Ravens at Seahawks gifs

by Nate Dogg on Nov 17, 2011 9:30 AM PST

In the interest of not crashing everyone's browsers I've linked to the gifs instead of embedding them. You're welcome.

Play 1 - James Carpenter vs Cory Redding. He still looking rough in pass protection. Please don't be hurt for too long, James.

Play 2 - Gallery vs Haloti Ngata. Hit it, Mr Muth:

The other thing Gallery is good at is driving his feet when a defender tries to disengage. Defensive linemen are taught to explode off the ball, get leverage in their gaps, find the ball, and get off a block. It sounds like a lot, but it should all happen within the first two seconds of the play. There are two ways to effectively block defenders in the NFL. One way is to out-leverage them at the snap -- this is what the stretch game is based on. The theory is that once a defender loses his leverage on his gap, he panics and starts overcompensating to recover, opening up cutback lanes. The other way is to run your feet like hell when the defender is looking for the ball and he’s trying to disengage the block. When a defender is trying to do those things, he isn’t moving forward as much, and is less focused on the blocker. By running your feet, you can really move a defender right as the back is hitting the line of scrimmage. This is what announcers are referring to when they say that someone is "finishing his block." Finishing your block results in late-opening cutback lanes and a lot of arm tackles. Gallery excels at finishing blocks late by running his feet.

Play 3 - Marshawn Lynch vs a cutback lane. I've heard people say that Marshawn Lynch does more with less than any other running back. Plays like this are why I disagree. As great of a game as Marshawn had, cutback lanes are still being wasted.

Play 4 - Marshawn Lynch vs a hole. I'm not exactly sure what to make of this play, other than that it should have gone for more yards. Lynch appears to ignore the hole Miller is trying to lead him through, instead opting to run up the back of Jeanpierre. It's easy to put all of the blame on Lynch for picking the wrong hole, but it does look like Gallery misses his block on Ray Lewis. Lewis would've had a play on Lynch if he had followed Miller, and Lynch may have had more room to run behind Gallery if he doesn't miss. Ultimately I don't like Lynch's decision but Gallery also has a part in why this play isn't more successful.

Play 5 - Seahawks' offensive line vs Ravens' defensive front 7 . This got some attention in the game thread comments. The only thing that isn't sexy about this gif is that CBS didn't cut to the play until well after the snap.

Play 5 - Marshawn's view. Cory Redding going backwards.

Play 6 - Tarvaris Jackson to Golden Tate. You know who isn't very good? Tarvaris Jackson. You know who made one hell of a pass on third down in the fourth quarter to help put away the best team away in the AFC? Tarvaris Jackson.

Play 7 - Marshawn Lynch vs everyone. You know those people that say Marshawn does more with less than any other running back? They're not getting that from nowhere. This ends up being a team effort, but I don't think many running backs would've kept this play going with or without his entire offensive line pulling him along.

Hold up, are you back already? That gif isn't over, Marshawn is still running. Go watch it again, all the way through this time.

Play 7 - I like this view better. You can see the name on the back of Ray Lewis' jersey better.

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Comments

Very nice.

I’d still like to see that Reed fumble where MRob knocks the wedge’s butt into Reed’s crotch.

by Groundhog on Nov 16, 2011 6:38 PM PST reply actions

Yeah, I debated on making one for that.

Here you go. Pretty straight forward play by Robinson, not sure I give him much credit for the fumble.

by Nate Dogg on Nov 16, 2011 7:33 PM PST up reply actions

Sweet. Thanks!

Robinson is a pretty good wedge buster considering his size. He hits low and generally takes himself out of the play, but he does close down the running lane.

by Groundhog on Nov 17, 2011 11:55 AM PST up reply actions

Also, I gotta say a giant ass smashing into my crotch would make me drop everything.

by Groundhog on Nov 17, 2011 1:50 PM PST up reply actions

Good to see Gallery getting recognition

One embarrassing play aside (and against an outside linebacker that Canton’s already forged a bust for) he has looked solid to me. Moves well, works his ass off, and shows power down field.

