Acme Packing Company
In Week 17, the Green Bay Packers’ run defense gave up 5.8 yards per carry to Derrick Henry, Tyler Huntley, and Keaton Mitchell, with the bulk of the damage being done by Henry’s 216 rushing yards. In our first article this week, we covered how efficient their run game was in the first half on early down runs.
In the second half, the Baltimore Ravens’ run game was not nearly as successful, but the Packers’ defense gave up 55 yards and one touchdown on two carries that proved pivotal in the outcome. The first, a 30-yard run that put the Ravens on the Packers’ side of the 50-yard line, happened when the Packers were down three points late in the 3rd quarter (27-24).
It came courtesy of a strong side outside zone running play. Up to this point, the Ravens had mostly run lead inside zone with some gap scheme sprinkled in there. When the defense tightened its alignments and loaded the box, the Ravens shifted gears and got to the perimeter.
The Packers were loaded up to the weakside, expecting the Ravens’ weakside inside zone run here. Instead, the Ravens ran a strong side lead outside zone away from the meat of the defense.
This outside zone run is designed to attack the perimeter of the strong side.
The addition of the fullback gives the offense an extra gap and blocker to the strong side.
Here, the Ravens have five blockers to four defenders, and all Henry has to do is make the safety, Javon Bullard coming down to fill the alley, and he misses the tackle. Bullard whiffs, and Henry gets to the sideline and gains 30 yards.
The next play sealed the win for the Ravens with just over two minutes left in the game. At this point, it was 34-2,4 and what little hope the Packers had to get the ball back and quickly score was stomped out on this 25-yard touchdown run by Henry.
Much like the first play above, the Ravens are running two back outside zone, but are running it to the open side this time (weak side, no tight end).
This is really just a good play call that beats the scheme. The Packers have six defenders for six blockers on one side and five defenders for five blockers on the other side, meaning no matter which way the offense runs the ball, getting a stop is going to be dependent on whether a defender can win their rep and disrupt the blocking.
That didn’t happen here. The Ravens’ blockers go hat for hat and open a lane for Henry to go untouched. The last line of defense on the perimeter is the cornerback Carrington Valentine, and he has to take on the fullback. Valentine would normally turn the run back inside, but there’s no one on the edge, as that player should be Rashan Gary.
