Analyzing the O-Line: Ravens Prove the Toughest Test

[mesaSteeler]

Analyzing the O-Line: Ravens Prove the Toughest Test
Posted on October 7, 2010 by JJ
http://www.steelerslounge.com/2010/1...toughest-test/
(You might find using the URL to read this article a bit easier since I don't have time to try and make the columns in the tables line up. I will say that this is a very through analysis and who ever wrote this has a lot of time on their hands. - mesa)

The Steelers knew they were going to get one of their toughest tests of the season facing the Ravens defense, especially with Ben Roethlisberger sitting at home. And as Mike Tomlin pointed out, they were facing a pissed off Ravens’ team still upset about giving up 140 yards to Peyton Hillis the week before.

The result? Ray Lewis was flying around and Haloti Ngata was trying to toss whoever tried to block him into the backfield. Pittsburgh’s front five did a decent job–they generally protected Charlie Batch (although part of that can be credited to the Ravens focusing more on coverage than pass rush) and they cleared the way for two Rashard Mendenhall rushing touchdowns. But when the game was on the line, they couldn’t clear the way for a first down on the ground. And Ngata gave them troubles all day. When a 3-4 defensive lineman finished the day with 11 tackles (eight solos and three assists) you know he’s been had a good day.

Here’s a look at how the linemen (and tight ends and backs) fared. As usual remember that each play is “graded” to the best of my ability. Without a playbook, it’s not always possible to know the assignment on every play (although it’s usually pretty clear), but we’re looking at the result more than the technique used to get the result.
Player Sacks Pressures Good Blocks Total Blocks PCT
Starks 50 55 90.91%
Kemoeatu 1 49 56 87.50%
Pouncey 1.5 1 44 55 80.00%
Adams 1 44 56 78.57%
Legursky 0.5 43 55 78.18%
Miller 30 37 81.08%
Spaeth 22 26 84.62%
Johnson 9 12 75.00%
Moore 0 1 0.00%
Redman 3 3 100.00%
Mendenhall 4 4 100.00%
Foster 2 2 100.00%

Before we dive in here are a couple of other notes that stood out from the rewatching of the game. After watching the first four games, I have to wonder if Isaac Redman is about to fully take over Mewelde Moore’s job as the third down back (he’s already taking some of the snaps). Moore completely botched his job in blitz pick-up in the first half when he misread from which side the Ravens were blitzing, leading to a quarterback hurry. Redman pulled off one of the best blocks of the season in a similar situation in the second half. The Ravens sent an overload blitz from the outside on a third and nine (on the pass to Arnaz Battle). Redman was given an impossible task–block Ray Lewis and a blitzing defensive back with no help from anyone else. Somehow he managed to do it. He shoved the DB aside then leaned into Lewis enough to slow him down, giving Batch the time he needed to throw. It was an outstanding block for anyone, but especially for a tailback.

Moore may be a little shiftier catching a screen pass than Redman (although Moore is currently averaging 1.4 yards per catch), but Steelers’ running backs are more often asked to pick up blitzers then catch passes, so Redman’s superior blocking ability may give him more and more playing time.

The other thing that jumped out was just how good Haloti Ngata is. Ngata caused problems all day, but it’s hard to fault the Steelers’ offensive line for that. He’s amazing with the combination of strength and quickness you just don’t see in 300+ pounders. In the fourth quarter, Ngata even dropped into coverage 15 yards downfield and had an assist on a Heath Miller catch. The scary thing is he had pretty decent coverage on Miller.

