2 TE set - Patriots

[The_Rainmaker]

Why did Bill Belichick go back to the 2 TE set after losing in the playoffs.

1. Stop edge rushers like Von Miller & Ware?

2. Help  average OTs / Replace FB ?

3. Allow Blount to use his skill set between & outside the tackles?

4.Not telegraph plays to the opposing defenses?

5. Time of possession?

 

Quote

New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady was in absolute command of his offense in 2015, distributing the football at will to an always-changing cast of characters. It seemed as if Brady had ascended to another level of football potential during the fourth quarter of Super Bowl XLIX and that carried over to the 2015 season.

From a mental standpoint, it's hard to argue that 2015 Brady was playing at the highest level of his career. But from a physical perspective? Oh, man, just plug in a tape of the 2011 opener against the Miami Dolphins and you'll realize how lethal Brady can be, distributing the ball to every single level of the field with pinpoint precision.

Heck, Matthew Slater even snagged a 46-yard reception. That's how on point Brady was during his 32/48, 517 yards, and 4 touchdown performance.

While the Patriots went on to lose the Super Bowl, the offense kicked off a modern-era revolution in the usage of tight ends as the duo of Rob Gronkowski and Aaron Hernandez absolutely annihilated their opponents at every turn. The two combined for 13 receptions, 189 yards, and 2 touchdowns against the Dolphins, and the rest of the season was more of the same.

 

New England hopes to rekindle that two-tight end offense in 2016. The Patriots shipped a 4th round pick to the Chicago Bears for tight end Martellus Bennett (and a 6th round pick), with the Gronkowski-Bennett pairing transforming the offense.

The 2011 offense was a terrifying mix of Gronkowski and Hernandez at tight end, Wes Welker and Deion Branch at wide receiver, and BenJarvus Green-Ellis and Danny Woodhead at running back. Okay, maybe the running backs weren't terrifying, but the tremendous ability of the receivers allowed for the backs to shine.

The Patriots will field Gronkowski and Bennett at tight end, Julian Edelman, Danny Amendola (maybe), and Chris Hogan at wide receiver, and Dion Lewis at running back. It's possible that the 2016 offense could be even more dangerous than the 2011 version.

 

I watched some of the 2011 offense to see how the Patriots used their tight ends, and how the tight ends made it impossible for the defense to ever feel comfortable when facing a single formation. I have color coded the individual plays, and will explain how each play builds off the other to make the defense even more unbalanced.

 

 

Running Plays

Orange: A simple off-tackle run. Gronkowski will block the defensive end, while Hernandez will take on the linebacker. The running back has to make one defensive back miss in order to generate positive yards.

Red: A simple run up the gut. Hernandez peels to the outside to freeze the safety and to draw a linebacker away from the hole as the nearside linebacker attempts to stop the orange play. Gronkowski cracks inside to clear out any potential tacklers.

The running back just runs forward.

Passing Plays

Sienna: Gronkowski and Hernandez both run verticals. They generally ran this against single coverage, when the safety was cheating over to the far side to defend the two receivers, and when the defense was playing tight or press coverage, thinking they might have to defend the red or orange running plays. The Gronkowski seam pass is a staple in the offense and the middle linebacker has to drop to an appropriate depth to cover

Blue: Gronkowski runs a corner and Hernandez runs an out route. While they are both viable targets, the alternative goal is to clear the linebackers out of the middle of the field like with sienna so the slot receiver has free reign for yards after the catch, coming across from the far side.

Gray: Hernandez runs a vertical, while Gronkowski runs a deep in route. Usually accompanied by two verticals from the far side receivers to clear a lane for Gronkowski, although a shallow out and a shallow cross will draw the defenders up and reduce the number of defenders Gronkowski has to beat down the field.

If the linebackers mess up their coverage, thinking they have to defend the seam like in sienna, or have to stay in position to defend a shallow cross like in blue, then Gronkowski should be open without a defender in the passing lane. If the linebacker and safety do their jobs with Gronkowski, Hernandez probably has single coverage and a hole lot of space to run on the near side.

Green: Gronkowski runs a vertical, while Hernandez sits in the open zone with a curl. Generally, the inside linebacker will need to get to the proper depth to take away the Gronkowski seam like in sienna, while the defender covering Hernandez is thinking about keeping outside leverage to defend the out route like in blue or over the top to defend the vertical like in gray.

It's likely Hernandez had an option route that allowed him to sit or run, depending on the type of coverage and where the defender was located.

