best qualities.
This is one of the first plays of the game. The Patriots have an extra lineman and tight end on the field and line up on the right side of the offense (your left). Cincinnati is up four men up front, but LB Jermaine Pratt walks in to make it five. Based on their pre-snap alignment, here's what the blocking looks like:
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Stevenson's job is to read the playside LB (in this case #55, Logan Wilson) and read from his positioning. If he drops outside, he carries the ball up the middle. If he's pushed in, he bounces the ball. Stevenson pressures the line of scrimmage and rushes to run there. If he sees Wilson being pushed in, he bounces the ball. Cornerback Daxton Hill tries to make the tackle, but Stevenson stays calm and runs past Hill and downhill.
Stevenson is a very fun runner because of the way he's developed in the NFL. At Oklahoma, he was a slow downhill runner. Now, he has one of the lightest feet in the game, but he can dodge tackles like most backs of his weight (227 pounds). This works really well in duos because he can pressure the line and use his quick feet to get around corners and beat guys with his size. Again, the Patriots run duos and crush everything. Left tackle Bederian Rowe and left guard Michael Jordan (no relation to Michael Jordan, but this is Ohio State University). Stevenson escaped a corner tackle, got into the open field and slid right past the poor safety. Again, this guy weighs 227 pounds. No way he's making that move.
When the Patriots needed the toughest yards, they used Stevenson and the duo again. Watch how the Patriots cluttered everything inside and basically turned the front into a giant trash compactor. Stevenson makes a huge cut to the outside, lets one guy get away, then another guy get away, and ends this game. Stevenson is one of the most underrated and entertaining games in the NFL, and Sunday was his moment to shine.
If the Patriots can keep it up on the ground, it will change the outlook for the season. QB Jacoby Brissett fumbled a pass but made some timely scrambles when they needed to. The defense played great, holding the Bengals to 10 points. Stevenson played great on the ground. That's the secret to success in 2024. They'll get a chance to try that tactic on Sunday. Seahawks The forward line has been reinvigorated under new head coach Mike McDonald, and it will be interesting to see if Stephenson can become the demigod that he was in Cincinnati.
Dobbins is a fleabag!
ChargersRB JK Dobbins has had a tough NFL career, tearing his ACL, left knee and meniscus in 2021, forcing him to miss his entire second NFL season after rushing for over 800 yards. Baltimore RavensAfter missing the 2023 season with a torn Achilles tendon, Dobbins signed with Los Angeles in hopes of re-starting his career.
The Chargers' game against the San Antonio Spurs showed just how much the two need each other, as Dobbins rushed 10 times for 135 yards and helped the Chargers to victory. Las Vegas RaidersDobbins had runs of 46 and 61 yards nearly a year after tearing his Achilles, and while it was a pretty cool moment for him, it also offered a glimpse of what he and Harbaugh's offense can do against NFL defenses.
On the first big run, the Chargers are running the inside zone. As safety Marcus Epps runs into the box, the Chargers switch strengths by motioning both TE Hayden Hurst and Dobbins. The fronts didn't change, but Epps' assignment in the run scheme did. He's the backside defender and needs to stay out of the mud in case Dobbins cuts back from the inside zone track.
Guess what Dobbins did? Yep, he cut back. With both DTs in the B gap, the A gap is left wide open and the linebackers have to do their best to fill it. Epps gets lost in run support and destroys the backside EDGE with his teammate. Dobbins sees this, cuts back with a great block on Zion Johnson, and is off to the races.
The second big run was another way for Dobbins and the Chargers to make the Raiders defense pay for their over-aggression. LA is trying to push everything inside on this run play out of the I-formation (shut up, my heart is beating fast). The Raiders are totally intent on stopping this run. Look at LB No. 5 Devine Diablo. The eyeballs in the motion don't do much, but the ball gets snapped. He immediately penetrates on the right side of the ball, which is where the play should be going. Panic, sound the alarm. A negative play is coming. But remember Diablo? He's too aggressive in this gap, and his backside is wide open. Dobbins cuts back and we have another big explosive run.
Dobbins' touchdown puts the Raiders at a blitz disadvantage again, which I think shows how far Dobbins' recovery has come. The Chargers start with the pistol, but move Dobbins to the left of QB Justin Herbert. The Raiders have Epps off the edge from the outside of the video, but the problem is that he and Maxx Crosby on the edge end up occupying the same gap. A rock-star double-team by the Chargers' right guard and tackle breaks Dobbins free. He sprints past his man and into the end zone for his first touchdown of the season.
Dobbins would mean a lot to this version of the Chargers. This team is built in the trenches and up front, and they need to make plays on the ground to generate explosive plays. Dobbins, just coming back from injury, looked a lot more explosive than Gus Edwards was. And with more time to get his legs in shape, he could turn big runs into touchdown runs. But that's exactly what Los Angeles needs: a back who can be explosive and loosen up the defense a little.
The Chargers passing game is somewhat suspect right now, so their ability to run the ball for big plays will be key to the offense's success, as the passing game alone may not be enough. If Dobbins can stay healthy, he'll be a key part of this offense and a reason Harbaugh's ball could work in the NFL again.
