By Alex Kozora
Throughout the rest of the offseason, we’ll examine specific plays from the Pittsburgh Steelers 2013 season. We won’t be focusing so much on individual play, though that inevitably comes with any breakdown, but instead, we will focus on concepts used in the pro game to show not just what happened, but why it happened.
This will be an X’s and O’s series focusing on both sides of the ball. The good and bad of the Steelers of last season.
Personnel: Ace
Concept: G-Lead
Defense: Base 4-3
Result: 25 yard gain by Jonathan Dwyer
Rare blocking scheme for the Steelers so we won’t go too in-depth but it’s still worth covering.
We’ve discussed Power O more times than I can count. You know the core concept now. Downhill, power scheme with the backside guard pulling and leading the charge. The scheme we’re breaking down today, G-Lead, is the inverse. Instead of the backside guard trapping, the frontside guard pulls. The strongside tackle and tight ends downblock.
Let’s look at it in game. Week Three versus the Chicago Bears. The Steelers’ run G-Lead to the right, meaning David DeCastro is pulling. Kelvin Beachum down blocks the three tech with David Johnson and Heath Miller base blocking the defensive end and SAM linebacker, respectively.
Because the Steelers have two tight ends, DeCastro is able to work to the strong safety coming down to support the run, kicking him out. If there was just one tight end, like in the illustration above, DeCastro would be responsible for the SAM, leaving the safety free. His kickout opens up a huge running lane for Jonathan Dwyer, who rumbles for 25.
It’s a rarely used concept by the Steelers. But with a new offensive line coach, perhaps the team will add in wrinkles like these to complement the zone game. It’s no secret Ramon Foster lacks the quickness to pull and the Steelers are a predominantly right-handed team. With G-Lead, the Steelers can pull their quickest guard and still run to the right. It’s having your cake and eating it too.
And the only thing an offensive lineman loves more than cake is getting to knock a dude’s head off run blocking.
Previous Film Room Sessions
Putting Pressure On Rookies
Facing The 46 Defense
Fake Wide Receiver Screen
The Steve McLendon Myth
Cover 2 Man
The Wildcat
Cover 1 And Forced Throws
Slant Flat In Red Zone
Divide Routes
Zone Blocking Scheme
Scrape Concept Versus The Read Option
Antonio Brown The Decoy
Sugaring The “A” Gaps
Running The Mesh
Curl Flat Versus Cover Three
The Tare Route
Reading Hats On The Goalline
