Tuesday, July 21, 2009
Monday, July 20, 2009
The return of 16 Power O
Here is one Bengals fan who would like to see the return of the Bengals signature running play in the Bob Bratkowski era of Bengals offense, 16 Power O.
The play consists of the left guard, the weak side of the ball, pulling while the center and the left tackle make seal blocks on their men to cut off back side pursuit. In the mean time the Strong side line the right tackle & right guard drive block their side of the line while the Tight End blocks the strong side line backer. In the mean time the full back leads the half back through the whole looking for the middle linebacker, and the guard roars around the end looking to kick out any trailing pursuit or the strong side safety. This run is very effective against the 3-4 defenses in our division because the line backers get lost "in the trash" and there is a definite size mismatch of offensive personnel versus defensive personnel.
This play worked best when the Bengals line consisted of Levi Jones (LT), Eric Steinbach (LG), Rich Braham (C), Bobbie Williams (RG), Willie Anderson (RT), Reggie Kelly (TE), Chad Johnson (SE) TJ Houshmandzadeh (FL), Jeremy Johnson (FB), Rudi Johnson (RB), and Carson Palmer (QB)
Play) Braham snapped the ball to Carson, Steinbach pulled, Braham and Levi Jones, made their seal blocks, Anderson and Williams drove their men, while Kelly kicked out the strong side linebacker. Jeremy Johnson lead Rudi Johnson after receiving the ball from Carson and by this time Steinbach made it around the end to lead the play.
Analysis: this play worked for many reasons in its heyday. Most importantly strongman Rich Braham successfully handled the opposing team’s nose guard. Jones sealed his man off (not too difficult). Steinbach had the athletic ability to move around the end quickly. Anderson and Williams were a great drive blocking tandem, and Reggie Kelly was an excellent blocking TE who often kicked the strong side linebacker completely out of the play. Jeremy Johnson was a pretty fast and explosive full back lead blocker who smacked the opposing teams middle linebacker out of the play.
When Steinbach came around end he was usually one on one with the safety leaving Rudi Johnson to run amuck. Chad Johnson and TJ Houshmandzadeh were an explosive receiving tandem who kept the opposing teams corner backs well occupied.
The fall of 16 Power O) why did this once great play suddenly become grossly ineffective? The reasons are many: Center strongman Rich Braham retired and was replaced by the puny Eric Ghaiciuc. Many times the pulling guard was taken out by Ghaiciuc landing in his lap when he tried to pull because the nose guard had pushed him all the way into the backfield! Left guard Steinbach left via free agency and the Bengals did not have an athletic guard to replace him, hence when the guard was not tripped by the center being pushed into the backfield, he was late do to his lack of foot speed. Fullback Jeremy Johnson succumbed to numerous late night Big Mac runs and ate himself out of the league. Age and injury seemed to catch up to about everyone else: Willie Anderson, Levi Jones (who requested a trade), Reggie Kelly, and Rudi Johnson. Only the threat of Carson Palmer and his receiving duo of Johnson and Houshmandzadeh seemed to put any fear into AFC north defenses. Then Palmer was injured followed by Houshmandzadeh and finally Johnson (who had asked for a trade) and the Bengals offense in total (not just the 16 power O play) was officially toothless.
The return of 16 Power O? So what now? The new Bengals line looks something like this: (LT) Andrew Whitworth, (LG) Anthony Collins, (C) Kyle Cook, (LG) Bobbie Williams, (RT) Andre Smith, (TE) Reggie Kelly (although I expect that Coffman may end up starting ahead of both Kelly and Utecht)(FB) Jeremy Johnson (a more svelte? or more likely Fui Vakapuna) Palmer, Coles Johnson and Cedric Benson toting the ball.
The most important questions for the return of 16 power O are: Can Collins move like Steinbach used to. Can Cook hold his block of the nose guard? Can Reggie Kelly continue to bean excellent blocker (or can Coffman or Utecht do better)? Will Jeremy Johnson return to form? If so, Benson looks a little like both Rudi and Corey Dillon, same smash your face as Rudi with Dillon's ability to take it to the house. If so the Bengals offense looks like a return to old glory days. Much depends on the return of 16 Power O.