Max Starks: When the Steelers’ offensive line gave up pressure, it generally came from the inside, not the outside. Starks and Flozell Adams were asked to block Terrell Suggs and Jarrett Johnson, so they deserve some credit for a job well done. Starks was especially impressive as he generally did it without help. I counted only one play where the Steelers had a back chip his man to help him out.
Play R/P Result Good Play
1 R Doesn’t reach anyone on run other way No
2 R Solid block Yes
3 P Good pass block Yes
4 P Good pass block Yes
5 R Slides inside to help on LB Yes
6 P Good block on Johnson Yes
7 P Backside block Yes
8 R Whiffs on block of Lewis No
9 P Adequate on Suggs Yes
10 R Gets good drive on his man Yes
11 R Gets little surge Yes
12 R Does enough on backside Yes
13 P Solid block Yes
14 R Good block on Ngata Yes
15 R Good block on Johnson Yes
16 P Good job Tes
17 P Good work Yes
18 R Poor block on DE No
19 R Throws Suggs to ground Yes
20 R Just enough on Suggs Yes
21 P Drives DE just outside enough Yes
22 R OK block on Ngata Yes
23 R Drives Ngata out of hole Yes
24 P Johnson beats him to outside on speed rush No
25 R Works with Spaeth on Suggs Yes
26 P Gets help from Spaeth on Ngata Yes
27 P Solid job Yes
28 P Solid block Yes
29 R Solid on backside Yes
30 R Takes bad angle, but gets enough of arm on Johnson Yes
31 P Good enough Yes
32 P Good Yes
33 P Solid block on Kreuger Yes
34 P Solid block Yes
35 P Excellent block Yes
36 R Doubles with Kemo Yes
37 P Very good job of handling blitz Yes
38 R Good job on backside Yes
39 R OK on Suggs Yes
40 P Handles Ngata Yes
41 R Drives Suggs outside Yes
42 R Picks up Lewis Yes
43 P Good enough Yes
44 P Good job on Suggs Yes
45 P Three man rush makes life easy Yes
46 P Easy job Ngata on quick pass Yes
47 P Good job on Suggs Yes
48 R Backside block Yes
49 R Does very little No
50 P Just enough on Suggs Yes
51 R Good on backside Yes
52 R Backside block Yes
53 R Excellent block on Suggs Yes
54 R Puts Lewis on ground Yes
55 P Fine Yes

Chris Kemoeatu: He had a costly false start on the Steelers’ final drive, but overall Kemoeatu kept plugging away like he has all year. His bad plays were generally somewhat understandable–the Ravens’ linebackers react so quickly that sometimes it’s very hard to get to them in time to block them.
Play R/P Result Result
1 R Drives back DE Yes
2 R Quite adequate Yes
3 P Helps on Kruger Yes
4 P Driven back but solid Yes
5 R Good block on Ngata Yes
6 P Keeps heads up hands off from one to another Yes
7 P Backside block Yes
8 R Good block on Gregg Yes
9 P Holds his ground Yes
10 R Fires out too high stood up No
11 R Gets block on McClain Yes
12 R Pulls, but LB meets him in backfield and then helps on tackle No
13 P Good job Yes
14 R Decent job with help from Pouncey Yes
15 R Picks up S Yes
16 P No one to block Yes
17 P Solid Yes
18 R Bounces off of LB No
19 R Solid work with Ngata Yes
20 R EXCELLENT. Beats up LB Yes
21 P Solid work on keeping working Yes
22 R OK on Gregg Yes
23 R OK. Helps on NT then gets arm on Lewis Yes
24 P Good block on DE Yes
25 R Good job on McKinney Yes
26 P Doubles Gregg who has coverage responsibility on Mendenhall Yes
27 P Beaten by Suggs for pressure No
28 P Solid block Yes
29 R Solid on backside Yes
30 R Nice pull block on Ellerbee Yes
31 P Hustles to lead screen Yes
32 P Good Yes
33 P Misses block on LB who gets pressure No
34 P Not much to do Yes
35 P No problems Yes
36 R Doubles with Starks Yes
37 P Very good job of handling blitz Yes
38 R Good job on McKinney Yes
39 R Works on McKinney Yes
40 P No one to block Yes
41 R Good job on McKinney Yes
42 R Awful. Blown into backfield No
43 P Good enough Yes
44 P Doesn’t have much to do Yes
45 P Three man rush makes life easy Yes
46 P Not much to do Yes
47 P Doubles with Kemo Yes
48 R Good job on LB Yes
49 R Lets Gregg’s momentum work against him Yes
50 P Eventually puts man on ground Yes
51 R Fires out to get McClain Yes
52 R Drives his man back Yes
53 Pen False Start No
54 R Good help with Pouncey Yes
55 R Gets push Yes
56 P Fine Yes

[mesaSteeler]

