BDL 2021 Week 2 - Cuba Smugglers @ Death Valley Nightmare

[SirA1]

BDL 2021 Week 2

Match: Cuba Smugglers @ Death Valley Nightmare

Away Owner: @MD4L

Home Owner:  @wwhickok

Vote for who you think would win the game.

Rules:
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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

[SirA1]

Cuba Smugglers

QB: Derek Carr 
RB: Dalvin Cook 
WR: Justin Jefferson
WR: Julio Jones 
WR: DJ Chark
TE: James O’Shaunnessy
LT: Garett Bolles
LG: Elgton Jenkins 
C - Ryan Jensen 
RG: Ezra Cleveland 
RT: Marcus Cannon

RB: Jamaal Williams
WR: Rondale Moore
TE: Mo Alie Cox
WR: Tim Patrick
RB: James White
TE: Hunter Long
OL: Trai Turner
QB: Jameis Winston

OLB: Chandler Jones 
5T: Cameron Jordan
NT: Derrick Nnadi 
5T: Arik Armstead 
OLB: Rashan Gary
ILB: Donta Hightower 
ILB: Eric Kendricks 
RCB: Kenny Moore
FS: Tyrann Mathieu 
SS: Derwin James
LCB: Shaquill Griffin 

WLB: Myles Jack
Edge: Alex Highsmith
RCB: Bryce Callahan 
RCB: David Long Jr.
RCB: Jalen Mills
SS: Kareem Jackson
SS: Khari Willis 
DT: Lawrence Guy

Death Valley Nightmare

Offense:
QB: Matt Stafford 
RB: Derrick Henry
RB: Alvin Kamara
WR: Calvin Ridley
WR: Corey Davis 
TE: Dallas Goedert
LT: Dion Dawkins
LG: Kevin Dotson
😄 Creed Humphrey
RG: Mark Glowinski
RT: Penei Sewell

Bench:
RB: Ronald Jones

RB Benny Snell
WR Jalen Reagor
WR: Anthony Schwartz
WR: Allen Lazard
TE: Dawson Knox
OT: Austin Jackson
OG: Cody Ford

Defense
LE: Calais Campbell 
NT: Tyson Alualu 
RE: Cam Heyward
LOLB: Maxx Crosby 
ILB: Jordyn Brooks
ILB: Zaven Collins
ROLB: Brian Burns
CB: Darius Slay
CB: Carlton Davis 
FS: Xavier McKinney 
SS: Jeremy Chinn

Bench:
DE: Raekwon Davis
NT/DE: Javon Hargrave
OLB: Kwity Paye
OLB: Julian Okwara
ILB: Jerome Baker
CB: Mike Hilton
CB: Trayvon Mullen
CB: James Pierre

•  

[SirA1]

Cuba Smugglers

Intro

We go up against a good Death Valley team who made the playoffs last season. They will playing to avoiding 0-2 and we are well aware of this. They will get a desperate Cuba team to match the necessary level of intensity this week.

Offense

Derek Carr handled his first game pretty well and continues to lead the way for our offense. Death Valley poses an intimidating pass rush so we’re much more keen on balance and running to the edges. With Garett Bolles moving to the left side we want to give Marcus Cannon some occasional assistance with Mo Alie Cox rotating in at TE to serve as a chip. Death Valley has a well rounded defense so we like moving our receivers around and finding a matchup we like before going after that area frequently. Death Valley will likely impose some forms of man coverage so we are bunching our receivers and utilizing 5-8 yard route concepts so Derek Carr can get the ball out of his hands quickly. Mike Hilton is a solid slot CB but dealing with our 3 headed trio means he’ll have to cover one of them and we are prepared to make him a focal point of our game plan.

Justin Jefferson will spend most of this game in the slot this week to reinforce our interest in targeting the middle of the field. The objective of the first half will be getting Derek Carr into a rhythm with our short and intermediate passing game. Expect a blend of drag/flat routes in bunch sets with some comebacks that allow for 8-12 yard targets so Death Valley does not begin to jump routes. We aren’t going to entirely avoid Darius Slay or Carlton Davis. In fact if Death Valley attempts to play more zone coverage we’re openly challenging both CBs as we are confident in our receivers ability to make contest catches. In the second half, we are going to open up more play action passing with some crossing routes so Carr can take some deep shots. While Derek tends to avoid deep targets, he’s shown capable and willingness to target receivers within the 15-18 yard range. Justin Jefferson will be the primary beneficiary in the slot but we are also keen on letting DJ Chark take some opportunities in the same area. Finally, Julio Jones will see about 6-9 passing targets as we’ll get him involved with the intermediate passing game and comeback routes to make his presence felt on the boundary.

