BDL Week 3 - Gotham Gashslayers @ Lancaster Werewolves

[Ragnarok]

BDL 2020 Week 3

Match: Gotham Gashslayers @ Lancaster Werewolves

Away Owner: @pheltzbahr

Home Owner: @rackcs

  

Vote for who you think would win the game.

Rules:
One vote per person, duplicate accounts will be banned and action taken against those attempting to rig the results.

One vote per team involved in the match. Co-owners may vote in every match up except their own.

For members, who have been following along, and wish to vote.  Please join the conversation and maybe give a reason you voted as you did. This will alleviate any suspicions of unusual voting and will promote discussion.

Note: Players that have a (D) next to their name indicate that they are doubtful or unlikely to play. Players with (Q) are game-time decisions.

Good luck to you both

[Ragnarok]

Gotham Gashslayers

OFFENSE

QB - Carson Wentz

RB - Josh Jacobs

WR - Tyreek Hill

WR - Jarvis Landry

WR - Jerry Jeudy

TE - Eric Ebron

LT - Jake Matthews

LG - Laken Tomlinson

C - Maurkice Pouncey

RG - Shaq Mason

RT - Mike McGlinchey

 

RB - Adrian Peterson

RB - Kerryon Johnson

WR- Devante Parker

WR - Keelan Cole

TE - Hayden Hurst

OL - Lloyd Cushenberry

OL - Lucas Patrick

OL - Kaleb McGary

 

DEFENSE

DE - JJ Watt

NT - Dontari Poe

DT - Chris Jones

EDGE - Jadaveon Clowney

MLB - Benardrick McKinney

WLB - Zach Cunningham

CB - Xavien Howard

CB - Xavier Rhodes

CB - Damon Arnette

S - Minkah Fitzpatrick

S - Justin Simmons

 

EDGE - Whitney Mercilus

INT - Derek Wolfe

INT - Henry Anderson

LB - Germaine Pratt

LB - Zach Baun

CB - Vernon Hargreaves

CB - Rasul Douglas

S - Bradley McDougald

OFFENSE (50% Pass 50% Run)

Another week, another challenge as the BDL season is in full swing.  This week we face our second divisional foe in the Lancaster Werewolves.  Offensively we are looking to spread the ball around to our weapons, seeking a balanced attack.  Outside of our 3 wide base we are going to focus on a couple different formations to force a dinged up defense to dig deeper into the bench and uncover favorable match ups for us.  

• 3WR/TE/RB (40%)  -  We think Lancaster actually matches up best with us here, so it won’t be as widely used in this game as usual.  We will move Tyreek all over the formation and put him in motion most plays, looking for hints of zone or man or to see if we can get him away from Ramsey and into space; Tyreek not covered by Ramsey will be an auto first read, but we won’t shy against him either.  We want to spread it around to all our guys but think Landry will have an advantage in the slot, he will be a first read often on early downs to set up favorable down and distance.  We will use play action to freeze Abram and prevent him from teeing up on our RBs, Ebron will have a few plays into his zone off PA to keep him from pinning his ears and test his coverage ability.

• 12 Personnel (30%) -  In our 2 TE set, we like the flexibility to either devote a TE to pass pro on the edge, release him to the flat, or draw a box player out wide in coverage.  Ebron will be lined out wide with Tyreek in the slot often, looking for a mismatch for both.  If we can draw a box defender outside, we can also take advantage in the running game.  Jacobs and Peterson will split snaps in this formation, we look to beat up the Wolves D Line with both.

• 4WR/1RB (30%) -  Spread Shotgun with Reek and Parker outside, Landry and Jeudy in the slots.  We feel this gives a good opportunity for our WRs in single coverage or finding a soft spot in zone, Wentz will have a hot route available on passing downs.  Spreading out the receivers also provides an enticing box for our RBs to attack.  We will run at TJ Watt frequently out of this set, getting a Tackle on him in isolation. 

