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Bullock’s Film Room (subscription)
Tyler Biadasz having excellent debut season with Commanders
Breaking down how well C Tyler Biadasz has performed in his first year with Washington.
The Cowboys allowed Biadasz to hit free agency because they deemed him to be a little smaller and less powerful than they wanted. He was always a very athletic center that ran zone run schemes well, but they felt he struggled to handle more powerful opponents. So the Commanders signing him as part of their gap-heavy system under Kliff Kingsbury seemed odd at first, but his athleticism has enabled the Commanders to add a lot of different run schemes to their playbook.
Here we see a center pull run scheme, which isn’t all that common in the NFL. You need a very athletic center to be able to snap the ball and then pull to the edge as the lead blocker. Having someone like Biadasz at center makes this type of scheme a possibility. The run scheme starts with a jet sweep fake from Terry McLaurin. He’s sent in motion across the formation from left to right, getting the second level of the defense to all shuffle across a gap.
Thanks to that, the defender that should be able to get to the edge quickly and create a problem for Biadasz gets pulled inside, making Biadasz’s job easier. Biadasz snaps the ball and immediately pulls to the edge. He locates the first defender from the second level to get to the edge and kicks him outside, enabling Brian Robinson to cut inside of him. Robinson is then left working against a safety, who Robinson bounces off to gain more yards before the rest of the defense rally’s to bring him down.
From the end zone replay angle, you’ll see another reason why they used this scheme against the Giants in particular. The Giants have one of the best defensive tackles in the league in Dexter Lawrence. Lawrence, number 97, is lined up on Biadasz’s left shoulder before the snap. On any traditional run play to the left, Biadasz would have an extremely tough block to try and make one-on-one against Lawrence. So instead of asking him to do something that difficult, they pull him to the edge and let left guard Nick Allegretti block down on Lawrence to try and pin him inside. Lawrence does a pretty good job fighting against Allegretti’s down block, but it’s enough to keep him pinned inside while the run works to the edge.
Being able to pull the center in the run game enables the offense to diversify their run schemes dramatically. We’ve seen various different run schemes that see Biadasz pull.
Washington Post (paywall)
Already cut twice, Chris Rodriguez Jr. is running like his job is at stake
The Commanders’ second-year running back is continually trying to prove he belongs. He made a convincing case last game.
“He is the ultimate teammate,” General Manager Adam Peters said of Rodriguez in an interview with Big 100 last week. “He’s a great Commander. He’s what you want in terms of — he’s gone through a lot since we’ve been here. We’ve cut him. We’ve cut him a couple times. And to his credit, he’s always looked inward and just worked harder and was ready for his opportunity every time.”
The sample size is small — 26 carries — and his appearances have all come in the second half of the three games in which he has appeared. Yet Rodriguez has made the most of his limited opportunities. He leads NFL running backs in rushing expected points added per game (plus-3.2). He is also seventh in yards per carry (5.8) and rush success rate (61.5 percent) and ranks 10th in yards after contact per carry (4.3).
It wasn’t until his third elevation, against the New York Giants on the road in Week 9, that Rodriguez actually ran the ball — nearly 11 months after his last regular season carry.
Rodriguez helped seal the five-point victory with 11 rushes for 52 yards, then was signed to the active roster six days later.
Against the Pittsburgh Steelers, Rodriguez was limited to two carries for four yards as the Commanders’ rushing game struggled. Then he was cut two weeks later, when Washington needed to clear a roster spot for rookie defensive end Javontae Jean-Baptiste.
But Rodriguez made it clear to Quinn he wanted to be in Washington.
Commanders Wire
Watch out: Rams are now pushing the Commanders
If you thought the Commanders were pretty much a certainty to make the playoffs, hold on and take notice of the Los Angeles Rams.
Yes, the Commanders are 8-5 and still alone in the 7th and final seed in the NFC Wild Card race. But the Rams are charging hard in the NFC West.
The Commanders were resting this past week, finally enjoying their Week 14 bye. Washington is 8-5, one game ahead of the Rams in the loss column and one game behind in the loss column to the sixth-seeded Packers (9-4).