Dalvin Cook will be our individual player to finish with the most touches. Death Valley possess some elite run defenders in the trenches but Cook’s home run ability means we’ll put our best against their best. Dalvin Cook will test the edges a lot more this week as we’re comfortable continuously going wherever Brian Burns is lined up. When he’s on Garett Bolles side in particular we’re going to motion Mo Alie Cox to the left side and run some sweeps or toss plays to wear down the pass rusher. We also aim to use Dalvin Cook more in the receiver game as he’ll be the recipient of a handful of screens on early downs. Expect some counter plays with Jensen pulling to the left side featuring Bolles and Jenkins leading the way. Jamaal Williams will sub for Cook when he needs a breather and we going to use him in the 6-10 yard area with Texas routes and other vertical targets. Lastly Rondale Moore will get some jet sweeps and be another proponent of the screen game as we manufacture all his touches or get him a reverse opportunity as we let his big play ability make things work.

Defense

We’ll take pride to achieve victory on this side of the ball.

Derrick Henry is the main point of our game plan. We expect some ball control objectives from Death Valley and stopping Henry gives us a chance to ruin the timing of the offense enough to give our own offense opportunities to dictate the pace of the game. We are built to stop RBs in the passing game as well as cover TEs in the middle of the field. Henry obviously requires his own listing as we’ll line up in a 3-4 to give different looks then usual. Chandler Jones and Cameron Jordan playing next to each other is impactful in the running game as Jones will work to seal the edge and keep everything inside. We’re loading up the beef in the interior and adding Donta Hightower to the starting lineup gives us another big physical player to match the style of play Death Valley embraces. Expect occasional 8 man in the box sets if Death Valley is keen on establishing the run game as Derwin James will have some responsibility coming down to assist in stopping Henry. We are also open to utilizing some 4-3 schemes with Jordan and Chandler as book ends with Myles Jack replacing Rashan Gary in the lineup.

Matthew Stafford is actually the last QB to defeat us so we expect him to be heavily involved as he’s also got some talented weapons to utilize. It’s a tough duo going up against Ridley and Davis so we’ll have Tyrann Mathieu serve as the last line of defense. When Henry leaves the field we’re going to move Derwin James back to the last line of defense so Mathieu can come down into the middle of the field and work to make an impact play (6 INTs in his last 8 games). We will play primarily cover 3 but aren’t afraid to man up when facing 21 personnel which is what Death Valley started with last week. It’ll be about half the snaps which is an increase from our 10-15 plays per usual. Griffin covers Ridley and Moore covers Davis. That’s a fluid position we are definitely open to changing in game if the man coverage results don’t produce ideally in the first half.

Death Valley won’t play 21 personnel the entire game and Alvin Kamara will be featured frequently as a slot and even 3rd down back so we do anticipate dealing with some forms of a regular passing attack. As a receiver we are comfortable using Kendricks to cover flats and focus on the intermediate area in the passing game or Derwin James in man coverage to deal with the dynamic RB. Kenny Moore will move inside on 3 WR sets so we’re comfortable with our matchups against non boundary options for Death Valley. On passing downs, we’ll sub out Hightower and bring in Kareem Jackson so Derwin James can move to the middle of the field next to Kendricks. Bryce Callahan would come in to allow Moore into the slot and if he’s dealing with Corey Davis, we’ll move Jackson to Callahan’s side as help defense.

Chandler Jones was likely the biggest influence in our victory last week and we like his chances against Penei Sewell who had some troubles at RT. The Death Valley offensive line is weakest in the interior so we’re excited to keep that Jones/Jordan tag team getting after opposing passers. Chandler will have some snaps on passing downs in 0 tech and we are open to utilizing some zone blitz concepts with Kenny Moore and Derwin James rotating as extra rushers off the edge. 

 

Death Valley Nightmare

Offensive Gameplan

Our base formation for this game will be a 2-Back/Split Back formation. (This is not the only formation we will use its the one we will start the game with)

In this formation , we will have both run and pass options, no I am not saying I am going to run RPOs with Matthew Stafford, read the whole thing before you jump to idiotic conclusions.

Occasionally we will split Kamara out wide into the slot and run it with Derrick Henry up the gut. Occasionally we will pass it in this situation. Occasionally we will keep both RBs split to the QB and either run or pass it.

Additionally we will use some single back formation featuring both RBs (not at the same time) to both run and pass out of.

I will have a TE help block on the same side of the line where Chandler Jones is in both run and passing situations to not only help with Chandler Jones but to work to the LBs to prevent a free flow to the ball carrier and/or QB.

We will use a lot motion out of this formation and others.

Another formation we will use and it will be limited to one play but as a possible screen pass situation to try to pick up a chunk play, we will use a Quad formation. (If you don't know what that is, look it up).

We will use Kamara as the targeted receiver in this formation with the threw blockers in front of him to help create a hole for him to gain yardage through.

