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The Eagles were particularly adept at getting to the opposing punter last season, as they blocked four punts, three of which were returned for touchdowns. This season, the Eagles had yet to block a punt. On all four of their punt blocks a season ago, the catalyst was Bryan Braman. That was no different yesterday.
With just 15 seconds left in the first half, the Patriots faced a 4th and 5, and were forced to punt. They were likely to just loft one high, get down the field, and force Sproles to make a fair catch. Or simply kick it out of bounds.
They never got that chance.
Instead, Chris Maragos came free, blocked the punt, and Najee Goode scooped and scored for seven free points to close the half. Enormous play. That play evened the score at 14, and changed the entire complexion of the game. Here's how it happened:
1) The players to watch on the punt block are Bryan Braman and Trey Burton, highlighted by the arrows below. Braman is lined up opposite No. 92 on the Pats, and Burton is lined up opposite No. 55. Braman's job is to open up a hole in the B gap (the space in between No. 53 and No. 92), and it's Burton's job to open up a hole in the B gap on the opposite side (the space in between No. 55 and No. 58).
2) Pre-snap, No. 43, the "personal protector," verbally assigned Braman to be blocked by the long snapper.
"I'm shooting the A gap, and the personal protector sent the snapper to me," said Braman. "That makes the long snapper responsible for the gap that I’m in. The guard, who I had been holding up the entire game, he stayed down on me, and Maragos came up into the B gap, which is the guard’s responsibility."
"Braman is a threat on our punt return team," said Maragos. "He draws a lot of attention being so big and fast. He's really able to snatch that guard's attention. That guy really stayed down on him."
In the frame below, you can see what Braman (circled in yellow) and Maragos were talking about. The long snapper and guard doubled Braman, giving the Eagles a numbers advantage elsewhere.
Braman was able to draw the attention of the guard and long snapper, and Burton did a great job caving the guard on his side inside. That left Maragos and Kenjon Barner free to attack through the B gaps with only the personal protector (#43) to stop them. Maragos, Barner, and the personal protector are all circled in aqua.
3) This left the personal protector to choose who to block between Maragos and Barner.
"Since the personal protector sent the long snapper to me, that held him on the back side, so he wasn't able to come off and block Maragos," said Braman. "Because of the pressure on the opposite side (by Barner), and the guard staying down on me, it allowed Maragos to make the play."
In the frame below, you see the personal protector to move over to block Barner (circled in yellow), leaving Maragos (circled in aqua) with a free run at the punter.
4) And boom goes the dynamite.
"I just saw Maragos lay out like he was Superman," said Goode. "He blocked the s*** out of it."
Let's watch them dance:
"When you have a blocked kick for a touchdown, and interception return for a touchdown and a punt return for a touchdown, it takes those things to win in this stadium against that coach and that quarterback," said Chip Kelly.
Yep.
Follow Jimmy on Twitter: @JimmyKempski
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