The ‘Commanders’ final four games will be against the Saints, the Eagles, the Falcons, and the Cowboys.
The ‘Rams’ final four games will be against the 49ers, the Jets, the Cardinals, and the Seahawks.
Commanders-Falcons is one of 5 candidates for Saturday flex in Week 17
Week 17—Christmas week—has NFL games on four different days: Wednesday, Thursday, Sunday, and Monday. However, that’s the current schedule, as the league can flex multiple games to Saturday. The Commanders’ game against the Falcons is one of five games under consideration.
Here are the five games under consideration to be flexed in Week 17:
- Atlanta Falcons at Washington Commanders
- Arizona Cardinals at Los Angeles Rams
- Denver Broncos at Cincinnati Bengals
- Indianapolis Colts at New York Giants
- Los Angeles Chargers at New England Patriots
The NFL has a tripleheader scheduled for Saturday, with three games on that day. Of the above games, Washington-Atlanta seems to have the most playoff implications. The Commanders hold the No. 7 seed in the NFC playoff picture, while the Falcons are one game behind the Buccaneers in the NFC South.
Upcoming opponent
Canal Street Chronicles
Saints QB Derek Carr suffers hand injury
Carr was injured late in the game after coming down hard on his left arm.
The New Orleans Saints, already battered by injuries, have suffered another devastating blow. In a desperate attempt to secure a first down, 33-year-old veteran quarterback Derek Carr dove headfirst, only to be met by a collision with two New York Giants defenders and teammate Kevin Austin Jr. Carr’s momentum carried him face-first into the turf, short of the marker. The impact was jarring with the injury thought to be by the face plant, Carr got up and clutched his left hand as he was helped off the field. Initial reports suggest a possible fracture in his non-throwing hand. With the game slipping away, backup quarterback Jake Haener stepped in to take the reins.
Saints interim head coach Darren Rizzi said after the game that Carr suffered a left-hand injury during the play.
Although the Saints took home the road victory 14-11, this additional injury casts a long shadow over the Saints’ season. Carr now joins a growing list of sidelined players. As the team pushes towards the finish line, the weight of adversity grows heavier with each passing game.
Saints march into Week 15 as 7-point underdogs vs. the Commanders
New Orleans is back home in the dome this week.
It’s Week 15 and the New Orleans Saints (5-8) are back home in the dome to take on Jayden Daniels and the Washington Commanders (8-5) in the Caesars Superdome on Sunday.
According to FanDuel, the Saints are currently 7-point underdogs against the Commanders. The over/under is currently 43.5 points but there is sure to be some movement on these odds before Sunday’s matchup.
Ups and downs from Saints vs. Giants
Sunday’s win was highlighted by promising players from the Saints young core.
Up: Kendre Miller
While his numbers don’t stick out on the stat sheet, Kendre Miller had a promising day against the Giants. Miller ran 10 times for 32 yards and a touchdown averaging 3.2 yards a carry. It was rare the first defender to get his hands on Miller would take him down and he showed his ability to fight for yards after contact. During his second career touchdown, Miller dragged defenders with him on his way to an eight-yard touchdown. The second-year running back has dealt with plenty of injuries during his short career, but when he has been available, Miller has looked promising and exciting.
Podcasts & videos
Washington Commanders NFL Playoff Chances Improved During Bye Week | Marshon Lattimore Return Impact
Episode 969 – Guest: @MichaelPInRVA on #Commanders as stretch run begins.
– 2024 JD5 vs. 2012 RG3
– fan excitement now vs. in 2012
– most valuable 2024 free-agent signing?
– DQ analysis
– why Kliff will stay
– state of the defense
– rebrand & stadium talkhttps://t.co/03N9alKxwl— Al Galdi (@AlGaldi) December 9, 2024
‘Do The Commanders Need to Finish 3-1? Probably. ‘ by The Bram Weinstein Show https://t.co/2z6XY1BonB
— Bram Weinstein (@RealBramW) December 9, 2024