CLNS Media
  • Home
  • NBA
  • NFL
  • MLB
  • NHL
  • Betting
  • NBA History
  • Podcasts
    • podcast
      • A List Podcast
      • Bruins Beat
      • Bob Ryan and Jeff Goodman
      • Cedric Maxwell Podcast
      • Celtics Beat
      • Celtics Lab
    • podcast
      • Celtics Postgame Live
      • Dome Theory with Bobby Manning
      • First to the Floor
      • The Garden Report
      • Greg Bedard’s Patriots Podcast
      • Patriots Beat
    • podcast
      • Pucks with Haggs
      • Patriots Postgame Show
      • Pats Interference
      • Poke the Bear
      • Patriots Daily
      • Red Sox Beat
      • Winning Plays
      • View All Podcasts
  • About
    • About CLNS
    • Our Sponsors
    • Talent
    • Job Opportunities
    • Join Our Network
    • Advertise With Us

Subscribe to Updates

Get the latest creative news from FooBar about art, design and business.

What's Hot

Bengals Beat: Joe Burrow Questionable Monday, AJ McCarron Returns, Ja’Marr Chase Talks It Out With Brian Callahan

09/23/2023

Three Best Bets for Sunday: Patriots vs. Jets Props

09/23/2023

Remembering Celtics Legend Red Auerbach + Marcus Smart Wedding

09/23/2023
Facebook Twitter Instagram YouTube TikTok
Facebook Twitter Instagram YouTube TikTok Discord
CLNS Media
Subscribe
  • Home
  • NBA
  • NFL
  • MLB
  • NHL
  • Betting
  • NBA History
  • Podcasts
    • podcast
      • A List Podcast
      • Bruins Beat
      • Bob Ryan and Jeff Goodman
      • Cedric Maxwell Podcast
      • Celtics Beat
      • Celtics Lab
    • podcast
      • Celtics Postgame Live
      • Dome Theory with Bobby Manning
      • First to the Floor
      • The Garden Report
      • Greg Bedard’s Patriots Podcast
      • Patriots Beat
    • podcast
      • Pucks with Haggs
      • Patriots Postgame Show
      • Pats Interference
      • Poke the Bear
      • Patriots Daily
      • Red Sox Beat
      • Winning Plays
      • View All Podcasts
  • About
    • About CLNS
    • Our Sponsors
    • Talent
    • Job Opportunities
    • Join Our Network
    • Advertise With Us
CLNS Media
Home » Patriots Playbook: the ‘Wham’ Play-Action Design
NFL

Patriots Playbook: the ‘Wham’ Play-Action Design

Evan LazarBy Evan Lazar06/13/2019Updated:08/28/20213 Mins Read
Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn WhatsApp Reddit Email
Share
Facebook Twitter Email

In the first installment of this series, we discussed the Patriots’ “fake screen” and the importance of building compliments in your offense to give defenses different looks.

The Patriots’ play-action passing attack is one of the league’s best because it perfectly marries New England’s run blocking schemes with their play-action designs.

Now there’s no evidence that a high-volume or successful rushing attack has any effect on a team’s play-action passing game, but you can make life hell for linebackers by making your play-action concepts look like your running plays.

The play-action passing game is all about spacing; by simulating their power plays, the Patriots displace defenders by making them think it’s a run while quarterback Tom Brady keeps the ball for a pass.

Last season, Brady averaged nearly ten yards per attempt on play-action passes, and that average climbed to 10.6 down the stretch run.

Trending
Could Kristaps Porzingis Trade Backfire on Brad Stevens?

One of the Patriots’ favorite play-action concepts works off their “wham” running play.

The “wham” scheme is a go-to power play that the Patriots utilize in their complex run blocking system, and it’s incredibly effective.

In 2018, running back Sony Michel averaged nearly six yards per carry on power concepts.