Maurkice Pouncey: We may forget it at times, but Pouncey is a rookie, and this was the game where Pouncey finally found himself struggling to keep up. He had some trouble blocking Ngata and Kelly Gregg, he was flagged for holding, he gave up one sack and combined with Doug Legursky to give up another. Pouncey will be a better center against the Browns for going through this test, as it (hopefully) should show him things that he can improve on. The good news is that there was nothing that was a recurring problem for Pouncey, he just had more trouble than he does on a normal Sunday.
Play R/P Result
1 R Gregg slides off to fill gap No
2 R Good block on Gregg Yes
3 P Blocks Ngata for long time Yes
4 P Driven back by Gregg, but good enough Yes
5 R Good enough on Gregg Yes
6 P Solid pass block Yes
7 P Active, but not much to do Yes
8 R Good block on #91 Yes
9 P Solid Yes
10 R Decent push Yes
11 R Driven back by NT No
12 R Driven into backfield, but it works Yes
13 P Works with Legursky Yes
14 R Helps Kemo Yes
15 R GREAT. Drives Gregg to ground Yes
16 P Helps out Legursky Yes
17 P His man gets PBU No
18 R Drives Gregg back Yes
19 R Holding No
20 R Works on Ngata for a while. He does make tackle, but after a decent gain Yes
21 P Hangs on to help on Suggs and DE Yes
22 R Excellent block on Lewis Yes
23 R Gets some push on Gregg Yes
24 P Doesn’t slide off first block quick enough to block second X-blitzer No
25 R Not much luck blocking Lewis No
26 P Doubles Gregg who has coverage responsibility on Mendenhall Yes
27 P Knocks down LB Yes
28 P Solid block Yes
29 R Very good block on McClain Yes
30 R Puts his man on ground Yes
31 P Good block downfield Yes
32 P Good Yes
33 P Misses block on LB who gets pressure No
34 P Solid Yes
35 P No problems Yes
36 R Doesn’t get enough of Gregg No
37 P Very good job of handling blitz Yes
38 R Good job on McClain Yes
39 R Gets McClain to chose wrong side to jump Yes
40 P Helps Mendenhall Yes
41 R Very good block on McClain Yes
42 R Blocks Lewis as well Yes
43 P Good enough Yes
44 P Good job inside Yes
45 P Three man rush makes life easy Yes
46 P Allows a PBU No
47 P Doubles with Kemo Yes
48 R Solid Yes
49 R Can’t get to LB because of DL, but it works anyway because he creates traffic Yes
50 P Works with Legursky Yes
51 R Enough of Gregg Yes
52 R Falls down No
53 R Drives Gregg back Yes
54 R Loses his man who makes tackle No
55 P Fine Yes

Doug Legursky: Legursky’s score may look pretty ugly, but in watching him snap after snap, I didn’t really feel like he played that poorly. He had two real problems–he struggled to get off of double-team blocks at the line to block linebackers and when he did reach Ray Lewis he sometimes struggled to stick his block for long enough to make it really matter. The good news for Legursky is he won’t have to block anyone as tough as Ngata/Lewis for a couple of weeks.
Play R/P Result Good Play
1 R Helps out on Ngata, but not quick enough to then pick up Lewis No
2 R Helps on Gregg then gets hand on Lewis Yes
3 P Helps on Suggs and Ngata Yes
4 P Helps on Gregg Yes
5 R Blocks Lewis—helped by Lewis’ aggressiveness which chooses wrong hole Yes
6 P Good work Yes
7 P GREAT. Takes out Lewis on WR screen Yes
8 R Pulls. Taks on Suggs in backfield Yes
9 P Good job Yes
10 R As FB, drives pile Yes
11 R Gets enough of Lewis as FB Yes
12 R Decent job on DE Yes
13 P Teams with Pouncey Yes
14 R EXCELLENT. His block on McClain gives Mendenhall a hole Yes
15 R Loses Ngata who makes tackle No
16 P Good job on Gregg Yes
17 P Solid Yes
18 R Blocks Gregg, but can’t get free to get LB No
19 R Can’t catch up to Lewis No
20 R Just enough on Lewis Yes
21 P Stays busy Yes
22 R Ok block on McKinney Yes
23 R Starts on DE, little push, but then doesn’t get to LB in time No
24 P Hangs on to Ngata, but it works Yes
25 R Can’t get reach block on Gregg who is too quick No
26 P Sticks with McKinney Yes
27 P Not much to do Yes
28 P Solid block Yes
29 R Decent block on McKinney Yes
30 R Solid work on Ngata Yes
31 P Picks up Lewis downfield Yes
32 P Good Yes
33 P Pulls to pick up backside blitzer Yes
34 P Solid Yes
35 P No problems Yes
36 R Slides off of Lewis too quickly No
37 P Very good job of handling blitz Yes
38 R Good job on Gregg Yes
39 R Good job on Gregg Yes
40 P Ugly but it works Yes
41 R Gets enough of Gregg Yes
42 R Bad angle. Can’t get in front of Ngata No
43 P Good enough Yes
44 P Helps Adams Yes
45 P Three man rush makes life easy Yes
46 P Allows a PBU No
47 P Allows pressure by Krueger No
48 R Works with Adams on NG Yes
49 R Nice block on McKinney Yes
50 P Works with Pouncey Yes
51 R Good job on DE Yes
52 R Good surge Yes
53 R Blown into backfield No
54 R Pulls, but Suggs meets him in backfield No
55 P Fine Yes

Flozell Adams: Adams problem was supposed to be his pass blocking. But on Sunday nine of his 11 poor plays (not counting his usual false start) came when the Steelers ran the ball. When he wasn’t missing his block, Adams was the man the Steelers ran behind most often–when he does make his block he can dominate his man. You just never know whether it’s going to be an amazing block or one where you’ll shake your head.

