Is Daron Payne ready to step up if Jonathan Allen is sidelined?
Allen is currently on the Covid list and could miss the Eagles game this week. If that happens, is Payne ready to take control of the DLine?
Jonathan Allen has been the star of Washington’s defensive line this season. He was Washington’s best player last year, earned his new contract during the offseason and has taken another step forward this year. However, with Allen now on the Covid list, he could miss the critical game against the Eagles this week. If that is the case, Washington would need linemate Daron Payne to step up. While Allen has rightly taken all the plaudits this season, Payne has been playing to a high level next to him. Against the Cowboys last week, Payne stood out on a number of occasions, especially against the run.
Payne set the tone for his performance from the very first play of the game here. The Cowboys look to run a zone play to the left with star right guard Zack Martin looking to reach across and cut off Payne on the back side of the run. Payne spots Martin’s block coming early, withstanding the bump from the center and ensuring he gets his hands on Martin as quickly as possible. Martin manages to get in front of Payne, but Payne has the hand leverage to take control of the block. From there, he gets his eyes in the backfield and locates the running back. Payne steps into the inside gap to force the runner to cut his run back further, before then tossing Martin aside to make the tackle.
Payne consistently controlled his blocker in the run game. He didn’t always make the tackle himself, but he always controlled his gap and prevented the running back from running his way,
Here, Payne lines up on the outside shoulder of the left guard. The Cowboys run an inside zone scheme to Payne’s side, but watch how Payne handles his block. Payne stays lower than the left guard and gets his hands inside. With that leverage he’s able to extend his left arm and hold the guard away from his body. From that position, Payne has total control and can go either way against the guard if he wants to. The scheme requires him to control the B gap on the outside shoulder of the guard, so he takes up that position, but he also understands the run scheme. He spots the fullback coming to insert and create an extra gap on the inside, so Payne uses his leverage to shuffle back inside and take away the inside gap as well. By suddenly flashing inside, the running back is forced cut his run back further, preventing him from attacking the extra gap created by the fullback.
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