Data from Week _4_ vs _Buffalo Bills______:
|
Run-Pass
|
18-45
|
|
Avg Starting Field Position
|
Own 30
|
|
1st Down Run-Pass
|
14-16
|
|
2nd Down Avg Distance to Go
|
9.0
|
|
2nd Down Run-Pass
|
4-15
|
|
3rd Down Avg Distance to Go
|
6.9 yards
|
|
3rd/4th Down Run-Pass
|
0-14
|
|
3rd Down Conversions
|
5/14
|
Drive Starters – The 1st play of each drive can
often reveal the intent of a coach to establish his game plan. How committed is
he to the run or pass when the team comes off the sideline? We track it each
week here –
Wk 4 - _Buffalo Bills :
_13 Drives - _5_ Run/_8_
Pass
Wk 3 - _NY Giants_ :
_13 Drives - _4_ Run/_9_
Pass
Wk 2 - _Oakland_ :
_9_ Drives - _7_
Run/_2_ Pass
Wk 1 - _Washington_: _11_ Drives - _6_
Run/_5_ Pass
2014 Total: 46 Drives - _22_ Run/_24_ Pass _48
% Run
* This statistic doesn’t count any 1-play kneel down drives.
The table doesn’t come close to describe how bad the Texans
run offense was. This offense is not
capable of consistently having to overcome 2nd and 9 against any
defense, they must be able to run the ball with some success to make this
offense work. The Texans ran the ball 14 times, excluding shotgun, and had a
grand total of 6 plays they gained at least a yard. The most they earned on the ground was an 8
yard gain out of the shotgun in the 2nd half. That is not going to
cut it but thankfully they had EJ Manuel on the schedule who played so poorly
he lost his starting job to Kyle Orton.
Why couldn’t the Texans run the ball, was it because Foster
wasn’t 100%, the Bills stacked the line to force the ball in the air?
The answer is poor execution by the offensive line, good
performance by the Bills front four which should not be surprising considering
the resources poured into that line.
The Texans are in 21 (2 backs, 1 TE) and the Bills are in their
base 3-4 look.
This play is instantly doomed when the tight end obviously
ran the wrong assignment on the zone stretch play to the left, result is a
4-yard loss.
Houston
breaks the huddle this time in their 12 personnel (1 back, 2 TEs) with the
Bills again in their base look. No run
blitz or 8 men in the box to stuff the run.
The LG Ben Jones fails to get to the 2nd level
and the LB easily side steps the block and stuffs the run.
Here we see the Texans again in the 12, Buffalo is playing man coverage with a single
high safety look pre-snap.
Ben Jones and LT Duane Brown each drop their heads trying to get
the 2nd level and this gives the defender the edge to defeat the 1/1
block. The offensive line failed to execute their blocks, simple as that.
Play Action Snaps – 15
Play-action had been the Texan’s calling card under Gary
Kubiak and Matt Schaub, both of whom are now gone. But the fact remains that this offense goes
as far as their running game takes them, they have not been good enough to beat
teams solely through the air. Here we
will track those snaps.
Wk _4_ - _Buffalo Bills___ : 15/113 yards_ _7.5 avg
yards/play action pass
Wk _3_ - _NY Giants___ : _5/38 yards_ _7.6 avg yards/play action pass
Wk _2_ - _Oakland___ : _3/18 yards_ _6.0 avg yards/play action pass
Wk _1_ - _Washington___ : _6/119 yards_ _19.8
avg yards/play action pass
2014 Season Total: _29/288 yards_ _9.9 avg
yards/play action pass
Shotgun Snaps – 32
Shotgun snaps are fine on 3rd down and in the 2
minute drill. But, we track this stat from week to week to make sure the Texans
aren’t getting too lazy in using it. The NFL run/pass split across the league
is 15%/85% and most teams rarely run out of the shotgun with any time of
consistent success. Bill O’Brien is showing a tendency to be in shotgun a lot
and run the ball out of it, a lot. The
Texans consistently split the running back out wide when in shotgun I assume
wanting to exploit a matchup on the perimeter. They had not thrown to the back
once through the first 3 games and it leaves Fitzpatrick vulnerable to
pressure. The Giants rarely blitzed nor did they have to playing with a lead
but it is something to keep an eye on going forward.