But while Adams gave up only one pressure as a pass blocker, it’s also clear that Pittsburgh doesn’t really trust him to do it on his own. On nine of Pittsburgh’s 24 called pass plays, Pittsburgh had a tight end stay in to help him or sent a back to chip Adams’ man. They only did that once for Starks.

But when it comes to the running game, Pittsburgh is becoming a righthanded team, and Adams deserves credit for that.
Play R/P Result Good Play?
1 R Drives Ngata back Yes
2 R Blocks Ngata, but Ngata slides off for tackle No
3 P Works on Suggs Yes
4 P No one to block Yes
5 R Solid Yes
6 P Solid Yes
7 P Cuts Ngata—so-so Yes
8 R Blocks Ngata Yes
9 P No problems Yes
10 R Misses his block on Ngata No
11 R Better, good block on Ngata Yes
12 R Good enough on DE, but looks like he was trying to get LB too—fails at that No
13 Pen False start No
14 P Solid with help from Mendenhall Yes
15 R Blocks no one No
16 R VERY GOOD. Helps on DE then picks up Lewis Yes
17 P Loses Ngata who gets QB hit No
18 P No one to block Yes
19 R Solid on Ngata Yes
20 R Loses Gregg who helps on tackle No
21 R Blocks Kruger with Miller’s help Yes
22 P Accidentally tackles Batch No
23 R Falls down, blocks no one No
24 R Works combo block with Legursky, but doesn’t sustain it No
25 P Solid work Yes
26 R GREAT. Throws Ngata to the ground Yes
27 P Pushed back by Suggs, but good enough Yes
28 P Gppd job on Ngata Yes
29 P Solid block Yes
30 R Gets no push on Ngata who helps on tackle No
31 R GREAT. Excellent block on Lewis. Shows his strength Yes
32 P Good job on Johnson Yes
33 P Good Yes
34 P Solid work Yes
35 P Solid Yes
36 P Gets his man to give up Yes
37 R Doesn’t get enough of Ngata who makes tackle No
38 P Very good job of handling blitz Yes
39 R GREAT. Drives DE back to create hole Yes
40 R Turns Ngata enough, even if he makes tackle Yes
41 P Drives his man way outside Yes
42 R Enough push on Ngata Yes
43 R Enough on backside Yes
44 P Good enough Yes
45 P Good enough Yes
46 P Three man rush makes life easy Yes
47 P Solid Yes
48 P Good job on Johnson Yes
49 R Drives NG inside Yes
50 R GREAT. Destroys DE then helps on Lewis Yes
51 P No one to block Yes
52 R Gets away with a hold.Hey if they don’t call it Yes
53 R NICE. Puts Suggs on ground Yes
54 R Stalemated by DE, but tha’ts enough Yes
55 R Loses his man who makes tackle No
56 P Fine Yes

Heath Miller: Like Spaeth, Miller had some tough jobs this week. He generally did a fine job blocking Jarrett Johnson, but as you would expect he didn’t win every battle facing Suggs and Johnson. That’s not a real problem as those guys are quite good.
Play R/P Result Good Play
1 R Solid block on Johnson Yes
2 R Poor block, loses OLB No
3 R Very good block on Johnson Yes
4 P Helps Adams Yes
5 P Nice kick out block Yes
6 R Good block leading Mendenhall Yes
7 P Stays in to help Adams Yes
8 R Good enough on Johnson Yes
9 R OK on backside Yes
10 R Backside block Yes
11 R Good block on outside Yes
12 R Too late on block of LB No
13 R Good block on Johnson Yes
14 R Blocks no one No
15 R Helps Adams then slides off to nudge LB Yes
16 R Fails to block Johnson who makes tackle No
17 R Blocks Johnson well Yes
18 R Poor but adequate job of screening Johnson Yes
19 R Good block on S Yes
20 R Called for holding No
21 P EXCELLENT. Blocks Suggs on screen Yes
22 P Good pass block (lined up outside Adams) Yes
23 R Good block on Johnson Yes
24 P Very good job of handling blitz Yes
25 R OUTSTANDING. Puts Johnson on back with pancake Yes
26 R Adequate on Johnson Yes
27 R Gets little crease inside on Johnson Yes
28 R Awful. Driven into backfield No
29 P Helps out Flozell Yes
30 P Helps out Flozell Yes
31 R Not much to do Yes
32 R Solid on Suggs Yes
33 R Good block on DE Yes
34 R Doesn’t seal off Johnson No
35 R Solid block on Johnson Yes
36 R Pulls, but Suggs meets him in backfield No
37 P Fine Yes