Pink: Gronkowski runs a vertical, while Hernandez runs a crossing route. This is nearly identical to green, but if the defender sits in the zone, then Hernandez has the momentum to cross the formation and create separation from whatever player is in his way. This can also be combined with a shallow cross from the slot receiver to ensure someone gets open.

---

This is just one formation and there were more tweaks based upon where other players aligned. Bennett will likely take on Hernandez's function in the offense due to his ability to force defenders to miss in the open field. Pro Football Focus says there have only been three tight end seasons with 20+ forced missed tackles; one is Hernandez, the other two are Bennett.

An offense with Gronkowski, Bennett, Edelman, Amendola/Hogan, and Lewis will create nightmares for opposing defenses since they can run over all levels and regions of the field, can run or pass the ball, and can do it all out of one formation. Good luck to 2016 defensive coordinators.

 

 

 

[The_Rainmaker]

Quote

Breaking Down Why the Two-Tight End Offense Is the Best in the NFL

 

By James Dudko , Featured Columnist

May 1, 2013

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The most dominant offense in the NFL isn't the spread, the read-option or the pistol. The best offense in today's NFL is the two-tight end attack.

It's fast becoming a major part of every pro playbook. The set has revitalized the tight end position and made it as important as wide receiver or running back.

The New England Patriots and San Francisco 49ers have made the dual tight end look their de facto offense of choice. Each has been used to dominate their respective conferences in recent seasons.

Just what makes the two-tight end set so appealing in the modern offense? The first reason is how it can defeat the modern defense of choice.

The two-tight end set is a 3-4 beater. A great example comes from Week 2 of the 2012 season, with the Philadelphia Eagles taking on the Baltimore Ravens.

The Eagles line up with both tight ends, Brent Celek and Clay Harbor, on the same side of the formation.

 

The Eagles align both tight ends together on the same side.

 

The Eagles will use both tight ends to nullify the pass rush on that side of the Ravens' 3-4 front. They'll also free Celek behind the linebacker level of the defense.

Celek runs his in-breaking route over the middle. He first bumps the outside linebacker and draws him away from his pass rush. Harbor blocks down on the wide rushing defensive end.

 

The Eagles' two tight ends outwit the Ravens' 3-4 look.

 

With Celek now behind the underneath coverage, the Eagles use their wide receivers to split Baltimore's deep coverage. The wideouts are aligned together on the opposite side but run diverging routes at the snap.

The inside receiver runs a crossing pattern towards the middle. This draws the uncovered cornerback on the opposite side away from Celek.

Meanwhile the outside receiver runs a vertical pattern. His route draws three defenders, including both safeties.

 

The Eagles use their wide receivers to free a tight end over the middle.

 

With all of that coverage taken deep and occupied, Celek is wide left wide open over the middle. He would complete the play for a 23-yard gain.

 

The two-tight end look has split the 3-4 defense and Celek is wide open.

 

His initial route has taken one outside linebacker away from the pass rush. Despite a blitz from one of the inside linebackers, the Eagles have enough blockers because Harbor stays in to help.

 

The extra tight end is a vital help in the blocking scheme.

 

The Eagles' two-tight end look has successfully split the 3-4 defense in two and created a big gain. With more teams using the 3-4 to confuse quarterbacks, the two-tight end offense is a great equalizer.

As well as the two-tight end set counters the 3-4, it's also an excellent answer to the blitz. The Patriots showed one way the look defeats pressure during their Week 14 rout of the Houston Texans.

In this play, the Patriots move their two tight ends off the line. They split Aaron Hernandez out as a wide receiver, while Michael Hoomanawanui lines up in the slot on the same side.

 

The Patriots move both tight ends off the line to spread out the linebackers.

 

The Texans are in their base, 1-gap 3-4 look and are preparing a blitz. The Patriots are anticipating pressure and are targeting inside linebacker Bradie James (53) in the slot.

 

The two-tight end set targets the man coverage behind the blitz.

 

Once the Texans bring their blitz, Hoomanawanui runs a vertical route straight past James. The linebacker is easily outmatched in one-on-one coverage.

 

Most tight ends will defeat a linebacker in man coverage.

 

James would give away a critical penalty that kept alive a scoring drive. Most tight ends will defeat a linebacker in single coverage and that's the main problem defenses have.

They are challenged to cover tight ends running increasingly expansive patterns, from more daring alignments. Linebackers aren't fast enough to cover them and defensive backs aren't big enough.

