Movie Room: Breaking Down Jeremiah Moon's Punt Block

Nobody, and I imply nobody, blocks punts just like the Pittsburgh Steelers. With three final 12 months, two in 2021, and one this 12 months, this staff retains opposing particular groups coordinators up late at evening. There’s nothing extra demoralizing than a blocked punt, and it offered a giant enhance within the Steelers’ 32-13 win Sunday over the Las Vegas Raiders. From the second OLB Jeremiah Moon got here unlock the center to reject P AJ Cole’s boot, the rout was on.

So how did it occur? How did Moon get so free? Let’s break it down.

First, let’s simply admire the play. Moon is dashing via the A-gap and has a direct line to the punter, Cole booting it off his chest. The Raiders recovered (Pittsburgh nonetheless can’t block a punt for a landing) however the Steelers took over on the Raiders’ 9.

So what the heck occurred? Did Pittsburgh out-scheme and confuse Las Vegas? It doesn’t seem so.

The pre-snap look. Pittsburgh is in an aggressive rush formation. Nevertheless it’s eight on eight. Eight rushers in opposition to eight blockers so Vegas is secure right here. They’ve sufficient guys right here to dam it up with out problem, identical to an offensive line would in opposition to a go rush.

From the safety scheme, the left wing, left deal with, and left guard are answerable for the three Steelers on their left (Pittsburgh’s proper). The appropriate wing, proper deal with, and proper guard have the three Steelers on their proper (Pittsburgh’s left). That leaves two blockers and two rushers. The lengthy snapper and the private protector (PP) and the 2 inside Steelers’ rushers. All of the Raiders should do is assign one blocker to at least one inside participant and the opposite to the remaining Steeler and so they’re golden. It ought to seem like this (you would additionally flip the LS/PP assignments).

However the Raiders don’t talk it properly. The snapper and the PP take the identical man. The snapper appears to be like proper off the snap however then comes left and the PP takes him as properly. That leaves Moon as a free rusher up the center. And that’s a giant drawback. Having a free rusher anyplace on the punt shield staff is unhealthy. Having one with a direct line up within the center is worst-case state of affairs. And Moon rushes in free.

See, the PP is meant to make three calls. He declares what number of defenders are within the field. He units the blocking scheme for himself and the lengthy snapper, who will go left and proper. And he yells out “Set” to notice the safety staff is prepared and the snapper can hike the ball at any level (standing so distant, the punter clearly isn’t saying the snap).

In my teaching clinic notes from actually a decade in the past, I’ve it written out as one instance:

“8 Up, 8 Up, Crimson, Set!”

And in my coaching camp notes from 9 years in the past, the summer season of 2015, I made a notice of the verbiage again then from camp PP Alden Darby.

“8 Up! 8 Up! Inexperienced, White, Set!”

Verbiage has modified over time, the Steelers use a “Rip” name if Miles Killebrew needs to ship LS Christian Kuntz to the correct (as he talked about right here in one in all his current podcasts) however that’s the thought. Establish the rushers, the safety, and get the ball able to be snapped. Then execute.

And the Raiders dropped the ball right here. As they did all through the sport, they have been sloppy and had important errors. This one results in a block. Maybe there was some confusion created as Connor Heyward, the participant the LS/PP picked up, switched sides pre-snaps, although on the NFL stage, this sort of stuff needs to be youngster’s play. And both means, one man go left, one go proper, and the Raiders are effective, irrespective of the place Heyward finally ends up. Each Steelers aren’t going to hurry into the identical hole.

Good method by Moon to dive, lengthen his arms, and have his palms dealing with down so if the ball hits his arms, it has a decreased probability of clipping off his fingers and going ahead, as could be the case if his arms have been dealing with up/out.

We didn’t get an incredible Danny Smith response, however it will do.

However we acquired a fantastic shot of Miles Killebrew, selfless teammate he’s, tackling Moon ultimately zone as they celebrated the second.

Sadly, Pittsburgh ended its ensuing drive with a area objective as an alternative of a landing. Nevertheless it made issues 15-7 and the Steelers managed the remainder of the sport. Punt blocks actually swing momentum in your favor. They quiet a road-game crowd (even when Steelers followers have been well-represented at Allegiant Stadium). And so they give a struggling offense a near-guaranteed three factors. Pittsburgh took benefit of Las Vegas’ errors. That’s evident right here and in so many different elements of the sport.