Analyzing Solid Buccaneers’ Offensive Line Play

This first play comes from the Bucs’ second play from scrimmage of the night. They are in the eye formation with two backs behind Jameis Winston. Rodgers is the deep back. Russell Shepard is lined up wide to the right, but comes in motion to the inside.

The snap comes and Rodgers is going to take the ball and try a run off of the right side of the line. Focus on the red circle. Kevin Pamphile is going to take on Kawann Short one-on-one, and blow him off the ball to the left. Joe Hawley and Ali Marpet take on Star Lotulelei. I have marked the fact that the ball is on the 23 yard line for a reason.

Watch in the next shot, and take note of where they take Lotulelei.

First look at the smaller circle. Pamphile has completely taken Short out of the way. He has no chance of getting back into the play at all. Now for the bigger circle. See where they ended up? They are on the 25 yard line, meaning the Marpet/Hawley duo blew Lotulelei two yards off of the ball. Oh, and by the way, some guy named Luke Kuechly got caught in the crossfire too.

Rodgers has a big hole to the right, one large enough to drive a truck through.

Jacquizz hits the hole with speed! Look how long it takes for him to get even touched.

Kuechly finally lays a glove on him nine yards down the field. Rodgers had to make the run, obviously, but the combination of three guys along the line made the run possible.

Now we fast forward to later in the first quarter for another well-executed run, courtesy of excellent blocking.