BDL 2024 Week 3: Akureyri Huldufolk @ Svalbard Miners

[Scoundrel]

 

BDL 2024 Week  3

Match:  Akureyri Huldufolk @ Svalbard Miners

Away Owner:     @RedGold

Home Owner:    @SirA1

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

[Scoundrel]

Akureyri Huldufolk

Offense
QB:  Anthony Richardson
RB:   Javonte Williams
WR:  George Pickens
WR:  Christian Kirk
TE:  Trey McBride
TE:  Travis Kelce
LT:   Taylor Decker
LG:   James Daniels
C      Joe Tippmann
RG:   Alijah-Vera Tucker
RT:  Anton Harrison
Bench:  RB Bucky Irving
Bench:  WR Tank Dell
Bench:  WR Adonai Mitchell
Bench:  WR Rashod Bateman
Bench:  TE Pat Freiermuth
Bench: T Ronnie Stanley
Bench: T Dawand Jones
Bench:  IOL Dylan Parham

Defense
DL:  Grady Jarrett
NT:  DJ Reader
DL:  Dexter Lawrence
LB:  Carl Granderson
LB:  Alex Highsmith
LB:  Patrick Queen
CB:  Trent McDuffie
CB:  Jaire Alexander
NB:  Kyler Gordon
FS:  Kerby Joseph
SS:  Grant Delpit
Bench:  Edge Von Miller
Bench:  Edge Mike Danna
Bench:  DL Tershawn Wharton
Bench:  LB Azeez Al-Shaair
Bench:  LB Damone Clark
Bench: CB Sean Murphy-Bunting
Bench: NB Nate Hobbs
Bench: Saf Bryan Cook

 

 

Svalbard Miners
QB: Dak Prescott
RB1: James Cook 
WR1: Davante Adams
WR2: DeVonta Smith 
WR3: Chris Godwin
TE1: Sam LaPorta
LT: Orlando Brown Jr.
LG: Tyler Smith
OC: Aaron Brewer
RG: Will Fries 
RT:  Kaleb McGary
--------------------
RB2: Kyren Williams
RB3/FB: Carson Steele
TE2: Colby Parkinson 
TE3: Dalton Schultz
WR4: Gabe Davis
WR5: KaVontae Turpin
OL6: David Edwards
OL7: Lucas Patrick

 

4i: Cameron Heyward 
NT: Keeanu Benton 
4i: Zach Allen  

LB:  Zack Baun 
ILB: Blake Cashman 
LB: Jonathan Greenard

CB: Jaylon Johnson
CB: Charvarius Ward 
MS: Kam Curl
S: Brian Branch 
S: DeShon Elliott
--------------------
S3: Quentin Lake
S4: Jabrill Peppers (Q)
ILB2: Kaden Ellis 
LB3: Zaven Collins 
LB4/MS2: Isaiah Simmons
NT2: Davon Godchaux 
DL4: Milton Williams
DL5: John Franklin-Meyers 

 

[Scoundrel]

Akureyri Huldufolk

Offense:
Formation/Scheme:   2WR/2TE(60%) , 3WR/1TE(40%),
Pass (60%), Run (40%) 

Blocking:
Higher percentage of 2 TE sets this week.  We want our TE’s to set up based on alignment from Singapore.  If they decide to run their traditional 3-3,  we want to widen our splits;   if they choose to run a subpackage or typical 4-3, we will run a more traditional 2 TE, with Kelce aligning as a slot WR.  

In doing this,  we believe we it will make the blocking schemes easier on Richardson and the Offense in general.     Tippmann moves into the starting position this week after showing very well early this year.  

For the rushing attack,  we’ll run a zone blocking scheme and look to get our OL athletic OL blocking on the move.    

In the passing game, we’ll use the varying TE splits to help slow down the Edge pressure,  They will provide chips when aligned tight.   If in spread in 4 wide,  we’ll use our RB to help slow down the right side pressure.   We won’t be looking to double team anyone specifically on the inside,  Tippmann will be looking to help both sides and watching for interior blitzes.  

Passing game:
We want to play towards Richardson’s strengths on the outside,  so we’ll again look to really push Singapore’s defense vertically on the outside.    We’ll look to attack the range of Singapore’s safeties deep on the outside,  and use our TE’s on slants, drags, and crosses.     Our RB’s will look provide a chip with Anton Harrison, before providing a swing outlet.        

We will mix in some RB screens this week,  as well as some mid TE screens.   We think we can catch Singapore being aggressive and get our playmakers in space.   

As always with Richardson,  in Heavy man coverage he has full reign to create yards in the running game with our outside weapons pushing vertically, they’re will be some room on the outside.
 

