RIDER HOGS VS T-CATS CONT'D

Lets have a gander at a couple more branches off the main stem.

1st & 10-- Inside Zone, #18 motions to a tight slot (H-back/Wingback/Nasty Slot/Ninja Assassin/ ?) who blocks the back side Quick End.

Now 2nd & 5. 

George gives the defence the same look-- slight variation in that, he maneuvers #89 into the box and motions him across the formation with the familiar look that he'll block the Quick End. 

Except this time it's play action. QB has the exact same action as the previous Inside Zone run.

The standing Quick End and #0 have already seen the Inside Zone run in this look a couple, three times in the game and who knows how many times on film. They've also see the play action off of it but honouring their assignments puts them in a bind.



That's good offensive scheming and timely play selection RIGHT THERE.

Hear tell of much media muttering, lately, along the lines of-- "defences are going to start loading the box to counter the RIder's run success". In the media's infinite football knowledge,  wisdom and foresight; just what is it, that they would consider defenders reflecting Green Slot's motion into the box?

Surely, counting to 12 reveals the Grand Master Chess Match flaws of such notions? 

More to football than statistics, sack tallies, buzz words, sound bites and touchdown hi-lites than the self aggrandized microphone wielding windbags, mud rucking gossip monger-- "they're in over their heads"-- proclamationists and sham charlatan con artists, seem to savvy.

According to Betty, eneways. 

Too harsh?

Note Sheets' hands

Again note: Arrow points to Sheet's overly dramatic hand action drawing attention to and selling the run fake.

White #40 still defending the run. Good example of how the scheme and play calling aids the OT's.

Also shows how running the Inside Zone effectively, stresses the defence's structural integrity. Like a heavy snow load on under sized rafters, White #94 & #0 are bowed in a bit of a pickle.

Geometry is not White #0's friend...... at this moment.

By design, geometry and execution--  a 1st down.





Next, same kinda deal. Inside Zone play action. But different. 

Thanks to the TV production focusing on Dressler's back prior to the snap; difficult to say but believe it was a sight adjustment as the Cat's were in a flat-top on the back end. 

In any event, the Receivers and QB are on the same page, recognizing and reacting to the same visual cues and Geroy has his first Rider reception. An easy six yard pickup that had potential to produce much more.

Oscar Nomination-- worthy illusion-- goin' on there. 

Check out Getzlaf's "Okie Stomp" and Sheets' "Gator Chomp"--"COFFEE'S FOR CLOSERS"-- run sell.







Wide Zone Run. 

The RIders ran this play a bunch last season. Don't think it was ever set up this nicely by running the Inside Zone so effectively. 

This was BEAUTY. One broken tackle away from going all the way.

Whole lotta maneuverin' goin' on. 

#77, #18 & #7 motion to a BUNCH FORMATION.

The reason we place such emphasis on these non-touchdown grind 'em plays? 

These are the foundation-- building blocks-- mortared before our very eyes-- as the eighteen game "Chess Match" continues. 

Oh..... what will George bust out for this rematch?

"FIRE FOR EFFECT".

Golly!                                                                

These are fun times to be a Rider fan!        

Here's to hopin' the party carries on.


*shitty video images courtesy of TSN.

RIDER HOGS VS T-CATS

Run offence's system vs defensive structure.

Gonna try and break it down real simple. The defence is designed to put a guy in every gap and contain the ball regardless of where it goes.

The zone run developed as an answer. 

It says to the D,  "you won't be able to plug the gaps and keep them plugged uniformly if we can create a crease, by either--  moving defenders horizontally while cutting others off-- WIDE ZONE RUN; or in this INSIDE ZONE RUN example--  by displacing defenders vertically, (upfield) or diagonally".

Very different deal from the the ol' 34 play. Three back to the four hole. By scheme, those plays were designed to bust open a hole and send the RB hell bent for leather to a specific numbered spot.  

Zone is just that-- zone. Creases predetermined on defensive alignment and adjusted based on the read of the defender's reactive movement.

Zone Run schemes require a RB who has great vision, timing and both a horizontal and a vertical burst.  Gotta go sideways sometimes before ya hit it north and south.

Sheets is exceptional. 

The Rider Hogs are doing a great job. 

Cortez and Malone have it... ORGANIZED! 

The INSIDE ZONE is the current, main stem from which many branches of this offence grow.

The first offensive snap of the game.  BEAUTY!!!

OLD TIME-- gettin' after ass, slobber knockin'-- FOOTBALL!.....  WHOOOWEEEE!!!

Heenan and Best have the Nose together with one of them climbing to the Will depending on how the defenders play it. 

Picard and LaBatte have the Tackle together with one of them climbing to the Mike.

X kicks out the Rush End.















As we saw against Toronto, an integral element of the scheme is to maneuver a slot into H-Back position to block either edge.  


#89 must'a done something right, pre-game last week. Got his feet under him and did a much better job. Helped the cause BIG!













Sheets will press it to the aiming point (small circle behind Heenan's inside foot), then go through the read progression and footwork. When he presses to the aiming point, it forces the White defenders, through movement, to declare what gaps they have. Should option #2 prove true he'll move horizontally while keeping his shoulders square to the "line of scrimmage" hit the crease then burst upfield. 

Based on the pre-snap read; option #2 looks most likely. Reason being, Hamilton has the N expanded-- aligned in a 3 technique or shading Best's outside shoulder. The T is reduced-- aligned in a 1 technique or shading LaBatte's inside shoulder. 

This play is an example of just how good Sheets is at seeing, timing up and working the crease. He and the Hogs are showing a high level of familiarity and trust in each other. 

This one, Sheets looks kinda like a certain vintage video game.

Quantum leap forward from #89 bending his knees and sticking it up, in there.

Arrow points to Getzlaf getting low. Points for taking on a big body. 

White LB's play it downhill hard.

"Seeing hands technique."

White #0 followed Getzlaf into the box. Now he can't locate the ball or Sheets through the mass of humanity.

While we're on it, lets have a look see at Geroy.  

Sheets times it up. 

Picard secures the 1st level. 

Labatte drops the grader down a gear and sets to grindin'.

X has a nice read step and gets the kick out creating required space.

Geroy picked it up after this snap. The effort from the guys up front and Sheets seems contagious.

Worth paying attention to Sheets' feet and shoulders.

Note: Line of scrimmage moved upfield.

Very good job by Heenan, Best and Picard. From what we could see from this amateur high school camera angle, looks like Heenan's becoming more efficient with his footwork and fittin' up with Best.

There's the vertical burst.  North and South.

LaBatte created space by displacing #28. #28 gets off and is forced to try to make a play going underneath. All things being equal and the river don't rise-- he can't get there.

No need to chase a small body, get out of control and risk a holding call.

LaBatte exhibits veteran savvy, holding his ground then throwing in a little of the ol' Weyburn hip check. No eyes in the back of his helmet; just that veteran-- 6th sense.

Curious technique by the White Safety to bend his knees and lower his centre of gravity. 

Taking the hat out as a weapon, sure has our heads spinin' these days about what's ok and what's not.

That was a thing of BEAUTY!! 

Eight yard gain on 1st down, set the tempo for the day and laid further foundation building blocks.

More snaps from Ti-Cat game, to be continued......

*shitty video images courtesy of THE MODERN CFL and TSN's half assed camera work and incompetent production Had it on mute so no further comments.