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Eight-in-the-box defense
As said in this thread, there was less of that in the Colts game than last year.
I know what they say. But when I look at the game, it looks like there are always 8 or 9 in the box.
Agamemnonhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eight-in-the-box_defense
Eight-in-the-box defense
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopediaIn American football, an eight-in-the-box defense is a defensive alignment in which 8 of the 11 defensive players are close to the line of scrimmage.
Description
The area occupied by defensive linemen and linebackers is often referred to as “the box”. The box is usually about 3-5 yards in depth and spans the offensive line in width. Normally five to seven defensive players occupy this area but frequently another player is brought into the box for run support against smashmouth-oriented offensive teams or short yardage situations.[1]
The most common occurrence of eight in the box in the NFL involves the strong safety walking down from his position (moving to within) 10-15 yards off the line of scrimmage before the ball is snapped.[2] From this tightened position he can offer the aforementioned run support as well as jam WRs and TEs, blitz the QB, or provide flat coverage. Due to the superior athleticism of NFL players, it is not uncommon for the box safety to even provide deep coverage after the snap, giving the QB a pre-snap Cover 1 read but effectively transitioning into Cover 2 or another shell post snap. Often, to hold a disguised defense, the safety will not come down until the snap of the ball. While this is not the eight in the box strategy, it gives the same results without showing what your defense is before the snap of the ball.
AdvantagesObvious advantages come off the eight in the box strategy including more defenders to stop the run game of the opponent which is the main reason for this strategy. The eight in the box scheme is also often used by teams throughout the NFL as a disguise to which players will be coming after the quarterback. This creates a level of difficulty for the offensive linemen because they will not know pre-snap who they will need to block. Quick decisions will need to be made after the snap of the ball.
Disadvantages
Defenses would rather not have to go to the eight in the box strategy because it takes away from the pass coverage. However, teams that run the ball effectively force defenses to go to this strategy. Once a defense does this, the offense can run play-action passes to keep the defenders near the line of scrimmage as the receivers (usually 1 or 2 since, often, heavy packages are in the game including tight ends in place of receivers) run by them and have an entire field to run away from a cornerback, putting the defensive backs at a disadvantage. This scheme can also work against the team that is covering the run. In a base defensive set, there are 3 levels of defenders; line, linebackers, and safeties. The safeties are there to keep runners from going all the way for the score. However, when one safety creeps down toward the line of scrimmage, that leaves only one high safety to make the tackle once the runner has broken the first line of defense. AgamemnonBut ESPN Stats & Information says Gurley faced eight or more defenders in the box on only two of his carries
I keep seeing this, but when I look at the games is seems there are always a bunch of guys around the line of scrimmage. I will have to look for some kind of clarification of this. Last year it seemed like, even on passing formations, defenses crowded the line of scrimmage.
AgamemnonWashington is a step up in competition. We have too many weapons. Rams by 10+ points. ?28 – 17.
AgamemnonJared Goff in week 1 š„https://t.co/xvgpmq0B8R pic.twitter.com/H8Q8vs69bN
— Pro Football Focus (@PFF) September 12, 2017
Goff also pushed the ball down the field, and was four for five on deep (20-plus air yards) attempts.
AgamemnonCornelius Lucas NFL Draft 2014: Highlights, Scouting Report and More
Alex Dunlap
February 26, 2014Kansas State offensive linesman Cornelius Lucas (78) gets set on the line of scrimmage during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Iowa State, Saturday, Oct. 13, 2012, in Ames, Iowa. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)
Charlie Neibergall/Associated PressCornelius Lucas, LT, Kansas State (HT: 6’8″, WT: 330 lbs)
NFL Comparison: Anthony Castonzo, LT, Indianapolis Colts
Positives
Clearly an absolute giant and a mountain of a man.
Intimidating size and wingspan.
Possesses the length to execute reach blocks and stay effectively engaged with first-Ālevel defenders in Kansas State’s zoneĀ-blocking, read-and-veerĀ-option schemes when focused.
Has flashed the agility to make athletic cut blocks in space to clear second-Ālevel lanes.
Transitions from stance to a functionalāif somewhat balkyākick Āslide smoothly and generally maintains proper depth.
Pure size and length on the edge makes for a formidable boundary, even in the presence of fundamental and technique issues.
Earned first-Āteam AllĀ-Big 12 honors from the coaches in his junior season and received honorable mention honors as a senior.
Has deceptive quickness given his size.
Kansas State’s top NFL draft prospect in 2013.
Generally thought of as a player coming into the 2013 season who could elevate his stock to first- or secondĀ-round status with a big senior campaign.
