BDL 2021 Week 5 - Berlin Blitzkrieg @ New Orleans Jazz

[SirA1]

BDL 2021 Week 5

Match:  Berlin Blitzkrieg @ New Orleans Jazz

Away Owner:  @Ragnarok

Home Owner:  @WFLukic

Vote for who you think would win the game.

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

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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]

Berlin Blitzkrieg

Offense
QB - Aaron Rodgers
RB - Aaron Jones
WR - Odell Beckham
WR - Allen Robinson
WR - Marquise Brown
TE - Dallas Goedert
LT - Kolton Miller
LG - Alex Cappa
C - Corey Linsley
RG - Royce Newman
RT - Tristan Wirfs

RB - Kenneth Gainwell
RB - Michael Carter
WR - Kadarius Toney
WR - Brandon Aiyuk
WR - Christian Kirk
TE - Hunter Henry
IOL - James Daniels

Defense
DE - Trey Hendrickson
DT - Quinnen Williams
DT - Derrick Brown
DE - Lorenzo Carter
LB - Tremaine Edmunds
CB - Kendall Fuller
CB - Eric Stokes
CB - Byron Murphy
NB - Nik Needham
S - Antoine Winfield OUT
S - Juan Thornhill

DE - D.J. Wonnum
DT - Zach Sieler
DT - Kingsley Keke
DT - Khyiris Tonga
LB - Kyzir White
LB - Rashaan Evans
LB - Justin Strnad
CB - Deandre Baker

 

New Orleans Jazz

 

Offense:

QB: Josh Allen
RB: Melvin Gordon
WR1: DeAndre Hopkins
WR2: D.J. Moore
Slot WR/OW: Deebo Samuel
TE: Mike Gesicki
LT: Jonah Williams
LG: Joel Bitonio
OC: Alex Mack
RG: Austin Corbett
RT: Cam Robinson
 
RB2: Devin Singletary
RB3: Zack Moss
WR4: Cole Beasley
WR5: Zach Pascal  
TE2: Maxx Williams
TE3: Jared Cook
OL6: Alejandro Villanueva
OL7: David Edwards

Defense:

DE: Nick Bosa
DT: Jeffery Simmons
DT: Grady Jarrett
DE: JJ Watt
LB: Alexander Johnson
LB: Adrian Amos
CB: James Bradberry
CB: J.C. Jackson
CB: Adoree Jackson
SS: Micah Hyde
FS: Darnell Savage

DE3: Jadeveon Clowney
DE4: Randy Gregory
DT3: Eddie Goldman
DT4: Shelby Harris
LB3: Jamal Adams
LB4: KJ Wright
DB6: Richard Sherman
DB7: Jason McCourty

Edited October 10, 2021 by SirA1

[SirA1]

Berlin Blitzkrieg

Offense

Overview - Run our offense going after Bradberry, Adoree, and Jamal Adams.

3 WR - 30% - We are going to start with Robinson, OBJ, and Marquise in our 3 WR sets and use them more often, but we will rotate Kirk, Aiyuk, and Toney in to keep guys fresh.  We are going to make a point to give Toney a couple quick throws/screens just to see what he can do with the ball in his hands.  Goedert and Henry will also rotate to keep each other fresh with Goedert getting more snaps as he is a bit more explosive than Henry.  We want a balanced run-pass ratio here that will allow Rodgers to use an effective play action motion.  We are going to run a fair amount of stretch plays that allow Jones, and Gainwell who has earned more snaps, the ability to hit the hole, bounce outside, or cut back.

In both the run and pass game, we are going to go after Jamal Adams who has been bad in all facets this year whether it’s getting beat by TEs for TDs or getting blocked out of run plays by a WR.  If he is lined up as a LB, we will run at him.  If he is at S, we will target him with the TE or RB.  A few plays, if Adams is in the box, we will bring Robinson in motion towards Adams to show man or zone, snap the ball as Robinson crosses the center, and have him lead block on Adams.  If Kupp can blow Adams out of the hole to spring a big run, we think Robinson can as well.

On the edges, we will also target Adoree and Bradberry as neither has been particularly good and they can’t double everyone.  While we won’t shy away from J.C. Jackson, we don’t plan on going after him the way we will the other CBs.  Our WRs will run every route so we don’t give the secondary anything to key off of.  By using a balanced game plan, we want to attack in behind the linebackers off play action as they suck up more and more.

2 TE - 30% - We will use Goedert, Henry, Robinson, and OBJ mostly in this set and how we attack will depend largely on the personnel that NOLA comes out with.  If they try to use multiple safeties as linebackers, we will run the ball more frequently.  If they use Johnson, Wright, and Adams, then we will attack more through the air.  We will do this by going after the CB without safety help, splitting out one or both TEs to get their guys out in space, and occasionally splitting out Aaron Jones or Gainwell.  As with the 3 WR set, look for lots of stretch runs.

4 WR - 30% - Robinson, OBJ, Marquise, and Aiyuk with a RB.  We are going to get in shotgun, spread NOLA out, and attack their CBs.  If Adams is their sole LB in 4 WR sets, we are going to run the ball out of shotgun as well as use some draws and screens.