DEFENSE - Cover 1 Nickel Shell

In our first 2 games this year we were challenged with defending dynamic QB play, this week we face a team that features defending dynamic weapons.  Even without Kittle in the lineup, Lancaster has a game changer in Kamara with some formidable receiving weapons.  Lancaster has some formation flexibility that must be accounted for, we have the personnel to match.

• SPY Kamara  -  We believe if we can force Lancaster in to pass mode, we have the advantage.  To that end, Minkah Fitzpatrick again plays SPY, but with his attention on Kamara.  Kamara no doubt is a dangerous runner, but we think our D Line can contain that.  I think Kamara is more dangerous in space after the catch, and Minkah will have the responsibility of covering him throughout the game, where he can negate the big play.

• Man Coverage - Mike Evans is the player we think is the biggest threat downfield, so he will be shadowed by Xavien Howard; Damon Arnette draws Johnson, matching his speed and twitch; Rhodes will cover Green or Sanders, Cunningham gets Smith and Hargreaves comes in on dime looks; MacDougald comes in on 2 TE looks.  Justin Simmons will play Centerfield and shade to Evans’ side of the field.

Monster NASCAR - Getting to the QB and getting off the field on 3rd downs is paramount in this game and we will roll out our D LINE of Clowney/Watt/Jones/Mercilus to challenge the Werewolves O Line.  We like our chances against their interior and right side where we have a distinct talent advantage with Watt and Jones, this is where the game could be won with a momentum changing turnover.

[Ragnarok]

Lancaster Werewolves

QB: Matthew Stafford
RB1: Alvin Kamara
WR1: Mike Evans
WR2: Emmanuel Sanders
WR3: Diontae Johnson
TE: Jonnu Smith
LT: Taylor Lewan
LG: Quenton Nelson
😄 Frank Ragnow
RG: Gabe Jackson
RT: Lane Johnson

RB2: Miles Sanders
RB3: Ronald Jones II
WR4: Willie Snead V
WR5: A.J. Green
WR6: Michael Pittman Jr.
TE2: Logan Thomas
OL: Riley Reiff
OL: Connor McGovern (Q)

DE: Joey Bosa
DT: Kenny Clark - OUT
DT: Jarran Reed
DE: T.J. Watt
LB: Bobby Wagner
LB: Fred Warner
CB: Jalen Ramsey
CB: Jaire Alexander
SCB: Chris Harris Jr.
FS: Eddie Jackson
SS: Jonathan Abram

INT: Javon Kinlaw
INT: Linval Joseph
EDGE: Clelin Ferrell
EDGE: Trent Murphy
LB: Mykal Walker
CB: Malcolm Butler
CB: Kevin King
S: Vonn Bell

Lancaster Offensive Strategy: Gotham’s safety group and DL are their two most effective defensive units so our game plan is designed to limit those areas and exploit their weaknesses at LB and CB. We want to run a lot of counter runs and outside runs to keep the interior DL at bay. We’re also going to be using screen passes as an extension of the run game. For the passing attack we’ll be looking to create mismatches where we get the Gotham LBs lined up in coverage so we can attack them.

The Passing Strategy: To start with, we’re going to be doing screens this game to get guys like Kamara and Sanders the ball out in space away from Gotham’s interior DL. This will allow them to use their shiftiness to make moves and get nice gains. Another major strategy we’ll be employing is lining up our RBs and TEs out wide. Every now and then we want our RBs like Kamara or Sanders or our TEs like Smith to flex out wide into the slot. Assuming the LBs are covering them, they should be able to exploit them out in the open field. Finally, to try to limit the effectiveness of the Gotham safety groups, we want to do a lot of quick strikes to our WRs on slants or crosses. This way we should be able to get the ball to them before the safeties have a chance to double them.

The Running Strategy: JJ Watt and Chris Jones are an imposing force on the DL so we want to limit their effectiveness as best we can. We’re going to be doing a lot of pitches to the outside so that we don’t run right into a wall. This also again allows our playmaking RBs to get into space. Another big part of the run game will be running counters. This will help us keep the defense guessing on every play and hopefully catch them off guard more often than not.

