Easy answer to our short yardage probems.

[BFritz21]

(02-28-2022, 02:06 AM)Whatever Wrote: The Rams aren't playing run.  They're playing pass.  You can tell because both ends are lined up in a two point stance on the outside shoulders of the OT's.  If they were playing run, they'd be lined up tighter and they'd be in a three point stance to get leverage, which they would logically do based on tendency if you come out under center.  

If you pause your clip at 0:06, you can clearly see that if Donald doesn't destroy Adeniji and discard him to the inside, there's actually a hole there and potential blockers out in front for a possible big gain.  It's not a play call or play design issue.  It's a talent issue, specifically Adeniji.

It's honestly really frustrating to break this down presnap and frame by frame.  Donald is lined up over Adeniji's outside shoulder, almost over Prince, and the other DT is lined up over Spain's inside shoulder, leaving a massive hole in the A gap.  The Rams are blitzing a LB off the left side to stop Hopkins from helping Adeniji.  Adeniji doesn't even have to get a push.  He just has to pin Donald outside which should be relatively easy given the leverage Donald gives up presnap, but he still gets utterly annihilated.

The one linebacker blitzes immediately and you can tell it's a run blitz because he hits the guard head on and doesn't try and shoot the gap or anything. 

It also looks like the strong safety starts towards the line at the snap.

There is such a thing as disguising defenses. In fact, the ends are in a two-point stance but they don't rush upfield like they're going to rush the passer, they just stay in the same spot or maybe take a step forward. They were playing the run. 

Donald is pushing the linemen inside and holding his ground, not rushing into the backfield. He's definitely playing the run.