The Buffalo Bills have the number one rushing attack in the NFL. They are averaging 157 yards per game on the ground and are facing off with the Oakland Raiders this week. The Raiders run defense is ranked 26th in the league, giving up an average of 116.9 yards per game. Although the Raider run defense has improved lately, they are still prone to giving up the big play.
They’ll have to play sound assignment football because the Bills rushing attack is a headache to prepare for. That’s because they feature a unique option run-based attack that fits their personnel. They have two of the most elusive players at their position in LeSean McCoy and Tyrod Taylor.
The Bills offense keeps defensive coordinators up at night because the option is something that teams don’t see often. To stop it, teams have to play assignment football. Meaning, there will be defenders who are responsible for stopping different phases of the option. The first phase of the option is the called run concept.
Bills have a diverse run game tagged with triple option. Here's wide zone with triple option.
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— Ted Nguyen (@RaidersAnalysis) December 2, 2016
On this example, the Bills pair the wide zone with the triple option. The first phase of this concept is for Taylor to hand the ball off to McCoy. Taylor is reading the end and basing his decision on his movement. If the end stays home, Taylor will hand the ball off. If the end chases McCoy, then Taylor will keep the ball and move onto the next phase of the play. The end stays home, so Taylor hands the ball off. The offense gets a hat on a hat and McCoy gets a nice gain out of the play.
Oak will have to play sound assignment football. Seahawks tried to play QB with safety and pitch with LB. Better to switch it IMO
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— Ted Nguyen (@RaidersAnalysis) December 2, 2016
This play is an inside zone with a triple option load block. Taylor initially reads DeShawn Shead (35). Shead chases the running back so Taylor keeps the ball. Now, Taylor is going to read the middle linebacker K.J. Wright (No. 50). If Wright pursues the quarterback, then he’ll pitch the ball. If Wright chases the pitch then Taylor will keep the ball. Wright chases the pitch along with safety Kelcie McCray (No. 33). This leaves Taylor unaccounted for and he runs for a five yard gain.
The Seahawks messed up their assignments on the play. There should have been one defender responsible for the QB, while the other covers the pitch. This is what makes defending the Bills offense so difficult. Everyone has to know and execute their assignment in ways that they don’t do often in the NFL.
A more effective strategy would have been for Wright to force Taylor to run inside, where he has help, by attacking the lead blocker in front of Taylor rather than string out for the pitch. McCray should have been the only defender responsible for the pitch. Taylor hardly ever pitches the ball and if he does there’s enough time for the Mccray to rally to it.
When the Raiders play the Bills, outside linebackers Khalil Mack and Bruce Irvin will be the first option read. They have to keep their shoulders square to help on the initial run and then help pursue Taylor if he does keep the ball. The Raider middle linebackers have to be vigilant when he does this, and they have to hit him hard. The defensive backs have to stay disciplined and play the pitch in case it ball is pitched.
Another challenge this type of offense presents is that NFL defensive coordinators just don’t see it often. They are usually trying to figure out how they double another team’s No. 1 receiver or how to make sure their defensive backs have favorable matchups — not trying to figure who will be responsible for the pitch. Raider defensive coordinator Ken Norton Jr. has been under fire this week, but this week he could prove he’s the right man for the job with a sound defensive game plan against this Bills option attack.