Why I Love Pittsburgh Steelers H-Back Isaac Redman
by John Stephens on Oct 25, 2011 9:59 AM EDT
in Anatomy of a Play
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The last few weeks there has been a lot of talk about Rashard Mendenhall vs. Isaac Redman. I have been very vocal about my love for Redman, but I do give credit to Mendenhall where credit is due. I thought about making this a post about that battle, but I am not going to. I just am writing this to show you one of the reasons I love Redman and why you should too.
Sir Redman is not a back with burner speed and he is not an athletic freak. He is just tenacious and has a very high motor. I would also say he has some power to his style, but some people would probably disagree with that. Anyway, Redman's ability to flex his intangibles took him from a Undrafted Free Agent to the secondary back on the world class Steelers football team. Willie Parker did the same thing, but it was FWP's blazing speed and Bettis injury that brought him into the limelight. I would argue that Redman had to fight a lot harder to get his spot.
One of my favorite plays of the game came early in the 2nd quarter with just under 14 minutes to go. The Steelers were facing a 2nd and 6 deep in their own territory. In the grand scheme of the game, the play ended up being inconsequential, but it was a very intuitive play by Redman. Lets take a look at the offensive and defensive alignments.
The Steelers are setup in an alignment that they usually run out of. There are two TEs in on the line with Heath Miller and David Johnson on the strong side. There are two WRs, Mike Wallace on the line and Hines Ward just off his back left hip off the line. Isaac Redman is alone in the backfield about 7 yards deep. It looks like it will be a run and the Cardinals MLBs are close to the line as a result. We can see two cornerbacks playing off both receivers and a safety within 10 yards of the line. The other safety is probably 10-15 yards deep over top Ward and Wallace.
The play is set up as a play action, but Ben does a pretty bad job of selling it. Note that the routes are not drawn to scale and they are mostly presumed. You can kind of see what they run, but once they get past the screen I cannot tell. Wallace runs a deep route and the play is probably set up for him. Ward runs a fake out and cuts behind Wallace through the flames he leaves (like Back to the Future) and ends up about 15 yards down field. Heath Miller does not block anyone and takes a slant about 7-10 yards down field. Notice the one MLB has a clear lane to Ben right now.
I assume the safety does not bite and with Johnson not being able to hold his guy anymore the play has officially become broken. Notice that Redman has stoned the MLB blitz so well that he decided to attempt to go right to get away from him. Ben, the scramble machine, sees what is happening and brilliantly steps through the two blocks all the while keeping his eyes mostly down field. The MLB who cuts back to the middle is taken out of the play once a Cardinal from the pile gets away from Marcus Gilbert.
Do not worry, Marcus, Redman has your back. Redman helps Gilbert who has lost his block by this point. It is a good 4-5 seconds after the snap, so do not blame Gilbert. Redman gives enough of a chip to help Gilbert and give Ben an extra second of time. He essentially prevented two sacks on one play. However, it's what he does next that I love.
Redman sees an open space and spins off of Gilbert's block. He throws his hand in the air and Ben sees he is wide open and dumps it off to him. The play is not a 50+ yard gain to Wallace, but it gets 10 yards and a fresh set of downs. The entire play was made by Ben's ability to keep plays alive, but more importantly Redman's blocking to give him the chance to do that.
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I love it
when Redman flexes his intangibles…
"If you're not getting better, I don't care what business you're in, you're a dead man. I try to look critically at the mistakes that I make and try to learn from them, like our team does." - Mike Tomlin
by Rebecca Rollett on Oct 25, 2011 10:01 AM EDT reply actions
TWSS
"A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity; an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty." - Winston Churchill
by PixburghArn on Oct 25, 2011 10:55 AM EDT up reply actions
Yes, I did
"If you're not getting better, I don't care what business you're in, you're a dead man. I try to look critically at the mistakes that I make and try to learn from them, like our team does." - Mike Tomlin
by Rebecca Rollett on Oct 25, 2011 5:55 PM EDT up reply actions
No clue why that last stubborn picture won't center
"It’s easy to lie with statistics, but it’s easier to lie without them." -Fred Mosteller
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The play is set up as a play action, but Ben does a pretty bad job of selling it.