As for Lynch, I’m not crazy about him, per se, but I think he’s a good back, and that Seattle would benefit immensely by complementing him with an electric change of pace back. That might sound like wishcasting, but they’re not especially rare. I’ve read that Seattle might target a back in the draft because Lynch is a free agent in 2012, but would be pretty surprised if he isn’t re-signed. Lynch embodies the offense Carroll wants to create.

by John Morgan on Nov 16, 2011 6:54 PM PST reply actions

An electric change of pace back like...

LaMichael James?

by Nate Dogg on Nov 16, 2011 7:19 PM PST up reply actions

Or Lamar Miller

One can wish.

by Stagerman on Nov 17, 2011 12:12 AM PST up reply actions

Leon Washington anyone?

I hear he’s pretty explosive.

by brugg on Nov 17, 2011 10:18 AM PST via mobile up reply actions

He was

before Paul gave him in the cancerAIDS in the offseason.

by Greetings from the Lord Humongous! on Nov 17, 2011 12:06 PM PST up reply actions

Whoa. There's gotta be an inside joke in there I missed.

Always up for some Twitter action @nandron. I only talk NW sports, though.

by Nick Andron on Nov 17, 2011 1:41 PM PST up reply actions

I think I disagree

It seems like Carroll is trying to put the lion’s share of effort on the O line. Someone with a Shaun Alexander-type skillset, with quick feet and the ability to change direction instantly, would do very well with the kind of line that we seem to be developing. Many of the runs I’ve seen from Lynch, while nobody can deny the hard effort and churning yards from nothing that they generate, seem almost unnecessary in the long term. With an (eventually) all-pro line, I think we’ll want someone who can take advantage of the holes they open up rather than someone who hits the linemen’s backs running and puts that effort to waste.

Leon Washington seems like a natural in this role, but for whatever reason hasn’t done very well whenever he’s ran out of the backfield. Lack of practice behind the line? Different skills needed between kick returning and straight running plays?

"That's funny. I post here all the time and I never see (you) here."
- GreatGoogly, to John Morgan

"John Morgan IS Field Gulls, asshole!"

by Clendy on Nov 17, 2011 2:11 PM PST up reply actions

Nate, any chance you can find the clip of Ray Lewis getting laid out?

I was at the game and only saw the aftermath, and I’m dying to see the hit: Okung celebrating over the wreckage of Lewis’ body, Ray Lewis shaking his head to clear the cobwebs before being helped up by a teammate and limping back to the huddle. The Seahawks were attacking the North side of the stadium in the red zone if that helps. Must have come after one of the Ravens KR fumbles.

by jhmg16 on Nov 16, 2011 10:50 PM PST reply actions

I'll look, because it sounds awesome

but it also sounds tough to find. Any idea if it was a running play or a passing play? Which quarter or even which half?

by Nate Dogg on Nov 16, 2011 11:34 PM PST up reply actions

I think I found it

unfortunately the TV crew didn’t really show it at all. Gallery finishes his block on Lewis by slamming him to the turf face first at the end of a Leon Washington running play. After the play everyone is dusting themselves off and Okung gives Gallery a high five over the top of Lewis, who is off camera but is probably still laying on the ground.

by Nate Dogg on Nov 16, 2011 11:58 PM PST up reply actions

Thanks man for looking into it!

I figured it was going to be one of those hidden plays, otherwise you guys would have been all over it. Most people in the stadium didn’t even seem to catch it.

by jhmg16 on Nov 17, 2011 9:58 AM PST up reply actions

Awesome stuff and great job!

Thanks for taking the time to put these together!

Procrastination is the Art of Keeping Up with Yesterday.

by Ryche And Roll on Nov 17, 2011 10:42 AM PST reply actions

Thoughts on Lynch and that last play

Looks like Lewis was 100% all in for the strip, even as they are going down Lewis is like a honey badger on the ball. Color me impressed (Seahawks blue is the color of pride) with Lynch’s ability to protect the ball against a very physical Ravens defense.

In 146 touches this season, Lynch has had 2 fumbles, 1 each at the Giants and Cincinatti in back to back games. I think one of the reasons we see him opting for the power run more than the cutback may have to do with coaching – attention to ball security. Especially against a team like the Ravens, if you can get 3.4 YPC and not fumble the ball, it is a resounding success.

Smashmouth is the new sexy!

by pqlqi on Nov 17, 2011 11:28 AM PST reply actions 1 recs