Inside The Game; Jonathan Bullard's Development..........
Nov 11, 2016 6:49:38 GMT -6
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Post by Deleted on Nov 11, 2016 6:49:38 GMT -6
Inside the Game: How rookie Jonathan Bullard is developing by using his hands better
Rich Campbell Contact Reporter Chicago Tribune
Defensive line was one of the Chicago Bears’ biggest needs entering the 2016 offseason. So when they drafted Jonathan Bullard out of Florida in the third round, there was some urgency to develop him to a level at which he contributes consistently.
Now halfway through the season, that is starting to happen. Bullard has played 29 percent of the snaps in the seven games in which he played (he missed the Lions game in Week 4 with a toe injury). He has one sack — a high-motor clean-up effort against the Colts — and two tackles for loss.
Said defensive line coach Jay Rodgers: “He is coming from a shoot-up-the-field gap scheme defense in Florida, and now he’s really starting to use his hands and knocking people back. He may not be 330 pounds like some of the other guys, but he has pop in him. He’s got suddenness. So using his hands the right way helps him.”
Rodgers was particularly pleased by how Bullard wrecked one Vikings series at the end of the first quarter of the 20-10 victory on Halloween night.
On second-and-3 from the Vikings 39 yard-line, he got off the ball quickly and penetrated the backfield—something he was known for at Florida — and stopped running back Matt Asiata for gain of 1. Then, on third-and-2, the Vikings ran at him again. That time, he knocked right guard Brandon Fusco back, allowing safety Adrian Amos to fit, make the tackle for a gain of 1 and force a punt.
“That was huge,” Rodgers said, "to see that growth from him.”
Let’s take a closer look at that third-down stop to get a deeper understanding of how Bullard helped the defense get off the field.
The first picture below is the pre-snap alignment from the end zone camera. The Bears used a four-man line in their nickel package, with Bullard as the three-technique. Veteran Akiem Hicks was the other tackle. Bullard had at the front of his mind the fact he weighs about 280 pounds and Hicks is listed at 336.
“I kind of figured they were going to come my way,” Bullard said. “With Akiem opposite me, if you need a yard, you’re going to go at the 280-pound guy.”
He was on high alert.
NFL.com/NFL Game Pass/ESPN
After the ball was snapped, notice how Bullard came off lower than Fusco. Just look at the height of their helmets. Bullard won the leverage battle.
“For me (leverage) is huge,” Bullard said. “I’m giving up the weight, so ... when I get blocks like that, I need to have alignment, my pad level down and really get into the guy fast.”
NFL.com/NFL Game Pass/ESPN
Hand placement was the next element of Bullard’s victory at the point of attack. From the TV sideline camera angle, notice how Fusco’s left arm was outside of Bullard’s. Bullard got his hands into Fusco’s chest.
NFL.com/NFL Game Pass/ESPN
Here’s that picture magnified. It’s blurrier, but you can clearly see Fusco’s left arm on the outside of Bullard’s body, which sapped his power.
NFL.com/NFL Game Pass/ESPN
Rodgers suspects the Bears emphasize hand placement to Bullard more than the Florida coaching staff did because of how the Bears’ scheme requires linemen to anchor and occupy blockers more than just penetrate.
“I think any time you’re playing in this structure of defense, a D-lineman’s best friend is their hands,” Rodgers said. “If you’re playing against guys that have 36-inch arms, and you get engulfed in them, and you can’t separate. Then all you are is a guy that’s out there. When you can knock a guy back, gain separation, shed them and make plays, that’s where using your hands come into play.”
Once Bullard won with leverage and won with his hands, that enabled him to generate power. It’s what Rodgers refers to as “knock-back.”
Notice how Bullard got his arms extended and forced Fusco back onto one foot (his right leg).
Also, by getting Fusco backwards and turning his back, that prevented Asiata from bouncing the run outside. It channeled him directly to Amos, who was fitting the ‘A’ gap on that side. Bullard understands there’s a timing element to that punch-and-turn so as not to give the running back a chance to read the block and adjust.
“That’s really just an instinct thing,” he said. “I got the man locked out, and then you see the ball.”
NFL.com/NFL Game Pass/ESPN
From the sideline view, you can see how Bullard’s punch got Fusco arched backward and off balance.
NFL.com/NFL Game Pass/ESPN
The last picture shows how Amos was able to fit and make the tackle. A brilliant play for the Bears defense.
NFL.com/NFL Game Pass/ESPN
The play demonstrated that Bullard is developing into more than just a pass-rusher who can penetrate the backfield. In this scheme and at his relatively light weight, for coaches to be able to trust him on a short-yardage running play is a big step forward.