The Patriots will use both a tight end or fullback James Develin on the “wham” block, but let’s focus on the tight end version here:

[arve url=”https://streamable.com/s/n3wxg/zmdcdn” /]

The key to the entire play is leaving one player, the play side defensive tackle, unblocked at the snap. Above, right guard Shaq Mason immediately climbs to the second level while center David Andrews and left guard Joe Thuney double team the backside tackle. Gronk then executes a perfect “wham” block on the free defender, which allows Mason to climb to the linebacker at the second level, opening a massive hole for Michel.

With the “wham” power run on tape, the Patriots will replicate all of the same blocking choreography but throw the ball instead of hand it off to a running back.

[arve url=”https://streamable.com/s/uhxgb/rleoxe” /]

On this 28-yard reception by Julian Edelman, the Pats’ attention to detail on these fakes is on full display. The receivers’ alignments are nearly identical to the running play earlier, and they even bring Gronk in motion before the snap from left to right, but the real magic happens after the snap. Gronk is going to carry out the same “wham” block as he does on the run and Mason steps upfield to simulate his climb to the linebacker. Mason also does an excellent job of staying within the legal two-yard window to avoid a penalty. Linebackers are taught to come downhill at the line of scrimmage to take on these power blocks, and you can see them do so here, leaving a massive passing lane for Brady to get the ball to Edelman.

At its peak, the Patriots’ play-action attack is like poetry in motion, with multiple moving parts in a scheme that has tremendous diversity.

And with flawless execution, it’s nearly impossible to stop.

Patriots Rob Gronkowski Shaq Mason Sony Michel Tom Brady
Share. Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn WhatsApp Reddit Email
Evan Lazar
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn

Evan Lazar is the New England Patriots beat reporter for CLNS Media.

Related Posts

Three Best Bets for Sunday: Patriots vs. Jets Props

09/23/2023

Patriots vs. Jets Preview and Picks

09/23/2023

Will Patriots Defeat the Jets?

09/23/2023

Previewing Patriots vs Jets; Can New England Get Their First Win?

09/23/2023

Patriots Have Gut Check Trench Game vs. Jets

09/23/2023

NFL Week Three Games to Watch – Betting Odds, Previews, and Predictions

09/22/2023

Comments are closed.

Follow Us
Facebook-f Twitter Instagram Youtube
Featured Videos
A List Podcast

Remembering Celtics Legend Red Auerbach + Marcus Smart Wedding

By Mackenzie Bruno09/23/2023

Welcome to episode 146 of the A List Podcast with A. Sherrod Blakely, Gary Washburn,…

Patriots vs. Jets Preview and Picks

09/23/2023

Will Patriots Defeat the Jets?

09/23/2023

Exploring the Best and Worst-Case Scenarios for the Celtics Next Season

09/23/2023
About Us
About Us

Your source for the lifestyle news. This demo is crafted specifically to exhibit the use of the theme as a lifestyle site. Visit our main page for more demos.

We're accepting new partnerships right now.

Email Us: info@example.com
Contact: +1-320-0123-451

Our Picks

Celtics-Pistons Game 2 Betting Odds, Preview and Predictions | BetOnline.ag

01/03/2021

Celtics-Pistons Game 2 Betting Odds, Preview and Predictions | BetOnline.ag

01/03/2021
New Comments
    Facebook Twitter Instagram YouTube TikTok Discord
    • Home
    • NBA
    • NFL
    • MLB
    • NHL
    • View All Podcasts
    • About
    • Privacy Policy

    2022 North Station Media. Designed by J&R Marketing.


    At North Station Media, we don’t just celebrate diversity, we live it. North Station Media is an equal opportunity employer that commits itself everyday creating the most inclusive environment for all its employees and hiring the best and most qualified individuals. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, marital status, age, national origin, ancestry, physical or mental disability, medical condition, pregnancy, genetic information, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, veteran status, or any other status protected under federal, state, or local law.

    Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.