Jay Ajayi: Week 14 Film Breakdown

I loved the trade for Jay Ajayi. Whereas some people thought he was a little overrated and just a one-year wonder, I saw a really good talent that was stuck on a bad team. My expectations for him are pretty high, not only for this season but for the next few as well.

Each week I will be examining each of his snaps and will break down all of the ones I find significant. I’ll be looking at not only his runs but how he does in the passing game as a receiver and a blocker as well.

Week 14 @ Los Angeles Rams

Jay Ajayi once again led all Eagles RBs in snaps (43; 47.3%) and touches (16) in what was without a doubt his best game as an Eagle so far.

1st Quarter, 12:22 mark, 2nd & 10 from LA 47

With the Eagles already down 7-0, Ajayi’s first run helped set the tempo and attitude for the offense’s answer back. On a counter run to the weak side of the formation, Ajayi presses the line before following Brent Celek’s (#87) lead block. Other weeks we might have seen him continue to follow Celek outside, but this time that’s not the case. Once he gets to the edge, he turns upfield and lowers his shoulder into linebacker Alec Ogletree (#52). Ajayi’s strength and power is well on display as he’s somehow able to bounce off the tackle. With the defenders thinking they had him stopped, he takes his run to the outside and is able to slip another tackle, this time of linebacker Mark Barron (#26). He’s finally tackled by safety John Johnson (#43), but the run is good for 7 yards.

2nd Quarter, 14:15 mark, 1st & 10 from Phi 41

Ajayi forces another missed tackle by Barron here. First notice that Ajayi accelerates to almost top speed right away as he runs parallel to the line of scrimmage. Barron tries to cut him off but he’s able to make a nice jump cut to the inside and lose him. With the slow-motion video, you’re able to see how Ajayi is able to open up and turn his hips on the jump cut. This helps him shift his weight effectively and give him as much wiggle as possible to escape the tackle. Once he’s beaten Barron, Ajayi bursts into the 2nd level. He sees and runs toward Alshon Jeffery (#17) who is blocking cornerback Trumaine Johnson (#22) upfield. The run picks up 19 yards after Ajayi is tackled by Ogletree and Lamarcus Joyner (#20).

2nd Quarter, 4:38 mark, 1st & 10 from Phi 7

Backed up near their own end zone, the Eagles needed to pick up some yards and have more room to operate. Ajayi sees the running lane open up through the A-gap between Jason Kelce (#62) and Brandon Brooks (#79). The weak side A-gap is open as well, but he attacks the strong side knowing that he’ll be able to get even more separation from Barron who has played the pass instead of the run. Also, instead of making a cut and losing some speed, he’s able to fully accelerate through the hole. He runs by an attempted arm tackle of defensive lineman Morgan Fox (#97), gets upfield, spins off of a tackle by Joyner, and falls forward for a 14-yard gain.

3rd Quarter, 11:02 mark, 2nd & 11 from Phi 24

Remember last week against the Seahawks when Ajayi missed a crucial blitz pickup? Well that didn’t happen against the Rams. Mark Barron blitzes up the B-gap between Brooks & Lane Johnson (#65), but Ajayi sees it immediately, come across the formation, and puts a great block on him, driving him back further outside the pocket. As I mentioned before, technique and ability has never been the issue for Ajayi when it comes to pass protection. It’s just a matter of him knowing his proper assignments.

4th Quarter, 11:34 mark, 2nd & 10 from LA 35

What I want to point out on this 10-yard run by Ajayi is his willingness to stay behind his blockers. Jason Kelce pulls and Ajayi follows him to the edge. Kelce gets on Ogletree and continues to push him upfield. Instead of trying to run past the block, Ajayi stays behind Kelce and takes advantage of his athleticism at the 2nd level. In doing so, he’s able to pick up the 1st down on the play.

4th Quarter, 5:51 mark, 1st & 10 from LA 21

This was a simple 4-yard run, but I spotted something small that I thought was pretty neat. It’s an outside zone to the left side, and a running lane becomes available for Ajayi between Kelce and Isaac Seumalo (#73). But right before turning upfield and hitting the hole, Ajayi gives a little stutter step. Watch how that completely fakes out Ogletree and gets him out of position, preventing him from plugging up the hole. That’s something that probably doesn’t get noticed when watching with the broadcast camera angle.

4th Quarter, 0:54 mark, 3rd & 9 from Phi 33

It is now late in the game and the Eagles are trying to close it out, and Ajayi is very close to sealing the victory with this run. As expected, the Rams load the box with 9 defenders. The Eagles run it to the right side, avoiding defensive tackle Aaron Donald (#99). As the play develops, the B-gap is closed off by Joyner, so Ajayi carries it to the outside and finds a running lane that is freed up by the blocks of tight ends Brent Celek and Trey Burton (#88). He now only has Johnson left to beat in order to get to the 1st down marker. Take notice of how Ajayi opens up his hips as he engages with Johnson, just like he did on his 19-yard run in the 2nd quarter. Unfortunately, he’s unable to shed the tackle and get the critical 1st down.

Stats: 15 carries, 78 yards, 1 catch, 2 yards

Overall Grade: A

This was a very impressive performance by Jay Ajayi. From what I saw, there really weren’t any noticeable mistakes that Ajayi made throughout the game. He was constantly hitting the correct running lanes and finishing runs by lowering his shoulder and falling forward. He didn’t miss any pass blocking assignments or drop any passes. You can start to see him getting more comfortable and decisive with the offensive plays each week. With Carson Wentz now gone for the rest of the season, Ajayi is most likely going to play a very integral role in the offense as the Eagles would be wise to lean heavily on the running game.