If they don't release into pass routes, tight ends stay in to block and reduce the threat of a blitz. That's one of the main problems presented by the two-tight end offense.

It asks the defense the question, exactly what are those tight ends going to do once the ball is snapped?

Here's another look at the Patriots in action, this time in Week 1 against the Tennessee Titans. It shows the problems defenses have identifying the positioning and intentions of two tight ends.

This time the Patriots have lined up Hernandez in the backfield, as a H-back on one side. On the other side, Rob Gronkowski is aligned in the slot.

 

The Patriots move their tight ends all around the formation.

 

The Titans have shifted over one of their linebackers towards Hernandez. By placing one tight end in the backfield, the Patriots have successfully forced the Titans to shift to the strength of the formation.

The Patriots then bring Gronkowski across in motion, to the same side as Hernandez. That splits the linebacker out even further into a pass mode.

 

The Patriots motion one tight end across to spread out one side of the defense.

 

It also occupies the safety on that side. He now has to account for three receivers on his side, the two tight ends and the wideout.

The Patriots now have the Titans in a serious bind. Their two-tight end look is presenting an obvious run strength on one side.

However, in the event of a pass on that side, the Titans know at least one of the Patriots' tight ends will be covered by a linebacker. That's an obvious mismatch.

In reality the Patriots have used the positioning and movement of their tight ends to force a shift from the Titans. Their real intention is to free Gronkowski on an underneath route going the other way.

 

Gronkowski will creep behind the linebackers.

 

With a fake handoff and Hernandez staying in to block, the Titans guess run and flow towards the ball. Meanwhile Gronkowski releases free behind the linebackers for an easy 28-yard gain.

 

With one tight end acting as a decoy, the other releases for a big gain.

 

This is a classic example of how the two-tight end set can be used to manipulate the look and strength of a defense. Hernandez was merely the decoy on this play and it is common for one tight end to act as the foil for the other.

Using this deception to spread a defense and split its coverage, is something more and more two-tight end offenses are doing. An play from the 49ers' titanic struggle with the Patriots in Week 15, provides a great example.

The 49ers used their two tight ends to create a four-wide receiver, spread look. They aligned Delanie Walker and Vernon Davis in each slot.

 

The 49ers use the two-tight end set to form a spread look.

 

Davis is the danger man and the 49ers want the Patriots to shift their coverage towards him. They are challenging New England's 2-man scheme.

The Niners know the Patriots will use man coverage underneath and hope both deep safeties will go towards Davis. That's exactly what happens as Davis runs a vertical route straight up the seam.

 

One tight end draws the attentions of two safeties.

 

The 49ers know they have man coverage on the other side. Walker and flanker Randy Moss are also running vertical routes. Now the deep safety on that side is out of position to cover those verticals.

 

The 49ers' two-tight end set has freed a vertical route for an outside receiver.

 

The threat posed by the 49ers' use of the two-tight end set helps them beat three defenders with two receivers. The result was a 24-yard touchdown pass to Moss.

This is just one more way the two-tight end offense outfoxes a defense and adds greater dimensions to the passing game.

Proponents of the two-tight end attack are moving their tight ends all over the formation. They are creating individual mismatches and splitting coverage schemes in two.

More teams around the NFL are taking notice of how dangerous the multiple tight end set can be. The NFL draft saw several teams use high picks on tight ends, despite already being stocked at the position.

The most notable example came in the first round. The Cincinnati Bengals used the 21st overall pick to add Tyler Eifert to the dynamic talents of Jermaine Gresham.

 

Tyler Eifert gives the Bengals a dangerous two-tight end set.

 

That's a combination that should worry AFC North defenses. It already has BenJarvus Green-Ellis making Gronkowski-Hernandez comparisons.

However, the Bengals weren't the only ones loading up at tight end. The Kansas City Chiefs selected Travis Kelce in the third round, despite Tony Moeaki being on the roster.

The Chiefs also signed Anthony Fasano in free agency. They now have the potential to run a plethora of plays from a two-tight end look.

New head coach Andy Reid is one of the best two-tight end play-callers in the league. He now has the weapons to match his ideas.

The Washington Redskins raised a few eyebrows when they selected Jordan Reed in the third round. Yet the wide receiver in a tight end's body will be a great pick, alongside Fred Davis and Logan Paulsen.

 

Jordan Reed will prove to be a smart pick by the Redskins.