Tallest offensive lineman measured at the 2014 combine.
Longest arms of all offensive linemen measured at the 2014 combine.Negatives
Overall power is as underwhelming as his size is intimidating.
Often seems lost.
Slow reaction time to disguised and delayed blitzes; gets locked on one thing and doesn’t come off.
Wide, lumbering upper Ābody that seems sluggish in movements and top heavy.
Got away with numerous holding penalties at the college level in attempts to overcome bad initial positioning.
Does not drive opponents off the line of scrimmage in the run game; in most cases, he simply flows with them laterally, clogging zone lanes.
Frequently can’t even get a good push upfield when aiding in the comboĀ block of a sole down defender.
Needs major development in countering hand moves and understanding leverage.
Can get dominated by disruptive interior defensive line presences that play with a low base and good motor.
Allowed two sacks, three QB hits and two QB pressures to DE Jackson Jeffcoat of Texas in 2013.
Failed to capitalize or improve in 2013 upon what many evaluators viewed as a breakout junior campaign in 2012.
Did not participate in combine drills due to a stress fracture in his foot, which will sideline him six to eight weeks during his critical pre-draft training window.Personal Notes
Native of New Orleans, La.
Committed to Kansas State out of high school over a hometown offer from Tulane.
Son of the late Cornelius Lucas III and Priscilla Jones.
A marketing major in college.
Despite massive size, he was only rated a 2-Āstar prospect by Rivals in the 2009 recruiting class.Ratings Chart
Overall
Lucas passes the eyeball test in almost every sense of the word. He looks like a long-Ālimbed oak tree between the quarterback’s blind side and the defender. His feet are better than evaluators could reasonably expect, and the reasons for such optimism prior to Lucas’ senior campaign were wellĀ founded. At times through the 2013 season, though, he looked on the verge of unĀdraftable. Lucas has been a “work in progress” for his entire career, which is unnerving to evaluators. He had numerous flaws in his game exposed through 2013. The team that drafts Lucas will be doing so with the understanding that it is buying a lottery ticket.
Draft Projection: 6th Round
AgamemnonRams Sign OT Cornelius Lucas, Waive Dielman and Jefferson
Posted 1 hour ago
Kristen Lago Rams Writer/Reporter @kristennlago
Two days after the Rams dominant season opener over the Colts, the team has made a few changes to its active roster. On Tuesday, the team announced that they had signed offensive tackle Cornelius Lucas. The Rams also waived offensive lineman J.J. Dielman and defensive lineman Quinton Jefferson, as well as terminated offensive lineman, Jake Eldrenkamp from the team’s practice squad.
Lucas joins a Rams offensive line that has seen a variety of changes over the past year. Head coach Sean McVay and the rest of his staff made a concentrated effort to boost the offensive line in the offseason, by adding veteran players such as left tackle Andrew Whitworth and center John Sullivan. Lucas should present the team with another rotational option to improve the team’s depth on the line.
The former Kansas State Wildcat was signed by the Lions as an undrafted free agent in 2014. And although he was signed to a one-year contract in April, he was released by Detroit after they were awarded two new players via waiver claims last week. Lucas played in 35 games total during his three seasons with the Lions and started in six of them.
AgamemnonLos Angeles Rams Release C J.J. Dielman, DL Quinton Jefferson, C Jake Eldrenkamp
A new day brings a new wave of roster moves for the Rams.
by Sosa Kremenjas@SosaNFLDraft Sep 12, 2017, 1:35pm CDTTypically the Tuesday of a post-win week should be a good day. Sadly, itās not so for three Los Angeles Rams who were just released: C J.J. Dielman, DL Quinton Jefferson and OL Jake Eldrenkamp:
Can confirm the Rams released center J.J. Dielman. Team also released defensive lineman Quinton Jefferson, a person w/knowledge said.
— Lindsey Thiry (@LindseyThiry) September 12, 2017
Further, center Jake Eldrenkamp was released from the practice squad, person with knowledge of situation said.
— Lindsey Thiry (@LindseyThiry) September 12, 2017
Dielman and Jefferson were both on the 53-man roster while Eldrenkamp was on the practice squad. Worth noting that two of them, Dielman and Eldrenkamp, are offensive lineman.
J.J. Dielman was recently signed as the Rams placed a waiver claim for him; he was drafted by the Cincinnati Bengals in the fifth round of the 2017 NFL Draft.
Jake Eldrenkamp was a UDFA from Washington who signed with the Rams post-draft,. Though he looked likely to stick around, his stay has been cut short after Austin Blythe won the position battle as the teamās backup center.