Lancaster Defensive Strategy: We’re fully prepared for this to be the week that Derek Carr takes over for Wentz so we will not be caught off guard if that happens. Our game plan will remain the same regardless. We want to clamp down on the running game and key in on Tyreek Hill. We’re going to try to force Carr/Wentz to beat us with their other weapons. 

The Pass Defense Strategy: The main player we’re concerned with in the passing game is obviously Tyreek Hill. We’re going to put Jalen Ramsey on him and have Eddie Jackson bracket him over the top to limit his deep plays. By putting our two most talented secondary players on him, we’re hoping to mostly shut him down. Landry and Jeudy are both good players but we trust our other starting CBs against them in coverage. Harris will cover whichever one is playing in the slot while Alexander will handle the one on the outside. Jonathan Abram will be playing up in the box and will cover the RB if they ever come out of the backfield for a pass, although none of the Gotham RBs are excellent receiving options. Bobby Wagner and Fred Warner will both at times be covering Eric Ebron while the other blitzes on obvious passing downs or attacks a gap on other downs.

The Run Defense Strategy: We’re going to have our DL focus on run stopping and filling gaps in this matchup. If Kenny Clark plays that job will become much easier. If not, Kinlaw has been playing excellent football so far this year and will get the start next to Jarran Reed, with Linval Joseph mixing in heavily. Kinlaw will be rotating heavily with Reed if Clark plays. Fred Warner and Bobby Wagner will be playing the run a lot this game. Jonathan Abram has been excellent this year and we want him to be our X-factor against the run in this game. He’s essentially going to be playing in the box to be spying the RB. If they’re going out for a pass he’ll be covering them or if they’re not he’ll be gunning right for the RB to take him down when he runs.

[Jlash]

I think Gotham was smart to try to take the ball out of Carson's hands a little bit more in this game, and I think his defense actually matches up pretty well with Lancaster offensively. It's smart to focus more on Kamara's receiving ability, as we saw what he did this week as a receiving threat. 

Conversely, I think Lancaster has just the right set of defensive playmakers to take Tyreek Hill out of the gameplan as much as possible. 

When both teams have solid rosters, and they counter each other in the game plan well I tend to think about who is more likely to pull off a close game, and right now I can't side with Wentz. I don't know what has happened with him, he's broken. Week 1 he was on his butt, week 2 he made bad reads, late and inaccurate throws and this week he added gun shyness and really poor decision making to that. I hope he gets it fixed because he's Gotham's engine IMO.

[VigilantZombie]

I really liked this matchup. But until he proves he is capable of playing quality football, I just dont see how Wentz wins games regardless of weapons. He doesn't seem to be playing with any drive or emotion right now. I think both teams did a coule job of checks and balances but the inconsistencies and turnover prone tendencies of Wentz right now push me to vote for Lancaster.

[Ragnarok]

I agree with the above.  Both teams are excellent, but something is seriously wrong with Wentz.

[Blue]

Is anybody trusting Carson right now? Anybody? Lots to love about Gotham's roster, hard to look past QB play though.

[PR]

I honestly think Wentz struggles are all injury to his offense base. He doesn't have that here and Gotham did well on the game plan side to sneak the win.

[Jlash]

13 minutes ago, PR said:

I honestly think Wentz struggles are all injury to his offense base

edit: Actually gonna save that comment for afterwards.

Edited September 30, 2020 by Jlash

[RuskieTitan]

I don't think that Gotham can keep up in this one.

[MD4L]

I think the difference maker is the home teams offensive line and their ability to stop an incredibly imposing pass rush.

[Scoundrel]

This was the most difficult choice for me yet. I like Gotham’s gameplan more. I just don’t see the offensive side coming together as well as they would want to beat that Lancaster D. Great in theory but imo not in practice due to personnel. So so close. But Lancaster. 

[SirA1]

Lancaster 30 Gotham 17

Wentz pulling this team down.