 

Running game:  
Javonte and Bucky will be splitting the reps evenly this week in the backfield,   we’ll look to attack Singapore on the with plenty of outside zone concepts.   We’ll mix in some zone read concepts with Richardson inside the 20.    TE’s will help seal the edge and get our guys matched against the Singapore secondary.
 

Goal #1 – Let Richardson Cook
Goal #2 – Find our outlets
Goal #3 -  Take our deep sideline shots

 

 

Defense:
Base: 3-3-5
Subpackage: 4-1 Strong Nickel

3-3-5:    We will run this set for a majority of the game,   3 WR,  or 2 TE sets.    We will flip to sub-packages in 3rd and +8 and in the RedZone   

Coverage: Zone(70%), Man(30%)
High percentage of zone coverages this week.   We want to focus on 2 things in coverage this week;   Limiting plays over the middle, and getting our hands on WR’s on the line.    We will be coming out with a strong mix of Cover 1 and Cover 3 Press bail.   We will trust our guys on the outside to get a nice press before bailing.   Singapore has a nice set of playmakers, but we feel our secondary allows us some freedom,  we want to give our DL an extra tick and force Dak to beat us down the sidelines consistently.

Red Zone (4-2 only) ,  We will still revert to a Cover 0 scheme with 2 brackets,    SS will look to bracket the Slot WR inside, or FS will bracket Adams over the top(vice versa if Adams aligns in slot).     McDuffie has DeVonta as his assignment if aligned on the outside.  If inside, we’ll let Gordon and the SS take care of him.    

Man Assignments;

Davante Adams  -  Jaire(shade inside/backshoulder)   Bryan Cook on top
DeVonta Smith – Trent McDuffie
Chris Godwin – Kyler Gordon/Kerby Joseph
Sam Laporta – Grant Delpit
RB -  Patrick Queen

We’re flexible on the coverages regardless of alignment.  FS will shade over Jaire’s coverage,   Kyler will force the slot inside to Kerby,  and Trent will just blank his guy like usual.  

 
 

Pass Rush:

We want to mix up the rush mix,   but we won’t plan to rush more then 4 against the Singapore OL.    We’ll bring a mix of Granderson/Highsmith/Von Miller/Danna,  at edge this week,   as we feel they give us an excellent mix of inside/outside pressure, along with the ability to cover in flats coverage.    Singapore has had good production at the OG spot, but we feel we can get pressure on Dak from the other spots.     Aligning primarily with a guy over C will prevent the double team on our strong interior pass rush.    We will look to attack from the weak side with our Edge position, with the strong side flowing to Flat zone coverage.  We don’t really fear either T for Singapore,  we’ll look to show a high pass set for both,  but both sides are susceptible to inside counters.

 

Run Defense:
We’ll turn to a 3-3-5 Defense this week in an attempt to control the trenches.   We expect Grady/Reader/Lawrence to wreck the inside running game of Svalbard,  with our Edges controlling containment.   Our sub-package will be a typical 4-2 with Delpit sliding down over the TE(as the 2nd LB).    Joseph with takeover normal SS responsibilities, with Cook taking the deep coverages.  

 

Goal#1:   Cause havoc along the interior
Goal#2:   Don’t allow free releases to their WR’s
Goal#3:   Lock up the middle D

 

 

 

 

 

Svalbard Miners

Motivation: Important Divisional game and our home opener. We welcome the Huldufolk to Ice Station Zebra, the league's first underground Stadium. We look to continue our hot streak and close out the first quarter of the season undefeated. 

Offensive Strategy

Scheme:  Pass (60%) vs Run (40%)
Formations:    3-4 WR (50%)/  2 TE (40%) /2 RB (10%) 

Blocking - Akureyri has a solid front but we think we can get some inside push this week to open up holes for Cook and Co. McGary had a rough week one but has settled down. David Edwards is in Jumbo short yardage packages and backup OG/T. Patrick is the backup OG/C. Mandatory mention of the RB/TE chip.

Rushing - We are going with the hot hand in James Cook as our lead back (20 touches). Kyren Williams is the better pass protector, so gets 3rd down duties. We will have plays with both of them on the field with Williams lined up in the slot. Steele works at FB as we look to run inside. Turpin will squat down behind the mountain Orlando Brown Jr. to get the -occasional surprise attack pitch inside, running behind Tyler Smith.

Passing -.Pre snap misdirection and Motion with Attitude (60%) to keep them guessing. Dak will look to continue to protect the ball but will take his shots with our excellent receiving corps. 