5 WR - 10% - Robinson, Toney, OBJ, Hollywood, and Kirk/Aiyuk. Get in shotgun, attack the secondary, trust our OL to give Rodgers time to find the open man.

Defense

Overview - Slow them down, make them dink and dunk, collapse the right side of their OL.

Defensive Line - The right side of NOLA’s OL is not impressive without Scherff.  We are going to start Hendrickson at LE and play Quinnen at LDT.  This will 1.  give Allen constant pressure from that side so he can’t just sit in the pocket.  2.  force him to bail to his left which will make throws for a right handed QB on the move more difficult.  and 3.  limit their effectiveness running the ball.

Safeties - We are going to sit in a two deep shell for the most part this game.  We want to take away Allen’s explosive plays and force him to stay patient while under duress.  With no Chris Carson, their run game isn’t as impressive, and we think our DL can limit their ability on the ground.

4 WR - NOLA loves to use 4 WRs.  In this set, Needham will take Beasley just like he did a few weeks ago when he limited Beasley to 4 catches and 36 yards.  Byron Murphy is going to follow Deebo all over the field.  Stokes will have Moore and Fuller will have Hopkins.  We want all our CBs to get up in the face of their WRs and play bump and run coverage knowing they have help over the top if they get beat.  This will take away the quick throws NOLA likes to run to get the ball in their playmakers hands.

Tremaine is going to sit in a middle zone and watch the backfield.  If the back releases, Tremaine will follow.  If the back stays in, Tremaine will remain in that middle zone to 1. support against crossers and slants which NOLA loves and 2. track down Josh Allen if he runs and gets through our DL.

We know that this is going to allow Allen to pick up some rushing yardage if he makes it through our DL and we accept that.  But this will tie into our overall gameplan of forcing him to take the small yards.  And we have a very good idea which way he will try to escape.

3 WR - Needham would come out and Strnad would come in an have the TE in coverage.  Everything else would stay the same.

2 TE - Rashaan would have the RB, Strnad would have one TE, Tremaine would have the other.  Everything else stays the same.

 

New Orleans Jazz

 

Motivation:

Outside of our matches against Death Valley, Berlin is our regular season bizzbowl this year. Following the hurricane, this will also be our first match in front of the home crowd in New Orleans and we will be out for blood after Berlin knocked us out in a nail-biting playoff encounter last year. We don’t plan on losing today unless Berlin brings their A game and then some.

Offense (65% Pass vs. 40% Run):

60% of snaps – 1 RB – 3 WR – 1 TE
20% of snaps – RB/OW – 4WR
20% of snaps – RB/OW – 1TE – 3WR

Passing Game:

The aim of the game is simple here against Berlin – take to the air and target a weak and undermanned secondary. Berlin come into this match with one healthy safety – Juan Thornhill, who even then, is a backup IRL. This marked lack of depth at the back end, to go with a secondary of healthy players who have otherwise been unremarkable, makes for a simple target.

Given the lack of safety help up top, we anticipate Berlin will come out with a “bend don’t break” approach, giving up health cushions to our receivers. In that case, bubble screens to Samuel and Moore will feature heavily with the aim of chewing up an easy 6 to 7 yards per play. Comebacks and crossers will also be used to take advantage of the static Berlin secondary if they’re playing off coverage. With Moore in particular we want to take a few hitch and go shots as after a few shorter passes, we know we’ll be able to get a bite and if Moore can beat the first man he’s got the speed to go the whole way.

If Berlin want to go with a man heavier approach, we’ll look to get in behind and beat them. Hopkins will run his usual full route tree and be targeted down the field with interest, especially if he’s left in single coverage as there is no CB in the league that can consistently hang with him 1v1, let alone a CB on Berlin’s team. If he’s doubled, it’s feeding season for Moore, Samuel and Gesicki.

Gesicki will also make his first start for us this season and be used in the passing game where the match-up is favourable. In particular, we’ll have Gesicki running seam routes where Moore and Hopkins are lined up far on the opposite sidelines. As both Moore and Hopkins will likely require attention over the top, it provides the perfect opportunity for a coverage breakdown and for Gesicki to utilise his rare speed at the TE position and burn Berlin through the middle. If Gesicki ends up with Strnad or Evans on him in coverage, that’s another matchup we’re more than happy to exploit.

As with last week, Samuel and Moore will also be used in conjunction on rub routes as man beaters. With little help down the field, we see this as an opportunity to get consistently big gains, if not a chance for a long-range touchdown given their expertise after the catch.

For just that extra bit of firepower, we also plan on having a large number of our formations involving Samuel lining up as the RB and Gesicki, Beasley, Moore and Hopkins at WR. Samuel will then be motioned around or act as a receiver from the backfield, getting a favourable match-up against either Strnad or Evans, who have no chance whatsoever of keeping up with him.

