The Colts have had a number of problems with their running game this season. Their breakthrough back in 2012, Vick Ballard, has missed two consecutive years with injury. Ahmad Bradshaw, who they picked up in 2013, has also hit injured reserved in each of the last two seasons. Trent Richardson, who they traded a first round pick for in 2013, has decidedly been a bust. This made room for Dan Herron, a former Ohio State Buckeye who was indicted with Terrelle Pryor in selling game memorabilia. Despite missing about half of his senior year, he was drafted in the 6th round of the 2012 Draft by the Bengals. He spent a year on their practice squad, then spent 2013 with the Colts. This year, he got his first significant playing time in week 12 against the Jaguars.

Herron made a big impact in his first career playoff game against the Bengals both on the ground and in the passing game. Let’s take a look at what he did, starting with the running game and then moving on to the ground game.

Running Game

2-10-CIN 40 (Q1, 13:09) (Run formation) D.Herron left end to CIN 13 for 27 yards (D.Kirkpatrick; R.Nelson).

On this play, Herron takes a pitch to the left, follows his blocking, and picks up 27 yards. The play is successful because Herron follows his blocking until a hole opens up at the edge fro him to get upfield.

http://i.imgur.com/sbT6gzI.png

From this picture, we can see the Colts have three players (LT Costanzo, LG Mewhort, and RT Reitz) pulling to the side of the run while Fleener, Holmes, and Lance Louis all block the man in front of him. The point of this play is for Herron to get to the “edge” of the defense and then turn upfield, and that’s what happens. Because Fleener did a good job neutralizing DE Wallace Gilberry, the Bengals only have three players who could really prevent Herron from getting to the edge: Leon Hall, Adam Jones, and Rey Maualuga.

http://i.imgur.com/WYEqrfG.png

In this picture, you can see that the pulling linemen, as well as Reggie Wayne (who was out of the picture to the left on the first image), did an excellent job of neutralizing those three players.

http://i.imgur.com/u1c9WsL.png

That opens up a sizable hole for Herron to be able to run into, and he gets past Gilberry, cuts up the field, and picks up almost 30 yards. While his blocking made it easy for him, this run showcases solid vision and good explosion from Herron.

1-2-CIN 2 (Q1, 11:11) (Run formation) D.Herron up the middle for 2 yards, TOUCHDOWN.

Much of Herron’s success in this game was set up by the blocking in front of him. That’s not necessarily an insult to Herron, because the Colts are designing and running plays that play to his strengths: using his vision and one cut to get the ball upfield. On this play, the Colts run a counter near the goal line.

http://i.imgur.com/MactCYl.png

Clearly, the intention is to get the Bengals moving to the left and then have Herron cut back to an open endzone. They’re relying on Reitz and pulling TE Dwayne Allen to seal off the backside defenders, Vincent Rey and Carlos Dunlap.

http://i.imgur.com/ZrR8EA2.png

The counter worked quite well. What impressed me most on this play was just how much movement Lance Louis got on this play, especially considering it was only two yards from the endzone. The first circle is approximately where he lined up, and the second one is where he is when Herron cuts back. On the cutback side, Herron has an easy TD. This was a clear case of the Colts’ OL making the run easy for him.

1-10-IND 9 (Q2, 5:07) (Run formation) D.Herron left guard to IND 9 for no gain (D.Peko).

Just as good blocking can make a run really easy, a good play by a defender can make the run basically impossible. That’s what Bengals’ DT Domata Peko does on this play.

http://i.imgur.com/ML905Rz.png

The Colts are running a counter again, and this time they pull Louis as well as having a FB lead. The Colts’ don’t do a great job of execution at the point of attack, but if Herron is able to follow his lead blockers he should pick up at least a few yards.

http://i.imgur.com/wQHxs9t.png

Peko, however, has other plans. Khaled Holmes is blocking him 1-on-1, and leans too far into his block. Peko realizes this, and sidesteps him. Holmes’ momentum carries him forward and falls, and Peko is able to get by him to make the play for no gain. The lack of a gain isn’t Herron’s fault, but rather poor blocking by Holmes.

1-10-IND 43 (Q3, 6:18) (Run formation) D.Herron left tackle to CIN 48 for 9 yards (V.Rey).

This play shows that Herron can follow his lead blocker and run effectively between the tackles, and this play in particular is nice because he navigates through a very small hole.

http://i.imgur.com/75XuWs1.png

The concept behind this play is really pretty simple. Herron’s FB is leading him through the A Gap. This play stands out from the first two because Herron gains extra yards for himself. Holmes has trouble again, as he fails to cleanly disengage from Peko. To get away and try to block the LB Vincent Rey, Holmes kind of spins off of his block and doesn’t get a good block on Rey. However, Herron makes the most of it. He fits himself through a small hole, and drags Rey, who grabs on to him, for 3 or 4 extra yards.

2-1-CIN 48 (Q3, 5:57) (No Huddle) D.Herron left tackle to CIN 39 for 9 yards (V.Rey; M.Flowers).

On this play, the Colts run power off tackle. Here’s the setup:

http://i.imgur.com/CEdJ6R1.png

Herron is running off tackle, outside of the combo block that Costanzo and Allen are putting on Geathers. Allen is supposed to release from that block and move to Reggie Nelson, but he fails to get off the block in time. This gives Nelson a chance to get Herron, but Herron makes a nice cut to make him completely whiff, and picks up a healthy gain of nine on the carry. Herron shows a little elusiveness here. In these runs, he’s shown vision, power, elusiveness, and explosion, all of the things a RB needs to be successful.