Quinton Jefferson was drafted as a sixth-round pick by the Seattle Seahawks in the 2016 NFL Draft and was also added to the Rams through waiver claims with Dielman. He was likely made expendable with the re-addition of DE Aaron Donald, pushing every DL down a notch.
Keep an eye out for corresponding moves.
AgamemnonRams sign Johnny Hekker, Ethan Westbrooks to new contracts
By Rich Hammond | rhammond@scng.com | Orange County Register
PUBLISHED: September 11, 2017 at 4:47 pm | UPDATED: September 11, 2017 at 5:04 pmThe Rams signed punter Johnny Hekker and defensive lineman Ethan Westbrooks to contract extensions Monday, and helped stabilize their salary-cap situation in future years.
Hekker, who was still under contract for three seasons beyond this one, added an additional two years and $9.6 million, and his newly structured contract contains $10 million in guaranteed money, the most ever for an NFL punter.
Westbrooks also restructured his contract, and the new deal will take him through the 2018 season at a total of $3 million.
Hekker is considered the NFLās top punter and has been a Pro Bowl selection in three of his five seasons. Westbrooks took over as a starter during training camp in July, during Aaron Donaldās contract holdout and after Dominique Easley tore his ACL.
The moves allow the Rams to have more certainty, going forward, as they attempt to sign Donald to a long-term contract and sign other pending free agents. Alec Ogletree, Trumaine Johnson, Connor Barwin and Lamarcus Joyner are among Rams players slotted to be free agents next March.
$9.6 million is cheap, considering the Salary Cap is projected to be $200 million plus in 2021 and 2022.
AgamemnonRams sign Johnny Hekker, Ethan Westbrooks to new contracts
By Rich Hammond | rhammond@scng.com | Orange County Register
PUBLISHED: September 11, 2017 at 4:47 pm | UPDATED: September 11, 2017 at 5:04 pmThe Rams signed punter Johnny Hekker and defensive lineman Ethan Westbrooks to contract extensions Monday, and helped stabilize their salary-cap situation in future years.
Hekker, who was still under contract for three seasons beyond this one, added an additional two years and $9.6 million, and his newly structured contract contains $10 million in guaranteed money, the most ever for an NFL punter.
Westbrooks also restructured his contract, and the new deal will take him through the 2018 season at a total of $3 million.If this is true, contrary to the previous post, they did make a bit of Cap space, ~$3 million. imo
Hekker is considered the NFLās top punter and has been a Pro Bowl selection in three of his five seasons. Westbrooks took over as a starter during training camp in July, during Aaron Donaldās contract holdout and after Dominique Easley tore his ACL.
The moves allow the Rams to have more certainty, going forward, as they attempt to sign Donald to a long-term contract and sign other pending free agents. Alec Ogletree, Trumaine Johnson, Connor Barwin and Lamarcus Joyner are among Rams players slotted to be free agents next March.
Agamemnonhttp://www.latimes.com/sports/rams/la-sp-rams-hekker-20170911-story.html
Rams punter Johnny Hekker signs two-year contract extension
Sean McVay, Johnny HekkerGary KleinGary KleinContact Reporter
Rams punter Johnny Hekker, arguably the teamās most valuable player last season, has signed a two-year contract extension, the Rams announced.
Hekker, a three-time Pro Bowl selection, is now signed through the 2022 season The two-year extension includes $10 million in guarantees, according to several reports.
Earlier Monday, the Rams announced that they had signed defensive lineman Ethan Westbrooks to an extension that will keep him with the Rams through the 2018 season. The deal is worth about $3 million for the 2017 and 2018 seasons, a person with knowledge of the situation said.
Since Hekker’s previous contract had a worth of $2.6 and $2.8 in 2017 and 2018. If the $3 million / year is true, the Rams Cap hit is not lowered by the new contract. Curiously, Westbrooks’ contract virtually makes up the difference.
.
Everyone assumes the new contracts have to do with Donald. It doesn’t look that way. The Rams do need to, at sometime free some money up for IR and PQ for this year, ~$4 million. imoHekker ranked first in the NFL in punting yards the last two seasons.
On Sunday, he punted five times in the Ramsā 46-9 victory over the Indianapolis Colts. All of his kicks were inside the 20-yard line, including one each at the six, seven and 10.
AgamemnonFisher w/a little sense of humor. He sent Jenkins, Brockers, Stacy, Bailey, Robinson, Ogletree out for pregame coin toss at FedEx.
— Jim Thomas (@jthom1) December 7, 2014
In memory of Fisher………… Next weeks captains.