Matt Spaeth: The way Spaeth is playing, I’ll take back everything I said when I wondered why he was playing ahead of Johnson. Spaeth may be the Steelers’ best blocking tight end right now. On the Steelers’ go-ahead drive in the fourth quarter, they ran the same off-tackle running play three times. Spaeth’s assignment was to head to the second level to block Ray Lewis to give Mendenhall room to run. That assignment was one that Steelers’ linemen had struggled with all day, but Spaeth pulled it off three plays in a row. So what did Pittsburgh ask him to do next? Just handle Haloti Ngata long enough for the Steelers to run his way again. It wasn’t a pretty block, but it was just enough, and geez, he was a tight end blocking one of the best defensive tackle/ends in the game. I can’t imagine what went through his head when he figured out from the play call what the team was asking him to do.
Play R/P Result Good Play?
1 R Good block on Suggs Yes
2 R Good block on LB McClain Yes
3 P GREAT. Puts Johnson on ground. Yes
4 R Fine on backside Yes
5 R Driven back by Suggs No
6 R Again driven back by Sugges No
7 R Gives ground to Spaeth, but keeps him blocked Yes
8 R Helps Miller Yes
9 P Blocks Suggs to help Adams Yes
10 R Good block on Johnson Yes
11 R Good block on Suggs Yes
12 R Doesn’t really block anyone No
13 R With Starks help knocks Suggs down Yes
14 P Handles Ngata with Starks’ help Yes
15 R Excellent block on Lewis Yes
16 P Fine on backside Yes
17 R GREAT. Handles Lewis springs Mendenhall for 10 Yes
18 R Good job on Lewis Yes
19 R Good job on Lewis again Yes
20 R Wow. Asked to block Ngata and does just enough Yes
21 R Good job. Blocks to whistle Yes
22 R Gets arm on LB. Tough block Yes
23 R Good block on Burgess Yes
24 Pen False Start No
25 R Good job Yes
26 P Fine Yes

David Johnson: When Johnson lines up at fullback, he doesn’t always get low enough to avoid getting stacked up by the man he’s trying to block, and Rashard Mendenhall views where Johnson’s going as more of a mild suggestion than someone he should follow through the hole. But when he gets to line up at tight end, he’s a pretty good blocker–he effectively made six of his seven blocks as a tight end.
Play R/P Result Good Play?
1 R Handles S Yes
2 R Handles S Yes
3 R As FB, picks up blitzing safety, but creates traffic in backfield No
4 R As FB, blocks S Yes
5 R As FB, can’t stick block on S No
6 R Can’t maintain block on Johnson, who slides off for tackle No
7 R Gets just enough of Johnson Yes
8 R Good job on McClain Yes
9 R As FB. OUTSTANDING. Gets seal block on Johnson Yes
10 R OK block on LB Yes
11 R As FB. Blocks through different hole than Mendenhall takes Yes
12 R Nice kick out block Yes

Isaac Redman: Redman didn’t get asked to block much as a lead fullback for Mendenhall this week–only once while David Johnson had five running plays as a fullback. But as we mentioned above, he was quite effective in blitz pickup.
Play R/P Result Good Play
1 P Excellent blitz pickup of Lewis yes
2 P GREAT. Manages to block both S and Lewis on blitz. Best block of season? yes
3 P Excellent blitz pickup on S yes
4 R Good job on backside Yes

Rashard Mendenhall: If it wasn’t for the fact that Mendenhall already carries the ball a ton, he could also serve as the third down back. He’s a willing and pretty effective blocker, he’s just not asked to do it all that often.
Play R/P Result Good Play?
1 P Chips Suggs to help Adams Yes
2 P Nice blitz pickup Yes
3 P Helps out Starks Yes
4 P Nice blitz pickup Yes

Mewelde Moore: Moore wasn’t asked to block all that much (one play) and he misread which way the blitz was coming from on that one play.
Play R/P Result Good Play?
1 P Fails to read blitz properly, allows unblocked S to get hit on Batch No

[Kanata-Steeler]

We had the Ravens, thanks to Charlie managing our TEAM>
It was our defense, who let their guard down during the last 36 secs ?!
No way, we had the Ratbirds clean, even Lewis was worried most of that game :)

[pancake]

Nice breakdown! This OL unit is getting better.