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Milano's absence has been huge. I think we tend to forget that he is generally aligned to the strength of the formation as a SAM LB in their over front. 3t/4i DTs can protect him vs run.
His free style and playmaking abilities are important vs. pass and on runs inside/outside.
His free style and playmaking abilities are important vs. pass and on runs inside/outside.
Milano aligned to the strength, so Raiders attack weakside. Milano communicates the TE coming back across the formation ("back" call).
So Edmunds fires his gun and disrupts the play. Milano at times is incredibly important to Edmunds. Helps him see things unfolding quicker.
So Edmunds fires his gun and disrupts the play. Milano at times is incredibly important to Edmunds. Helps him see things unfolding quicker.
Think I'm crazy? Watch - once Milano communicates the "back" call, Edmunds slides and fills. Then Milano becomes the heat-seeking missile that he is. Milano is incredibly important not just to this defense as a whole, but to Edmunds.
You hear people talk about moving Edmunds outside, especially into a Strongside backer role (which the Bills don't really have). But based on formations, it's generally Milano aligned to the strength (TE side) and stacked over the A-gap bc of how Os attack w their formations.
Once again, Milano inside/in the middle. This time on 2nd and 1.
Bills send a run blitz. Star and Murphy slant inside with Hyde blitzing. Who is in the middle making the play?
Milano to the strength, Pats run away. Playside LBs fill, Milano ends the play...
This play is beautiful. Zo closes/shrinks the run lane so RB can't bounce, Edmunds fills and rips, Milano finishes. But TE can be aggressive in his gap knowing his partner will clean up..
This play is beautiful. Zo closes/shrinks the run lane so RB can't bounce, Edmunds fills and rips, Milano finishes. But TE can be aggressive in his gap knowing his partner will clean up..
Once again, who is stacked to the strongside of the formation making the tackle?
Pats have two TEs a the POA, so Edmunds and Zo shift over. Edmunds contains the run, Milano finishes. We can keep talking about Edmunds not making plays over the middle, there's truth t it, but we should also include not having Milano in the D and in the middle....
Bills align in their over front w Milano to the strength, the Steelers shift. This puts Milano stacked over the A gap. Edmunds contains the run, Milano scrapes, works around his hands and makes the tackle.
Which LB is at the POA? Milano. A lot of focus is on Edmunds because he has had his struggles. But I think we are underselling, yes, underselling the importance of Milano. Not just in coverage, that's a given. Vs. the run. He is typically the playmaker & dead center at the POA.
Raiders send jet action and split flow at the defense. Look at Milano chase the RB right back to Edmunds.
Milano resets the edge. Outside arm free, in his gap. This forces the cutback and Edmunds cleans up. Edmunds just seems to play faster with Milano in the lineup.
Raiders have a crack toss called to Edmunds side. Watch Milano pre-snap, he's pointing out to Edmunds on who to who/what to key. Down block by the WR, Tackle pulling. Milano watches it unfold, then folds backside into his assignment.
Milano executes the "back" call so Edmunds falls back one gap, then finds the ball to make the tackle. Milano helps Edmunds process this faster, creates disruption but it's Edmunds who benefits.
Milano forces the cutback, Edmunds makes the tackle.
It's Milano that is inside and working through traffic. Edmunds can just play fast.
Milano and Hughes eliminate the read/force the give. Edmunds is standing in the hole waiting.
This tackle goes to Edmunds, but Milano leverages the play so well. Star and Edmunds are the pursuit players and TE finishes the play.
Milano takes on the tackle, Murphy the lead blocker, Edmunds is free.
Run blitz
The formation once again puts Milano inside. This allows Edmunds to play free. He shoots the gap and makes the tackle. Based on how offenses attack, Edmunds plays on the fringe a lot like this.
The formation once again puts Milano inside. This allows Edmunds to play free. He shoots the gap and makes the tackle. Based on how offenses attack, Edmunds plays on the fringe a lot like this.
Both Milano and Star force the cutback to Edmunds. I think we can all agree that Star opting out has hurt in some capacity. That is a whole different thread for a different day.
Bills send a run blitz, but watch the RBs eyes/helmet. Who is in the hole where this run would typically cut up into? Milano.
RB bounces frontside and Edmunds makes the tackle.
RB bounces frontside and Edmunds makes the tackle.
Offenses always like to attack the bubble/change the strength of the formation and the Bills don't bump their DL, they bump their LBs. Leave their LBs uncovered. Why? They believe their DEs & their undersized LB Milano, will force the cutback. It's up to Edmunds to clean up.
Who's triggering first Milano or Edmunds? Think Edmunds feels or sees what is unfolding thanks to Milano??
Edmunds looking to Milano for something? I wonder what was being discussed..
MM blows up the C/RG to keep TE free.
It's clear guys, Milano is the playmaker. TE is asked to do a lot, but he is the cleanup guy. Plays are generally funneled to him & he is asked to use his speed & length to wrap up vs. run. He isn't the disruptor/TFL/run stop guy Milano is.
It's clear guys, Milano is the playmaker. TE is asked to do a lot, but he is the cleanup guy. Plays are generally funneled to him & he is asked to use his speed & length to wrap up vs. run. He isn't the disruptor/TFL/run stop guy Milano is.
"Tremaine - the Mikes - a lot of thought has gone into our alignments and we think it puts you in position...And I hope you see that, that it puts you into position to be successful."
They put Edmunds in a position to make plays, but that doesn't mean he is being counted on as being the playmaker, esp vs. run. That role is for Milano. You can see it in their alignments and play calls. He's generally at the POA to cover TEs if necessary & be disruptive vs run.
You will see Edmunds essentially playing the weakside backer in a lot of alignments bc Milano is to the strength. When teams attack the weakside - that LB is typically not covered by a DT. So they want TE to use his length to stack the gaps/OL. But he's not all the way there yet.
Getting Milano back down the stretch is incredibly important. He is their playmaker but more importantly he helps stabilize Edmunds. He creates plays for Edmunds and Edmunds plays much faster when Milano is in the lineup.