Wk _4_ - _Buffalo Bills___ : _32/63_ _50.8_%
Wk _3_ - _NY Giants___ : _41/62_ _66.1_%
Wk _2_ - _Oakland___ : _40/69_ _58.0_%
Wk _1_ - _Washington___ : _31/62_ _50.0_%
2014 Season Total: _144/256_ _56.2_%
Here is the breakdown by groupings:
Before you study the data below, I would recommend that if
the numbers for the groupings are unfamiliar, that you spend some time reading
a more expanded definition of the Personnel
Groupings here.
|
Package
|
Plays Run
|
Yards
|
Avg/Play
|
Run
|
Pass
|
|
10
|
0
|
0
|
0.0
|
0
|
0
|
|
11
|
3
|
3
|
1.0
|
3
|
0
|
|
12
|
19
|
94
|
4.9
|
5
|
14
|
|
13
|
1
|
0
|
0.0
|
0
|
1
|
|
20
|
0
|
0
|
0.0
|
0
|
0
|
|
21
|
2
|
-2
|
-1.0
|
2
|
0
|
|
22
|
6
|
21
|
3.5
|
4
|
2
|
|
23
|
0
|
0
|
0.0
|
0
|
0
|
|
S00
|
0
|
0
|
0.0
|
0
|
0
|
|
S01
|
0
|
0
|
0.0
|
0
|
0
|
|
S10
|
0
|
0
|
0.0
|
0
|
0
|
|
S11
|
28
|
158
|
5.6
|
4
|
24
|
|
S12
|
4
|
25
|
6.2
|
0
|
4
|
|
S21
|
0
|
0
|
0.0
|
0
|
0
|
|
Totals
|
63
|
299
|
4.7
|
18
|
45
|
* - Knee Plays are not counted in play calls.
Totals by Personnel Groups on 3rd/4th
Down:
|
Package
|
Plays
|
Yards
|
Avg/Play
|
Run
|
Pass
|
FD/TD
|
|
10
|
0
|
0
|
0.0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
|
11
|
0
|
0
|
0.0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
|
12
|
0
|
0
|
0.0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
|
13
|
1
|
0
|
0.0
|
0
|
1
|
0
|
|
20
|
0
|
0
|
0.0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
|
21
|
0
|
0
|
0.0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
|
22
|
0
|
0
|
0.0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
|
23
|
0
|
0
|
0.0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
|
S00
|
0
|
0
|
0.0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
|
S01
|
0
|
0
|
0.0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
|
S10
|
0
|
0
|
0.0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
|
S11
|
13
|
51
|
3.9
|
0
|
13
|
5
|
|
S12
|
0
|
0
|
0.0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
|
S21
|
0
|
0
|
0.0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
|
Totals
|
14
|
51
|
3.6
|
0
|
14
|
5
|
Splash Plays
Let’s take a look at the “Splash Plays” from Week _4_
at the _Buffalo Bills_:
Splash Plays are key impact plays from the defense. Usually,
they are obvious, but there are some that blur the line. I have listed time and
play of each one for those who want to double check my work.
For more, read a detailed explanation of this study here: What
is a splash play?
Week _4_ at _Buffalo Bills_______
|
Q-Time
|
D/D/Yd
|
Player
|
Play
|
|
|
2/4/H44
|
21
|
TFL
|
|
|
3/11/H13
|
24
|
PBU
|
|
|
2/10/O13
|
24
|
TFL
|
|
|
1/10/O13
|
25
|
PBU
|
|
|
3/5/O37
|
26
|
TFL
|
|
|
2/5/O37
|
26
|
PBU
|
|
|
1/10/O47
|
26
|
TFL
|
|
|
3/4/H47
|
26
|
PBU
|
|
|
2/5/H48
|
36
|
FF
|
|
|
2/7/O31
|
54
|
QB RUSH
|
|
|
2/8/O3
|
56
|
PBU
|
|
|
3/8/O3
|
59
|
QB RUSH
|
|
|
3/13/O17
|
96
|
PBU
|
|
|
3/5/H23
|
96
|
QB RUSH
|
|
|
3/12/O11
|
99
|
QB RUSH
|
|
|
1/10/O33
|
99
|
TFL
|
|
|
1/10/O20
|
99
|
QB RUSH
|
|
|
2/5/H7
|
99
|
TFL
|
|
|
3/10/H48
|
99
|
QB RUSH
|
|
|
3/8/O22
|
99
|
QB RUSH
|
|
|
1/10/O34
|
99
|
QB RUSH
|
|
|
1/10/O20