We look to unleash LaPorta and he will be in motion a lot and line up at FB, slot and inline to keep them guessing, attacking the seams and the flat.  Parkinson as TE2 and looks to get yards on quick outs to the flat as the other receivers clear out space. Schultz is their backup.

11 personnel is still the main focus. Davante Adams, DaVonta Smith and Chris Godwin all can play any role in this offense. They get some crossing routes to scheme open the other receivers downfield. Gabe Davis will be the 4th WR as we use his size to find high percentage contested catches.

Defensive Strategy

Our Brian Flores style of attacking defense is working so we keep doing that. Looking to take away the inside zone running lanes and force things outside to our fast chasing LBs and DBs.This is a one-gap aggressive defense. It is designed to attack and disrupt offenses.

Formation: 3-3-3 TITE Cover 2 (For in depth explanation see week 1 and week 2)

DL - Cam Heyward and Zach Allen shoot their gaps to close those lanes and collapse the pocket around Richardson (Love if he plays). Benton will cause utter chaos in the middle by “tilting” into an A Gap getting off the ball quickly to wreck shop inside. JFM, Godchaux and Milton Williams will rotate in to keep everyone fresh.

LB - Cashman will have the important role of spy on Richardson to contain his scrambling. Zach Baun will play the Andrew Van Ginkel role in this defense and line up in multiple spots. Baun and Greenard will be our primary 4th rushers off the edge and contain those C Gaps. Zaven Collins and Ellis will provide depth.

The Blitz - Simulated Pressure Delayed blitz and stunts are the forte of this aggressive defense (40%). Richardson(Love?) will have a hard time reading where it will be coming from as our Nickel, LBs and CBs all can rush well. Our LBs can drop into coverage allowing us to get unblocked threats into Richardson’s aura.

Secondary - Tampa 2 Style, 3 Safety Base Hydra

All-Pro CB’s in Jaylon Johnson and Mooney Ward will lock down their sides respectively versus whichever WR they have to defend against, alternating between some press man and zone. Brian Branch will slide down to the STAR (Nickel/Dime) spot if the Hudulfolk are in 11 or 12 personnel with coverage on underneath routes and prevent any quick crossers in his area. Quentin Lake takes his Safety spot.

Kam Curl will be the field general again on defense.  This week in his Middle Safety role he will creep up into the box as the 7th man to help brackett TE Kelce and clog middle passing lanes.

DeShon Elliott and Brian Branch will be the two high safeties on deep routes over the top. Forcing a lot of underneath throws we will be able to have our guys swarm to their receivers and limit YAC. Jabrill Peppers might be limited this week, so is the 4th Safety.

Coverage Assignments:

 

[Malfatron]

Gut felep

This one turns into a sLoppy game but Akureyri Huldufolks players are trending more up and that becomes the difference maker

12-9

[EaglesPeteC]

I see this as more of a defensive battle but I trust the Svalbard offense to make enough plays to pull it out at the end

[InjuredReserve]

2 minutes ago, EaglesPeteC said:

I see this as more of a defensive battle but I trust the Svalbard offense to make enough plays to pull it out at the end

I feel the same way and like both defensive approaches. So with believing they both effectively make this game a slog, I had to pour over the offensive rosters and see who I believed could make a big play. With the 2 skill position players I trust the most to make a game winning offensive both on Svalbard (Davante and Devonta), I lean that way this week in what was a good matchup.

[Blue]

I hate to simplify a matchup so much but I just don’t see this Akureyri offense moving the ball against Svalbard. Miners have one of the most complete and healthiest rosters in the league right now, although I think their ceiling is limited with Dak.

[Scoundrel]

The Miners continue their March of undefeatedness as Blue and others have said the Akureyri offense is going to struggle. They need Love and Walker back healthy. 

[MD4L]

Trust Svalbard’s offense a bit more this week. Close defensive game.

[MikeT14]

16 minutes ago, MD4L said:

Trust Svalbard’s offense a bit more this week. Close defensive game.

This is where I lean. I don't see it with Richardson at the moment to not make the mistakes necessary to win a defensive battle like this. Svalbard 19, Akureyri 13 type game. 

[TL-TwoWinsAway]

I'm taking Svalbard against the struggling Akureyri offense, 24-14.

[RedGold]

Akureyri came in confident,  Sira had other plans.

 

[Scoundrel]

4 hours ago, RedGold said:

Akureyri came in confident,  Sira had other plans.

 

[RuskieTitan]

Miners

[rackcs]

The Huldufolk have a nice secondary that I think can slow down Svalbard's weapons in a way that a lot of other teams I think would struggle too. Unfortunately I agree with the consensus that the offense won't be enough to keep up.