“I feel like I’m getting better and better,” Bullard said. “I’m starting to make more plays, get more reps and starting to learn the technique they want me to play with.”
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Copyright © 2016, Chicago Tribune
Rich Campbell Contact Reporter Chicago Tribune
Defensive line was one of the Chicago Bears’ biggest needs entering the 2016 offseason. So when they drafted Jonathan Bullard out of Florida in the third round, there was some urgency to develop him to a level at which he contributes consistently.
Now halfway through the season, that is starting to happen. Bullard has played 29 percent of the snaps in the seven games in which he played (he missed the Lions game in Week 4 with a toe injury). He has one sack — a high-motor clean-up effort against the Colts — and two tackles for loss.
Said defensive line coach Jay Rodgers: “He is coming from a shoot-up-the-field gap scheme defense in Florida, and now he’s really starting to use his hands and knocking people back. He may not be 330 pounds like some of the other guys, but he has pop in him. He’s got suddenness. So using his hands the right way helps him.”
Rodgers was particularly pleased by how Bullard wrecked one Vikings series at the end of the first quarter of the 20-10 victory on Halloween night.
On second-and-3 from the Vikings 39 yard-line, he got off the ball quickly and penetrated the backfield—something he was known for at Florida — and stopped running back Matt Asiata for gain of 1. Then, on third-and-2, the Vikings ran at him again. That time, he knocked right guard Brandon Fusco back, allowing safety Adrian Amos to fit, make the tackle for a gain of 1 and force a punt.
“That was huge,” Rodgers said, "to see that growth from him.”
Let’s take a closer look at that third-down stop to get a deeper understanding of how Bullard helped the defense get off the field.
The first picture below is the pre-snap alignment from the end zone camera. The Bears used a four-man line in their nickel package, with Bullard as the three-technique. Veteran Akiem Hicks was the other tackle. Bullard had at the front of his mind the fact he weighs about 280 pounds and Hicks is listed at 336.
“I kind of figured they were going to come my way,” Bullard said. “With Akiem opposite me, if you need a yard, you’re going to go at the 280-pound guy.”
He was on high alert.
NFL.com/NFL Game Pass/ESPN
After the ball was snapped, notice how Bullard came off lower than Fusco. Just look at the height of their helmets. Bullard won the leverage battle.
“For me (leverage) is huge,” Bullard said. “I’m giving up the weight, so ... when I get blocks like that, I need to have alignment, my pad level down and really get into the guy fast.”
NFL.com/NFL Game Pass/ESPN
Hand placement was the next element of Bullard’s victory at the point of attack. From the TV sideline camera angle, notice how Fusco’s left arm was outside of Bullard’s. Bullard got his hands into Fusco’s chest.
NFL.com/NFL Game Pass/ESPN
Here’s that picture magnified. It’s blurrier, but you can clearly see Fusco’s left arm on the outside of Bullard’s body, which sapped his power.
NFL.com/NFL Game Pass/ESPN
Rodgers suspects the Bears emphasize hand placement to Bullard more than the Florida coaching staff did because of how the Bears’ scheme requires linemen to anchor and occupy blockers more than just penetrate.
“I think any time you’re playing in this structure of defense, a D-lineman’s best friend is their hands,” Rodgers said. “If you’re playing against guys that have 36-inch arms, and you get engulfed in them, and you can’t separate. Then all you are is a guy that’s out there. When you can knock a guy back, gain separation, shed them and make plays, that’s where using your hands come into play.”
Once Bullard won with leverage and won with his hands, that enabled him to generate power. It’s what Rodgers refers to as “knock-back.”
Notice how Bullard got his arms extended and forced Fusco back onto one foot (his right leg).
Also, by getting Fusco backwards and turning his back, that prevented Asiata from bouncing the run outside. It channeled him directly to Amos, who was fitting the ‘A’ gap on that side. Bullard understands there’s a timing element to that punch-and-turn so as not to give the running back a chance to read the block and adjust.
“That’s really just an instinct thing,” he said. “I got the man locked out, and then you see the ball.”
NFL.com/NFL Game Pass/ESPN
From the sideline view, you can see how Bullard’s punch got Fusco arched backward and off balance.
NFL.com/NFL Game Pass/ESPN
The last picture shows how Amos was able to fit and make the tackle. A brilliant play for the Bears defense.
NFL.com/NFL Game Pass/ESPN
The play demonstrated that Bullard is developing into more than just a pass-rusher who can penetrate the backfield. In this scheme and at his relatively light weight, for coaches to be able to trust him on a short-yardage running play is a big step forward.
“I feel like I’m getting better and better,” Bullard said. “I’m starting to make more plays, get more reps and starting to learn the technique they want me to play with.”
Privacy Policy
Copyright © 2016, Chicago Tribune