Big Dale
The play consists of the left guard, the weak side of the ball, pulling while the center and the left tackle make seal blocks on their men to cut off back side pursuit. In the mean time the Strong side line the right tackle & right guard drive block their side of the line while the Tight End blocks the strong side line backer. In the mean time the full back leads the half back through the whole looking for the middle linebacker, and the guard roars around the end looking to kick out any trailing pursuit or the strong side safety. This run is very effective against the 3-4 defenses in our division because the line backers get lost "in the trash" and there is a definite size mismatch of offensive personnel versus defensive personnel.
This play worked best when the Bengals line consisted of Levi Jones (LT), Eric Steinbach (LG), Rich Braham (C), Bobbie Williams (RG), Willie Anderson (RT), Reggie Kelly (TE), Chad Johnson (SE) TJ Houshmandzadeh (FL), Jeremy Johnson (FB), Rudi Johnson (RB), and Carson Palmer (QB)
Play) Braham snapped the ball to Carson, Steinbach pulled, Braham and Levi Jones, made their seal blocks, Anderson and Williams drove their men, while Kelly kicked out the strong side linebacker. Jeremy Johnson lead Rudi Johnson after receiving the ball from Carson and by this time Steinbach made it around the end to lead the play.
Analysis: this play worked for many reasons in its heyday. Most importantly strongman Rich Braham successfully handled the opposing team’s nose guard. Jones sealed his man off (not too difficult). Steinbach had the athletic ability to move around the end quickly. Anderson and Williams were a great drive blocking tandem, and Reggie Kelly was an excellent blocking TE who often kicked the strong side linebacker completely out of the play. Jeremy Johnson was a pretty fast and explosive full back lead blocker who smacked the opposing teams middle linebacker out of the play.
When Steinbach came around end he was usually one on one with the safety leaving Rudi Johnson to run amuck. Chad Johnson and TJ Houshmandzadeh were an explosive receiving tandem who kept the opposing teams corner backs well occupied.
The fall of 16 Power O) why did this once great play suddenly become grossly ineffective? The reasons are many: Center strongman Rich Braham retired and was replaced by the puny Eric Ghaiciuc. Many times the pulling guard was taken out by Ghaiciuc landing in his lap when he tried to pull because the nose guard had pushed him all the way into the backfield! Left guard Steinbach left via free agency and the Bengals did not have an athletic guard to replace him, hence when the guard was not tripped by the center being pushed into the backfield, he was late do to his lack of foot speed. Fullback Jeremy Johnson succumbed to numerous late night Big Mac runs and ate himself out of the league. Age and injury seemed to catch up to about everyone else: Willie Anderson, Levi Jones (who requested a trade), Reggie Kelly, and Rudi Johnson. Only the threat of Carson Palmer and his receiving duo of Johnson and Houshmandzadeh seemed to put any fear into AFC north defenses. Then Palmer was injured followed by Houshmandzadeh and finally Johnson (who had asked for a trade) and the Bengals offense in total (not just the 16 power O play) was officially toothless.
The return of 16 Power O? So what now? The new Bengals line looks something like this: (LT) Andrew Whitworth, (LG) Anthony Collins, (C) Kyle Cook, (LG) Bobbie Williams, (RT) Andre Smith, (TE) Reggie Kelly (although I expect that Coffman may end up starting ahead of both Kelly and Utecht)(FB) Jeremy Johnson (a more svelte? or more likely Fui Vakapuna) Palmer, Coles Johnson and Cedric Benson toting the ball.
The most important questions for the return of 16 power O are: Can Collins move like Steinbach used to. Can Cook hold his block of the nose guard? Can Reggie Kelly continue to bean excellent blocker (or can Coffman or Utecht do better)? Will Jeremy Johnson return to form? If so, Benson looks a little like both Rudi and Corey Dillon, same smash your face as Rudi with Dillon's ability to take it to the house. If so the Bengals offense looks like a return to old glory days. Much depends on the return of 16 Power O.
Big Dale
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)