AgamemnonLIVE Sean McVay Press Conference https://t.co/qxjWAm57Jq
— Los Angeles Rams (@RamsNFL) September 12, 2017
AgamemnonOh, and the plan is for Aaron Donald to play this week. Specifics TBD but Donald worked out and was in meetings today.
— Rich Hammond (@Rich_Hammond) September 12, 2017
Kayvon Webster is day to day with shoulder injury, McVay said. Remember, Rams now don't practice until Wednesday.
— Rich Hammond (@Rich_Hammond) September 12, 2017
AgamemnonSweet release by Sammy Watkins. Goff has guys capable of uncovering early. Big upgrade. pic.twitter.com/ujLm16PxJC
— Daniel Jeremiah (@MoveTheSticks) September 11, 2017
AgamemnonPer https://t.co/Ahna5dqQ2R NextGenStats, Todd Gurley faced 8+ defenders in the box just 10.5% of his carries. Down from 25.5% in 2016.
— Rich Hribar (@LordReebs) September 11, 2017
8+ means more than 8, right? So, still not an answer.
AgamemnonResigned but with a pay cut ā does that mean they like him,
or dont like him?w
vIt sounds like a place holder thing, an easy way to generate a few extra bucks this year. They didn’t say, but I imagine the Rams guaranteed at least the difference on the salary for next year.
AgamemnonRams extend Johnny Hekker through 2022
Rams extend Johnny Hekker through 2022
Posted by Josh Alper on September 11, 2017, 5:49 PM EDTThe Rams hope that punter Johnny Hekker has to work less in the coming years than he has in the past couple of seasons, but they are sure they want him to do their punting whenever the need should arise.
Adam Schefter of ESPN reports that the team has signed Hekker to a two-year contract extension. Hekker was already signed through the 2020 season, so heāll now be locked up through 2022 and Schefter reports the total value of the deal is $21 million.
He also reports that $10 million of that money is guaranteed, which is a new high for punters. The structure of the deal could also free up some cap space in the short term as the Rams try to strike a long-term deal with defensive tackle Aaron Donald.
Hekker has spent the last five years with the Rams and has led the league in punting yards the last two years while punting 194 times. His average of 46.9 yards per punt ranks third all-time in league history and heās been named a first-team All-Pro after three of the last four seasons.
UPDATE 5:59 p.m. ET: The Rams have announced the extension.
That is a Heck of a contract. š
AgamemnonHekker Signs Two-Year Contract Extension
Posted 7 minutes ago
Myles Simmons Rams Insider @MylesASimmons
The Rams have signed punter Johnny Hekker to a two-year contract extension, keeping him with the club through the 2022 season.
Hekker previously signed a six-year contract extension with the Rams in 2014, which had locked him up through 2020.
Originally signed as an undrafted free agent out of Oregon State in 2012, Hekker has become one of the leagueās premier punters. In 2016, he set an NFL record with 51 punts downed inside the 20-yard line, earning his third trip to the Pro Bowl and his third first-team All Pro selection. And back in 2013, Hekker set a league record with a 44.3 yard net average on 78 punts.
Named one of the Ramsā six captains for 2017, Hekker picked up right where he left off on Sunday against Indianapolis, as all five of his punts were downed inside the 20-yard line.
AgamemnonJust as everyone expected: after NFL's first Sunday of season, the two top-rated QBs are Alex Smith and Jared Goff. pic.twitter.com/SvHABssTGe
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) September 11, 2017
AgamemnonAnd time to throw.
They will score more points this year.
And when teams realize they have to respect the passing game, Gurley may bust out for a 75-yard day.
Thereās a report out there, in terms of early āgame review watching the all-22ā style reports, that in fact IND did NOT play the run. They did not load the box and play run first.
If so that means Gurley and the OL ran against lighter opposition in the box and still couldnāt get er going.
ā¦
During the game it looked to me that they were loading up the box. But, I can’t claim to be an expert at that part of the game. It did seem that Gurley might have cut outside on some plays. But still, “the running game” continues to be a mystery.
AgamemnonAn impressive debut from Cooper Kupp pic.twitter.com/SCelB7Czw1
— Pro Football Focus (@PFF) September 11, 2017
AgamemnonThe Colts got beat so bad that Chuck Pagano forgot what team they played špic.twitter.com/oexsV3UuKv
— NFL Retweet (@NFLRT) September 11, 2017
AgamemnonHis 8th start in the NFL was comfortably his best so far pic.twitter.com/DsfYxN74TG
— Pro Football Focus (@PFF) September 11, 2017
Agamemnon