 

The 49ers lost Delanie Walker in free agency, but have no plans to abandon the two-tight end attack. They proved that by moving up in the second round to select Vance McDonald.

The two-tight end offense is gaining in popularity and for good reason. It has expanded the ways offenses can dictate defensive alignments, coverages and pressures.

Al screen shots courtesy of CBS Sports, ESPN, NBC Sports and NFL.com GamePass

 

 

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1624948-breaking-down-why-the-two-tight-end-offense-is-the-best-in-the-nfl

[The_Rainmaker]

Quote

The Eagles' two-tight end look has successfully split the 3-4 defense in two and created a big gain. With more teams using the 3-4 to confuse quarterbacks, the two-tight end offense is a great equalizer.

As well as the two-tight end set counters the 3-4, it's also an excellent answer to the blitz. The Patriots showed one way the look defeats pressure during their Week 14 rout of the Houston Texans.

In this play, the Patriots move their two tight ends off the line. They split Aaron Hernandez out as a wide receiver, while Michael Hoomanawanui lines up in the slot on the same side.

 

[YourMomsLover]

Trade our entire D, minus Kuechly to NE for Belly-check.


Sent from my iPhone using CarolinaHuddle

[t96]

It's not this simple. Many of those offenses using 2 TEs are west coast and they have 2 TEs that are worthy of seeing the field. We've used 2 TE sets a lot but Dickson sucks and Olsen isn't an elite blocker. Everybody's been whining about us signing TEs instead of trading for a LT or a cahna, but the team clearly has wanted to get a 2nd beast TE for a while now.

[nctarheel0619]

3 minutes ago, Promethean Forerunner said:

See, why do this? Shula is our OC. It'll take him 3-4 years before he catches on. By then, a new formation will be the best in the NFL. 

This is actually funny.  Well done.  

[The_Rainmaker]

6 minutes ago, thomas96 said:

It's not this simple. Many of those offenses using 2 TEs are west coast and they have 2 TEs that are worthy of seeing the field. We've used 2 TE sets a lot but Dickson sucks and Olsen isn't an elite blocker. Everybody's been whining about us signing TEs instead of trading for a LT or a cahna, but the team clearly has wanted to get a 2nd beast TE for a while now.

 

7 minutes ago, Promethean Forerunner said:

See, why do this? Shula is our OC. It'll take him 3-4 years before he catches on. By then, a new formation will be the best in the NFL. 

Whole organization is behind the curve we had the opportunity to draft Hunter Henry who would be a perfect for this scheme. Also Sandland could develop into a Jordan Reed type of player if given the proper conditioning & coaching.

[The_Rainmaker]

11 minutes ago, thomas96 said:

It's not this simple. Many of those offenses using 2 TEs are west coast and they have 2 TEs that are worthy of seeing the field. We've used 2 TE sets a lot but Dickson sucks and Olsen isn't an elite blocker. Everybody's been whining about us signing TEs instead of trading for a LT or a cahna, but the team clearly has wanted to get a 2nd beast TE for a while now.

Olsen's blocking has improved not the best but he can do enough to make the scheme work. but his receiving threat is what will make this go.

Also coaching needs to let Williams play at RT,  this can solve some of run blocking for 1 of the TEs.

[mc52beast]

We don't need no stinking TE's... we need to draft 5 DE's and 10 cawnahs...

 

[imminent rogaine]

Shoulda signed Delanie Walker when he hit FA from the niners.

[frash.exe]

lmao copypasta

[The_Rainmaker]

6 minutes ago, frash.exe said:

lmao copypasta

why reinvent the wheel.

[CRA]

41 minutes ago, Promethean Forerunner said:

See, why do this? Shula is our OC. It'll take him 3-4 years before he catches on. By then, a new formation will be the best in the NFL. 

Belichick has used this approach when he has had 2 upper tier TEs.  When he hasn't had 2, he hasn't. 

Shula only has Olsen

[Darvinsun]

46 minutes ago, thomas96 said:

It's not this simple. Many of those offenses using 2 TEs are west coast and they have 2 TEs that are worthy of seeing the field. We've used 2 TE sets a lot but Dickson sucks and Olsen isn't an elite blocker. Everybody's been whining about us signing TEs instead of trading for a LT or a cahna, but the team clearly has wanted to get a 2nd beast TE for a while now.

Then y didn't  we get hunter henry instead of vernon butler...the boy is beasting while mot saying butler will not in future but he hardly sniffs the field