If I were the QB coach I would be on Ben about that. Sometimes he does a fantastic sell job, but other times he forgets that he’s supposed make it at least look like there’s a possibility that he handed the ball off…
"If you're not getting better, I don't care what business you're in, you're a dead man. I try to look critically at the mistakes that I make and try to learn from them, like our team does." - Mike Tomlin
by Rebecca Rollett on Oct 25, 2011 10:06 AM EDT reply actions
I have noticed that too
"We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit."
--Aristotle
by steelerstyle on Oct 25, 2011 1:31 PM EDT up reply actions
Could be afraid
that Wallace “THE MISSLE” may be out of range by time a complete play fake is carried out.
"you will hardly know who I am or what I mean"-Walt Whitman
by Pittsblitz56 on Oct 25, 2011 7:19 PM EDT up reply actions
This site isn't big enough for people who love Redman and other people who love Mendenhall. This is fargin war!
Nice break down of the play, btw. Pretty Madden-esque. Sir Isaac blocked two guys and made himself open for a pass and managed to get a first down. Maybe he really is the most interesting man alive.
The thing I love about Redman
is that if there is a 3rd and 1 or short 3rd and 2 on the Steelers’ opening possession, BA always calls Redman’s number, and Redman always picks it up.
Loved this
Would you please post the rest of the screen shots from this play? Want to see how many defenders are dangling from him as he goes down.
"They timed it perfectly, they just went too soon." - Darrell Waltrip commenting on an illegal restart.
It's like 3
Can’t get a great picture of it. But he gets about 5 yards with one guy hanging on him.
"It’s easy to lie with statistics, but it’s easier to lie without them." -Fred Mosteller
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by John Stephens on Oct 25, 2011 10:30 AM EDT up reply actions
redman
best blocking running back in the nations history
go sir isaac
there is that
Two characters who play with high motor, desire and skill (because blocking like that is a skill).
"Canada is a great country, one of the hopes of the world. We can be a better one – a country of greater equality, justice, and opportunity." Jack Layton (R.I.P.)
"My city's still breathing (but barely it's true) through buildings gone missing like teeth. The sidewalks are watching me think about you, all sparkled with broken glass. I'm back with scars to show. Back with the streets I know. They never take me anywhere but here. " John K Samson (Left and Leaving)
by Cold_Old_Steelers_Fan on Oct 25, 2011 2:21 PM EDT up reply actions
Nice!!!!
Was going to write this up, but thrilled that you did first – saves me a TON of time.
I thought this was a great effort play. It showed a combination of hustle and awareness. I have been looking at all of the running plays to try to get to the bottom of why Mendy had such an off day, and I have to say on first inspection the blocking was simply terrible — BUT – I think that Redman and Moore seemed to provide a real offensive spark by making the offense less predictable. Not yet sure why Ben never throws to Mendenhall, but there does not seem to be chemistry there.
Ben does occasionally
throw to Mendy, about once a game or so. Mendy had 1 reception for 5 yards on Sunday. I’m not quite sure either, because IIRC Mendy generally catches it anytime it’s thrown his way.
"If you're not getting better, I don't care what business you're in, you're a dead man. I try to look critically at the mistakes that I make and try to learn from them, like our team does." - Mike Tomlin
by Rebecca Rollett on Oct 25, 2011 10:37 AM EDT up reply actions
Thanks for the post, JS.
I remember being wowed by the play when I saw it, but not being able to replay or rewatch it, I didn’t get all nuances. It’s one of those situations where the brain knows that it just watched something really cool, but doesn’t understand why.
I actually remembered that play from the game
Because of the quickness with which no. 33 became a target for Ben after doing what I thought was his job, i.e. chipping Gilbert’s guy. Little did I know that this was already his second block job! What a guy!
Truth is after all a moving target
Hairs to split, and pieces that don't fit
How can anybody be enlightened?
Truth is after all so poorly lit
RUSH - Turn the Page - from Hold your Fire (1987)
by Flying Polamalus on Oct 25, 2011 10:51 AM EDT reply actions
Yeah, you say that now
but what did he do in high school buddy?!!!
"A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity; an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty." - Winston Churchill
My favorite play of the game hands down
I’m so glad I was watching this game on Tivo. I probably hit rewind like 7 to 10 times just to fully digest every last dazzling moment of this play
Too funny
I used the play to do some instruction with the wife – rewound a few times so she could see how it developed…
"My mentality is singular in that I want to be world champs each and every year, so that's what we work toward. I have a tough time acknowledging levels of success short of that. That's just how I'm wired." - Mike Tomlin
by MDSTEELERSFAN on Oct 25, 2011 1:32 PM EDT up reply actions
Redman needs to be in goalline packages
If Arians loves Mendy so much in terms of getting the “glory” of a TD, I don’t see why both Redmn and Mendy can’t be in those goalline packages. Wallace is not that important when you got less than 10 yards to get a TD. Sanders, Heath and one of Ward, Brown or another TE will do the job.
