Gridiron Cinema 10/5/2013: Week 4 Houston 3TE sets and Play Action Bootlegs

The running game has been the bread and butter of the Houston offense. The Texans powerful rushing attack is complimented by the use of play action to draw defenders towards the line and create space for receivers in the passing game. Last week against Seattle, Houston was able to create some success with their rushing attack, but the Texans were not able to leverage the running game and create big gains off play action. The Seahawk defensive ends did a great job of reading the fakes, especially on bootlegs, and closing down on Schaub. On Sunday Night, the 49ers defense will need to show the same discipline to similarly bottle up the Texan passing game. 

Houston's second offensive play run from a 1RB, 3TE set with all the TEs lined up in a bunch on the left side of the OL (our right).  The two outside TEs will block down on the DE and MLB while the inside TE will take out the safety (#31) as the LT pulls to lead block for Foster.

Before Foster has even received the toss from Schaub, the other members of the offense are already setting up a well blocked run. (1) SEA DE Michael Bennett has a clear lane, but will be screened off from pursuit by TE Griffen once Foster receives the ball and moves outside. (2) TE Graham has released and is in position to seal off the MLB and (3) C Myers has made it to the second level after the snap and is moving to seal off the other MLB.

"X" marks the spot as the Texans have cleared a massive running lane for Foster with the LT out in front to take care of CB Browner (#39).  Foster will weave his run behind the LT and bounce outside, forced out by S Thomas after a 16-yard gain.

On the next play, the Texans keep the 3TE personnel on the field and go to play action. Houston uses run action to the left like the play before, but Schaub will keep the ball as he rolls out to his right. 

At the snap, the whole OL blocks down to the left and the fake succeeds in getting the weak side defenders to commit to the run.

 

Red Bryant, however, will not be drawn into the play action. He easily pushes TE Griffen out of his field of vision so he has a direct view of the non-handoff.

 Bryant sets his angle to contain Schaub and limit his passing options. Schaub wants to get rid of the ball, but all his receivers are covered. Schaub will try to dump it off to #84, but Bryant is a Big Man, and bats the pass down. Bryant's ability to shed his blocker and read/react to the play fake doomed the play. With Aldon Smith still out for the 49ers, the Texans will likely try and test the two fill-ins at OLB, Dan Skuta and Corey Lemonier, and see if the can beat the fake.

The Texans also run the PA bootleg out of the 2-back set, seeking to get the defense to flow right, while creating a two level passing option on the left with Andre Johnson short and Owen Daniels mid, while Keshawn Martin runs a streak to clear out the safety.

Again, the Texans run action draws the defense to the right, but as Michael Bennett flows with the rest of the Seahawks, he has a view of the handoff and has time to read the fake.

 When Schaub pivots around after the fake, he has Owen Daniels open, but Bennett is setting his feet to close the gap between them and Schaub knows he won't have time to set his feet and make the throw, so he waits and tries to get outside of Bennett. Schaub completes a short 2-yard pass to Andre Johnson, who then works his magic and evades several tackles to gain 10 additional yards.

Houston brings back the 3TE look when they have first and goal on the Seattle 5-yard line. However, this time, the run action is faked to the opposite side of where the TEs line up. The Texans are giving Schaub a three level read with Johnson crossing the back of the end zone, Graham faking inside before turning back to the mid-level read and Foster as the short read.

Unfortunately, the Seattle defense doesn't buy the run action, at all. Both Sehawk LBs as well as Earl Thomas and Richard Sherman are well aware of fake before Texan receivers have released into their patterns. Chris Clemons (yellow oval) is set free and has a clear field of view of Schaub rolling out as Owen Daniels cross in front of him. 

Clemons closes in as Schaub finds he has no one to throw the ball. Foster is double covered short. Johnson and Graham's routes have come too close together in the end zone and Richard Sherman is heading to the empty space in the back of the end zone to provide extra support. Schaub doesn't have the luxury of time to wait and see if someone can get open, as Clemons forces a throw at Foster's feet.

Running the ball and setting up play action are the strengths of the Houston Texans offensive game plan. On Sunday night in San Francisco, the 49ers' OLBs will need to remain as disciplined as the Seattle DEs were last week to disrupt the Houston game plan. Even if they recognize the play fakes, the 49ers' OLBs will also need to shed the blockers sent their way. Seattle's ends are bigger men than the 49ers 3-4 OLBs, so being physical enough to break free from Texans blockers will be key.