Running Game:

Nothing special in the running game here – more or less existing just to keep things balanced. Gordon will get the lion’s share as the lead runner, with Singletary and Moss seeing some snaps as changes of pace. Samuel will get a few carries out of the backfield on reverses or sweeps and Allen will have a few designed runs drawn up for him, especially with the choice to audible into draws where Berlin goes with 7 back zone looks. Allen will also have license to scramble if he isn’t spied on, especially when Edmunds is in coverage and Allen is matched up against an LB with inferior range or a DB who he can bust a tackle out of.

Defensive Front:

As usual, we’re going to rotate fairly heavy on the defensive line – coming out heavier on early downs to clamp the run, with players like Harris, Simmons and Watt featuring on edges and Goldman clogging up lanes in the middle and then lighter on passing and 3^rd downs to generate pressure with rotations featuring Watt or Clowney potentially kicking inside and pass-rush specialists like Gregory coming in.

Our base formation is set for Berlin entering the match with a 3-1-1 lineup, however if they do come out with more 2TE plays, then we will match that by bringing in KJ Wright for a CB and bringing Hyde even closer to the LOS. After a rare poor performance in coverage from Jamal Adams, he’s been relegated to the bench however will still see several snaps in 3 safety or lighter looks – acting as a blitzer, specialist-pass rusher or sitting in zone. We know that getting pressure on Rodgers is crucial, so having Adams as a trick up our sleeve in being able to overload one side of the line and potentially have him run free will be the best way to get to Rodgers.

If Berlin does go with 3 wide looks, presumably featuring OBJ, Robinson and Brown, our instructions will be for Savage and Hyde to sit a deeper and ensure there’s no way we are beat deep. Our defense knows that the path to victory will be to avoid giving up big plays and touchdowns to Berlin, given our offense will put up plenty of points against the Berlin secondary.

Coverage:

We’re going with cover 2-man safety look, with Savage as the deep man and the other coverage assignments as follows:

Bradberry – Robinson
J.C. Jackson – OBJ
Adoree Jackson – Brown
Amos – Goedert
Johnson – Jones

Should Henry come in as TE2, then Hyde will take the RB, Johnson will take Henry and Wright/Adams will sit in a shallower zone while Sherman will come in for the 4 WR lineups.

[WFLukic]

Winfield and Clowney both out.

[Ragnarok]

I totally missed the Winfield news this week.  I blame my 2 week old daughter.  

Fuller would take Winfield's safety spot and Baker would take over Fuller's CB role.

[Blue]

On 10/10/2021 at 11:13 PM, Ragnarok said:

I totally missed the Winfield news this week.  I blame my 2 week old daughter.  

Fuller would take Winfield's safety spot and Baker would take over Fuller's CB role.

If it makes you feel better, I missed Winfield being out this week too.

Berlin has a slot corner and an IRL backup at safety with DeAndre Baker as CB3. Yikes. I do love that New Orleans brought up the revenge game angle, especially since Josh Allen just went out and lived up to it in the IRL version of it against Kansas City this week. Jazz it up.

[Ragnarok]

1 minute ago, Blue said:

If it makes you feel better, I missed Winfield being out this week too.

Berlin has a slot corner and an IRL backup at safety with DeAndre Baker as CB3. Yikes. I do love that New Orleans brought up the revenge game angle, especially since Josh Allen just went out and lived up to it in the IRL version of it against Kansas City this week. Jazz it up.

They're still better than Bradberry and Adoree this week.  

[VigilantZombie]

Overall I think NOLA is the better team in this one. Berlin is going to put up some points but I think NOLA gets that final defensive stop.

35-28 NOLA

[Pickle Rick]

Berlin to light on the back end and will give up to many TD's to come back 

[SirA1]

I like Berlin in the upset here.

21-17

[bcb1213]

Ehhh, DeAndre baker on dhop and stokes on dj Moore all day is not awesome with Kendall fuller for some reason going to safety (Needham was actually a safety for a while so this decision is, Eh something).  

Both these secondaries are woof and both teams will depend on their pass rushes which are excellent. I think the NO playmakers just frankly make one more play here on the home field 

New Orleans 35-27

[Ragnarok]

4 minutes ago, bcb1213 said:

Ehhh, DeAndre baker on dhop and stokes on dj Moore all day is not awesome with Kendall fuller for some reason going to safety (Needham was actually a safety for a while so this decision is, Eh something).  

Both these secondaries are woof and both teams will depend on their pass rushes which are excellent. I think the NO playmakers just frankly make one more play here on the home field 

New Orleans 35-27

The way Stokes has been playing I am 100% fine with this.  Also, Fuller has played safety in the NFL, so he made the most sense.  I don't Needham has actually ever played safety in the NFL.

[bcb1213]

50 minutes ago, Ragnarok said:

The way Stokes has been playing I am 100% fine with this.  Also, Fuller has played safety in the NFL, so he made the most sense.  I don't Needham has actually ever played safety in the NFL.

We discussed elsewhere but yes Needham has played safety and I'd rather have fuller on d hop with baker on beasely than Needham on beasely and baker on dhop 

[pheltzbahr]

Both clubs having issues in the secondary, but I think New Orleans has a stronger weapon group overall to take advantage.  

[Jlash]

Went with NO. Both teams will move the ball against their opponents secondary, but missing a legit starting S will prove costly in an offensive slugfest.