We will use 4 WR sets with Ridley & Davis to the outside, Schwartz in the slot and Reagor on the same side as Ridley.

We will run some 2 TE sets with Knox and Goedert, with these we will run the ball with Henry using both TEs as blockers on the edges. I will also use this formation to run both outside receivers on crossing routes, still using the TEs as blockers, to try to create a quick slant completion.

We will run 3 WR sets also with Davis & Ridley to the outside and Reagot in the slot. Our focus point (but not only targeted area) will be attacking Shaquil Griffin.  Shaquil Griffin was beaten like a rented mule in Week 1, if Cuba is not shadowing WRs, then Ridley will line up specifically across from Griffin. Also, Moore gave up a perfect QB rating and a TD in week 1, we will absolutely be testing him.

Defensive Gameplan 

Jeremy Chinn will be responsible for Dalvin Cook (or the RB in the game) in this game he will play the majority of the game in the box, with the option of dropping back if necessary with his athleticism. With that said we will be running more (not exclusively) Nickel and in this game, with Brooks as the lone ILB and Burns and Crosby as the pass rushers.

Slay will be responsible for shadowing Justin Jefferson, Carlton Davis will be on DJ Chark, James Pierre will be on Julio Jones, Mullen will be on whomever the 4th WR is. McKinney will play deep in this game.

In situations where there is a TE on the field and only 3 WRs, we will have Brooks on the TE.
If there are 2 TEs on the field we will run a LB heavier set.

When it comes to Dalvin Cook, as previously stated, I want Chinn focused on him in this game.

My defensive line, which features the best 3-4 DE in the league, will be responsible for crashing the pocket and giving Derek Carr as little time as possible, we will blitz sporadically with our edge rushers also. In the event Cuba is crazy enough to run an RPO with Carr running the football, I want multiple guys hitting him.

 

Edited September 19, 2021 by SirA1

[VigilantZombie]

"Bush" should be Brooks in the first Paragraph of the defense. That was q last minute roster and plan change because Bush was a game time decision 

[MD4L]

Looks like we’ll be frequently testing James Pierre instead of Mike Hilton. Not a problem.

[VigilantZombie]

1 hour ago, MD4L said:

Looks like we’ll be frequently testing James Pierre instead of Mike Hilton. Not a problem.

I think its pretty obvious when it comes to coverage, Pierre far exceeds Hilton

[Blue]

Quote

read the whole thing before you jump to idiotic conclusions

That's an awful big ask there, wwhickok

Anyways, I like Cuba's gameplan, but I don't think Cuba has the secondary talent to consistently take advantage of forcing DV into long down and distance situations by stuffing the run. Conversely, I don't think Cuba's offensive line does enough to protect Carr against the DV defensive front, although James Pierre is getting toasted this week.

[RedGold]

I think both OL struggle mightily in this game.    Judging from discussion,  I'm a much bigger fan of Carr than most in this league..   But I still think he struggles against this defense.     I went with DV,   in a very close game.

 

[Jlash]

On 9/19/2021 at 1:06 PM, SirA1 said:

no I am not saying I am going to run RPOs with Matthew Stafford, read the whole thing before you jump to idiotic conclusions.

I think some people get lost on what RPO's actually are. Why would running it with Matthew Stafford be an idiotic conclusion? The Eagles won the SB running RPO's with Nick Foles, the Chiefs run RPO's with Mahomes more than just about anyone. It's not a running QB offense. 

Edited September 21, 2021 by Jlash

[VigilantZombie]

11 minutes ago, Jlash said:

I think some people get lost on what RPO's actually are. Why would running it with Matthew Stafford be an idiotic conclusion? The Eagles won the SB running RPO's with Nick Foles, the Chiefs run RPO's with Mahomes more than just about anyone. It's not a running QB offense. 

When I said that, 2 things were true, #1 I was kidding. #2 I was talking Lamar Jackson style. 

[SirA1]

2 hours ago, wwhickok said:

When I said that, 2 things were true, #1 I was kidding. #2 I was talking Lamar Jackson style. 

This is a run-option not an RPO two different things

 

[SirA1]

I think Cuba's OL doesn't lose much with their new lineup. I think it's a close one but Carr has enough to will them to a win.

24-21

[VigilantZombie]

16 minutes ago, SirA1 said:

This is a run-option not an RPO two different things

 

Run-Pass Option. I get that but bottom line is I added some levity to my game plan

[Scoundrel]

Derrick Henry is a stud. I like what Cuba is doing to try and contain him. I do think they slow him down but they don’t stop him. And the Valley front 7 is a nightmare in this game. Close one for sure. DVN 21-17

[pheltzbahr]

These are 2 really good teams.  I think Cuba brought its A game with the writeup and thats the difference.