http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/w...lm-study-notes-on-key-matchups-in-every-game/
[h=3]Miami at San Diego[/h][h=3]
Dolphins[/h] The Dolphins are getting good play out of defensive end Andre Branch. He was signed as a free agent from Jacksonville when Olivier Vernon left and he has three sacks so far this season.
Branch played well last week against the Jets. He got push several times early in the game against left tackle Ryan Clady. On a Cameron Wake sack in the second quarter, he was right there to get the sack as well but Wake beat him by a split second to knock the ball away. On that play, Branch bull-rushed Clady and pushed him back into Ryan Fitzpatrick as the two ends sandwiched the quarterback.
Branch later made an effort play in the third quarter when he rushed from his left end spot up the field and then continued to play when a screen pass went the other way. He chased it downfield and made the tackle on a 15-yard gain. That's effort. He covered 30 yards on the play, 10 on his rush and 20 to get downfield and make the play. On the first play of the fourth quarter, he beat the cut block of Quincy Enunwa to tackle the runner behind the line. Branch has a chance to get to his career best of six sacks, which he had with the Jaguars in 2015.
[h=3]
San Diego [/h] Who was that guy in the No. 85 jersey last week? It was Antonio Gates, but it looked like a young version of Gates. He caught five passes for 75 yards and a touchdown, but it was the blocking that impressed.
Early in his career, he was a good blocker. As he aged, he wasn't asked to do it as much and he wasn't as good at it. He was good at it last week. The Chargers used him blocking in a bunch of different ways against the Titans. They motioned him and let him wham the defensive end a few times. They also lined him up on the end of the line and let him seal block.
Antonio Gates turned in a vintage performance in Week 9. USATSI Gates was a big reason why Melvin Gordon ran for 196 yards. Gates isn't overpowering, but he knows how to use his body to create angles and move players to open holes. As for his pass-catching against the Titans, he had a touchdown catch on a corner route where he looked years younger. He also had a 17-yard catch where he got away with a veteran move, pushing off linebacker Sean Spence. On the tape, you can see Spence complaining to the officials as soon as the play was over. With Hunter Henry out last week, Gates had to play like his old self -- and he impressed in doing so.
[h=3]Miami at San Diego[/h][h=3]
Branch played well last week against the Jets. He got push several times early in the game against left tackle Ryan Clady. On a Cameron Wake sack in the second quarter, he was right there to get the sack as well but Wake beat him by a split second to knock the ball away. On that play, Branch bull-rushed Clady and pushed him back into Ryan Fitzpatrick as the two ends sandwiched the quarterback.
Branch later made an effort play in the third quarter when he rushed from his left end spot up the field and then continued to play when a screen pass went the other way. He chased it downfield and made the tackle on a 15-yard gain. That's effort. He covered 30 yards on the play, 10 on his rush and 20 to get downfield and make the play. On the first play of the fourth quarter, he beat the cut block of Quincy Enunwa to tackle the runner behind the line. Branch has a chance to get to his career best of six sacks, which he had with the Jaguars in 2015.
[h=3]
Early in his career, he was a good blocker. As he aged, he wasn't asked to do it as much and he wasn't as good at it. He was good at it last week. The Chargers used him blocking in a bunch of different ways against the Titans. They motioned him and let him wham the defensive end a few times. They also lined him up on the end of the line and let him seal block.
Antonio Gates turned in a vintage performance in Week 9. USATSI Gates was a big reason why Melvin Gordon ran for 196 yards. Gates isn't overpowering, but he knows how to use his body to create angles and move players to open holes. As for his pass-catching against the Titans, he had a touchdown catch on a corner route where he looked years younger. He also had a 17-yard catch where he got away with a veteran move, pushing off linebacker Sean Spence. On the tape, you can see Spence complaining to the officials as soon as the play was over. With Hunter Henry out last week, Gates had to play like his old self -- and he impressed in doing so.