Redman and Mendy together can stretch that defense horizontally because Redman cna do the inside runs better while Mendy is great on those edge runs. Plus Mendy and Redman are both decent receivers and blockers.
Roethlisberger in his comments after the Titans game said that the backs were improving and picking up blitzes well – specifically referring to Redman.
I wonder if all that pressure was due to Mendy not picking up blitzes. Does Mendy block well? Any info on that?
I'm sure it's open for debate
But I’ve always thought Mendy was an average pass blocker. He doesn’t seem instinctual enough to excel.
"It’s easy to lie with statistics, but it’s easier to lie without them." -Fred Mosteller
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by John Stephens on Oct 25, 2011 12:45 PM EDT up reply actions
average pretty much sums it up I think
he’s had some extremely good pass blocks as well, but sometimes just gets out of position for no apparent reason. Don’t know why exactly that is.
Great analysis by the way, I didn’t even notice the first block when watching the game live… Some great instincts by Redman.
.. hence the average grade
That one play actually sums his pass blocking up perfectly. If he doesn’t get that impressive first block, Ben gets completely hammered before even turning around. And then he gets out of position, and allows the sack anyways. It’s like Jekyll and Hyde with his pass blocking
I like the guy's running style...
Ive been wanting to play game control football going back to what we did against the Jets in the playoffs last year… and agree Redman is better suited …its not that I want to trade Mendy, or belittle his talents, I just want to play a more physical run game and control time of possession…. where a great 50yd splash play on a long run is great…. I prefer the 4-7-8 yd gains beating up the opp along the way…. the short pass game has its +’s, but the way Bens been getting beat up his whole career from the pass rush, running the ball hard will add yrs to his Steeler career……Steel nations been lucky ….be devastating if he’s injured…
Speaking of game control
I think that may have contributed to the Cardinals first touchdown drive. We had just stopped them, forced a punt then hit Wallace for the bomb. No rest for the D and they showed it with multiple penalties in the passing game. Just an observation and, although I LOVED the play to Mike, in hindsight wish we had controlled the clock a little first. Gotta take the shots when they’re there.
by Larrybob8187 on Oct 25, 2011 1:00 PM EDT up reply actions
I often wonder about those quick TD's
If a team woudnt be better off if the player purposely went down at the half yard line.
"We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit."
--Aristotle
by steelerstyle on Oct 25, 2011 1:37 PM EDT up reply actions
As Maurice Jones-Drew that question
"A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity; an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty." - Winston Churchill
*ask
"A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity; an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty." - Winston Churchill
Maybe it would
if we felt completely confident that they would get that last half yard. I was really wishing Mendy had made it all the way to the EZ last week…
"If you're not getting better, I don't care what business you're in, you're a dead man. I try to look critically at the mistakes that I make and try to learn from them, like our team does." - Mike Tomlin
by Rebecca Rollett on Oct 25, 2011 5:58 PM EDT up reply actions
Certainly it is better not to score a td
under those unique circumstances where a field goal and 4 extra offensive plays is better than 7 points.
and maybe worth it under more circumstances when you have alot of success in short yadage.
"We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit."
--Aristotle
by steelerstyle on Oct 26, 2011 9:58 AM EDT up reply actions
Agree that Redman had to work a lot harder to get where he is.
Everyone wrote this guy off in the beginning, even though he continually was a standout in the pre-season. Now we’re seeing that he’s a tough, reliable inside runner, a capable receiver and an excellent blocker. The thing I like most about Redman, though, is that he runs with great determination and he’s not easy to bring down. You can’t coach that.
JS nailed it;
Redman has great football instincts. Mendy has greater physical gifts, but doesn’t respond to changing conditions as well as Redman. They complement other very well, IMO.
My heros have always been Steelers...
Nice write-up JS, I particularly enjoyed this play!