|
99
|
QB RUSH
|
|
|
3/2/H11
|
99
|
INT FOR TD
|
|
|
2/8/O22
|
99/93
|
QB SACK
|
|
|
1/10/H41
|
99
|
QB RUSH
|
|
|
1/10/H41
|
26
|
INT
|
|
|
2/6/O25
|
99
|
QB RUSH
|
|
|
2/6/O25
|
93
|
TFNG
|
Here are the season totals for _2014___:
|
Player
|
Name
|
Splashes
|
|
99
|
JJ Watt
|
27.5
|
|
36
|
D.J. Swearinger
|
7.0
|
|
58
|
Brooks Reed
|
6.0
|
|
25
|
Kareem Jackson
|
6.0
|
|
26
|
Darryl Morris
|
6.0
|
|
24
|
Johnathan Joseph
|
5.0
|
|
21
|
Kendrick Lewis
|
4.0
|
|
93
|
Jared Crick
|
3.5
|
|
59
|
Whitney Mercilus
|
3.0
|
|
54
|
Mike Mohamed
|
3.0
|
|
57
|
Justin Tuggle
|
2.0
|
|
95
|
Jerrell Powe
|
2.0
|
|
56
|
Brian Cushing
|
2.0
|
|
96
|
Tim Jamison
|
1.5
|
|
97
|
Jeoffrey Pagan
|
1.0
|
|
38
|
Danieal Manning
|
1.0
|
|
34
|
A.J. Bouye
|
1.0
|
|
29
|
Andre Hall
|
1.0
|
|
90
|
Jadeveon Clowney
|
0.5
|
Blitzing Report
Romeo Crennel has been around the NFL for over 30 years with
the past 12 spent as either a head coach or a defensive coordinator. He is known for being an aggressive
coordinator who isn’t afraid to blitz and blitz often. He is not going to stand back and play
coverage on most 3rd downs, he will bring the heat and force the
issue on the QB.
Opposing Big Plays
|
Q-Time
|
D/D/Yd
|
Play
|
Rushers
|
|
|
1/10/O20
|
80 yd Pass
|
4
|
|
|
3/7/O31
|
15 yd Pass
|
4
|
|
|
1/10/O47
|
22 yd Run
|
4
|
Pass Rushers Against _Buffalo Bills_______ - _46_
pass rush/blitz situations:
|
Pass Rushers
|
1st D
|
2nd D
|
3rd D
|
4th D
|
Total
|
|
3 Rush
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
|
4 Rush
|
10
|
12
|
5
|
0
|
27
|
|
5 Rush
|
4
|
3
|
6
|
0
|
13
|
|
6 Rush
|
2
|
0
|
4
|
0
|
6
|
|
7 Rush
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
The Texans blitzed less against the Bills than they had done
against the Giants, blitzing 41.3% down from the 46.4% in pass rush
situations. It helped that JJ Watt was
destroying the Bills line and EJ Manuel missed badly throughout the game. Speaking of Watt and the blitz, it should come
as no surprise to the two coming together for the highlight reel play of the
game.
The Texans crowd the line showing blitz all the way with man
coverage across the field. A veteran QB
would recognize this and attempt to find his big receiver to make a play in the
endzone. Even Manuel should of
recognized the slot corner blitz off the left side and known he would have a
easy reception to the slot receiver.
Instead he throws the pass laterally to his back he hopes
will be wide open in the flat to turn it upfield for a score. However the ultra athletic Watt makes the
play and game changed from that point on in the Texans favor.
And, here are the full season numbers to date:
|
Pass Rushers
|
1st D
|
2nd D
|
3rd D
|
4th D
|
Total
|
|
3 Rush
|
0
|
1
|
0
|
0
|
1
|
|
4 Rush
|
45
|
36
|
16
|
0
|
97
|
|
5 Rush
|
10
|
12
|
11
|
0
|
33
|
|
6 Rush
|
4
|
3
|
12
|
1
|
20
|
|
7 Rush
|
3
|
1
|
0
|
0
|
4
|
The game by game pressure numbers:
Wk 4 - _Buffalo Bills :
_19 /_46_ - _41.3_%
Wk 3 - _NY Giants__ : _13 /_28_ - _46.4_%
Wk 2 - _Oakland__ :
_16 /_45_ - _35.6_%
Wk 1 - _Washington_ :
_9_ /_36_ - _25.0_%
Totals: _57_/_155_ - _36.8_%
