Pride Of Detroit on Sam LaPorta

ArticleDetroit Lions film study: What is killing the offense’s opening drives?
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11 personnel. Play action, tight end screen pass to LaPorta on the short side. I think this is a good call to open the game. In the high-energy environment, this concept breaks two tendencies that would be considered the Lions bread and butter: run the ball and attack the middle of the field in the intermediate pass game. Off the snap, it was a timely call with the Bills blitzing one of their field-side linebacker, who forces Gibbs to transition his run fake to pass protection rather quickly. The one player away mistake here, from my perspective, is left guard Ben Bartch. After showing his pass block set and releasing for his screen landmark, he keys the linebacker in zone coverage. Bartch, however, takes an angle straight toward the linebacker where he currently is (red arrow), but should attack where he is going to be. (yellow arrow). As a result, Bartch has to redirect late while not getting a clean block. LaPorta is forced to adjust back inside closer to the pursuit defenders.
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LaPorta targeted on opening play-action screen but forced to adjust due to blocking breakdown.

LaPorta was targeted on the Lions' opening play against Buffalo on a play-action tight end screen pass to the short side in 11 personnel. The source calls this a good call to open the game, breaking two Lions tendencies (run the ball and attack the intermediate middle). However, LaPorta was forced to adjust back inside closer to pursuit defenders due to left guard Ben Bartch's blocking mistake on the play.

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