"My mentality is singular in that I want to be world champs each and every year, so that's what we work toward. I have a tough time acknowledging levels of success short of that. That's just how I'm wired." - Mike Tomlin
Yes, good example of an instinctual player making a difference
You could say that the poor play fake and drift after blocking is all part of the play design – but I doubt it. The play looked like two guys woking together to create something from nothing. Ben recognizes the rush and moves to avoid, maintains downfield vision and sees Redman drift away into an open spot as a safety valve for the quarterback.
I like Redman for the same reasons as many here – gutty, aware, multi-purpose and always giving max effort. It’s hard to define but you know it when you see it.
Note: I do not believe you have 3 TEs in on this play – unless they took out Max Starks which is highly doubtful.
"Franz" in NoCal
Fail on my part. Not sure how I counted 8. Thanks
"It’s easy to lie with statistics, but it’s easier to lie without them." -Fred Mosteller
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by John Stephens on Oct 25, 2011 2:52 PM EDT up reply actions
Nice Writeup
I love Redman as a short yardage back and his catching ability and blocking ability. Great find and represents Bowie State well. Go HBCUs!
I love the Steelers.
Awesome post sir
I absolutely love redman. Like others have been saying on third and short redman always gets the first down. The guy never loses yards and always always falls forward. I like udfas that make it the NFL nothing is handed to them and you can tell with redman. He’s no athletic freak but he has so much heart.
He is more talented than he gets credit for he runs with excellent power and vision. His spin move is superb as well he knows when to use it. Remember the 2nd balt/Pitt game last year when redman scored the winning td. He just won’t be denied, he spun that raven defender off of him like a bad habit, beautiful, favorite redman play so far
by blitzzburgh on Oct 25, 2011 2:59 PM EDT via mobile reply actions
about redman
to those in doubt about his miraculous/saintly/mathematically-impossible abilities, just noticed at a targets website ike has 9 catches on 8 targets for 113% conversion percentage:
http://www.fantasysharks.com/apps/stats/targets.php?Season=2011&Week=Season&Position=RB%2FWR%2FTE&Team=PIT&StartRow=0&Rows=50
The numbers do not lie.
Also relevant to a discussion elsewhere, Mendy has only received 11 targets this season, which seems low for a talented starting RB… 48th most targets for a RB in the league. Probably more to do with Ben and Arians, interesting…
He caught one he wasn't targeted for?
"A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity; an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty." - Winston Churchill
I'm guessing
that he caught the one thrown to him, as well as one thrown to somebody else in a completely different game. That’s the sort of thing you can do when you have superpowers.
"If you're not getting better, I don't care what business you're in, you're a dead man. I try to look critically at the mistakes that I make and try to learn from them, like our team does." - Mike Tomlin
by Rebecca Rollett on Oct 25, 2011 6:01 PM EDT up reply actions
Oh yeah
We ARE talking about Redman
"A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity; an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty." - Winston Churchill
by PixburghArn on Oct 25, 2011 10:14 PM EDT up reply actions
I’d probably find a better statistics site, lol.
"It’s easy to lie with statistics, but it’s easier to lie without them." -Fred Mosteller
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by John Stephens on Oct 25, 2011 4:25 PM EDT up reply actions
Yeah
not one ran by a dude that flunked math
"A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity; an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty." - Winston Churchill
by PixburghArn on Oct 25, 2011 10:15 PM EDT up reply actions
GREAT post
I’d love to see one of these about Mendenhall also. He’s a great back and I certainly don’t agree with some ppl here who want us to dump him, but some of his runs and cuts have been pretty questionable this season. Good to see Redman is talented enough to cover those 3rd downs and short yardage plays that so often went to Mewelde before
Redman
Love him!! I love his whole story and the type of player he is. The guy just makes plays and is humble.
While I appreciate Mendy’s skill set, I have to say I don’t really like him. Just something about him (his 9/11 comments didn’t help)…can’t exactly say what. I just get the feeling the Steelers won’t give him a big second contract and he’ll end up elsewhere. I had the same feeling about Santonio Holmes.
Also, i assume “Redman H-back” was a typo since we know he is a RB and not an HB…just wondering.
yes. according to football historian Daniel Tosh
“h-back” means “white running back” and Redman certainly isn’t that
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REDMAN THE MAN
Although Mendenhall has stepped up his game since being injured, and out, watching Redman and Dwyer get it done without him, if feel that Redman gives us a better chance in the run game! I have liked Redman since his preseason performances as a rookie, although he was cut, and then signed to the practice squad. He has proven himself as a definite weapon for our offense!!
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