Matt Bowen's NFL Week 2 Film Study

Every Thursday, former NFL defensive back Matt Bowen brings you his film study: a breakdown of the league from multiple angles.

1st-and-10

Here are 10 thoughts from a scheme and matchup perspective as we look ahead to the Week 2 schedule in the NFL.

1. Le’Veon Bell vs. Ravens Sub-Package Defense

After watching the Week 1 tape, I would expect the Steelers to attack the Ravens sub-package fronts with Bell on the inside zone, split-zone and the quick, “slip” draw scheme out of one-back alignments.

The Pittsburgh running back showed excellent quickness and vision in the win over the Browns last Sunday, and his open-field ability caught me by surprise.

Bell has the footwork to win in the open field, and he can find cutback room once he gets to the second level of the defense.

Here’s a look at Bell’s touchdown run off the “slip” draw with Posse/11 personnel on the field (3WR-1TE-1RB).

Credit: NFL Game Rewind

As you can see, Bell shows some patience and then accelerates once he finds a running lane before setting up defenders down the field.

Todd Haley’s call sheet featured a variety of schemes in Week 1, but I would expect for Bell to get some work early on Thursday night versus the Baltimore defense when the Steelers have numbers up front.

2. Two-Deep Coverage vs. Julio Jones

The Bengals played some Cover 2 last week, but how will they game-plan for Matt Ryan and Jones this Sunday?

Back in Week 1, the Saints used a “cloud” coverage (think Cover 2) versus Jones with the cornerback forcing the Falcons receiver to take an inside release. However, the coverage was soft and the Falcons exposed the Saints secondary with a safety rolled over the top of Jones.

This is the deep 7 cut (corner route) with the cornerback getting a jam on Jones and free safety Jairus Byrd rolling over the top (“cloud”).

Credit: NFL Game Rewind

With the cornerback squatting in the flat (instead of sinking under the 7), and Byrd giving up a 12-yard cushion in the deep half, this is too easy for Ryan to identify his No. 1 option on the outside breaking route.

The Bengals safeties have to challenge Jones in the deep half (shorten their depth) and drive on the 7, dig and post if they want to sit back in Cover 2 versus the Falcons No. 1 wide receiver.

3. Vikings FS Harrison Smith vs. Patriots

This Vikings defense plays fast under Mike Zimmer with its multiple coverage looks (Cover 2, Quarters, three-deep), pressure packages and a front four that can get home.

Plus, this scheme is an ideal fit for Harrison when he drops down into the box, rolls to the seam in zone pressure or blitzes an edge-rusher.

Looking ahead to the Week 2 matchup with the Patriots, keep an eye on the pre-snap disguise from the Vikings defense when it brings zone pressure versus Tom Brady.

This is an example with Smith dropping down to the open-side seam flat and the Vikings showing double A-gap pressure at the snap versus the Rams.

Credit: NFL Game Rewind

The Vikings drop to a three-deep, three-under zone shell (rush five) and Smith baits the quarterback into throwing the shallow drive route. This allows the safety to break on the throw, make the play and take this ball back for six points.

Let’s see how Zimmer utilizes the safety versus the Patriots on Sunday in early down-and-distance situations to apply pressure against an offensive line that struggled in Week 1.

4. Julius Thomas vs. Eric Berry in the Red Zone

When Julius Thomas is aligned on the backside of a 3x1 formation in the red zone (“Dakota”), safeties have to play for the slant (3x1 is an automatic alter to backside slant in the NFL).

This is one of the top red-zone concepts for the Broncos (with a frontside “tare” combination), and it continues to show up on the film.

Here’s the 3x1 slant from the Week 1 matchup against the Colts with safety LaRon Landry in coverage versus Thomas.

Credit: NFL Game Rewind

Thomas uses a quick outside stem (forces Landry to play for the fade release) and creates inside leverage to run the slant versus zero-man (no help in the middle of the field).

Going back to 2013, Thomas beat Berry on the same route (with almost an identical stem off the release). Berry has to take away the slant by alignment (inside shade), stay square/mirror versus the initial stem and win at the point of attack to play the pocket.

That’s tough work for a safety in coverage versus the size and skill set of Thomas with no immediate help inside.

5. 49ers Personnel/Formations in the Run Game vs. Bears

The Bears defense struggled to limit the Bills running game in their Week 1 loss, and they should expect the 49ers offense to test them early in the two-back power game.

With the 49ers, they will mix their personnel/alignment to create angles and matchups in the run game to win at the point of attack. That will show up with the Power O, Wham and Lead.

Last week versus the Cowboys, the 49ers brought Regular/21 personnel in the game (2WR-1TE-2RB) and aligned in an unbalanced front (tackle over) to create a matchup on the edge.

Credit: NFL Game Rewind

This allowed the 49ers to kick out the defensive end, pull the backside guard and wash down the linebacker/defensive tackle with size at the point of attack (down blocks).

And the result was an explosive play for running back Frank Gore.

Look for the 49ers to scheme the Bears 4-3 Over and Under fronts in the run game to force the safeties to tackle at the second level on Sunday night.

6. Nick Foles and the Eagles “999” Route

With the threat of LeSean McCoy and the Eagles run game, Foles could see some more three-deep and Cover 1 this Monday night versus the Colts defense.

And that will allow Foles to work the mesh point play action while targeting the No. 3 receiver on the “999” route.

This is a concept that shows up often (Four Verticals/999) in Chip Kelly’s offense out of both Posse/11 and Ace/12 (2WR-2TE-1RB) personnel in a Slot Open formation (trips to open side of the formation).

Looking back at the Week 1 win over the Jaguars, Foles hit Jordan Matthews versus Cover 3 with the receiver stemming his route back to the opposite hash marks.

Credit: NFL Game Rewind

With the closed-side tight end (attached to the core of the formation) widening the cornerback, and the inside seam occupying the free safety in the deep middle of the field, Matthews can stem this route across the field over the top of the middle-hook defender in Cover 3.

The tape from Week 1 told the story on Foles as he struggled to find his open reads while leaving some points on the field.

However, there will be opportunities versus the Colts defense when Foles can execute the core concepts in Kelly’s playbook once the Eagles establish the run game.

7. Marshawn Lynch vs. Chargers Front Seven

Think of the Lead, Power O, inside zone, split-zone, stretch and the opportunities for Lynch to find cutback lanes or press the hole off the option scheme with Russell Wilson reading the edge defender.

Check out the two-back stretch versus the Packers with the fullback leading up to the inside linebacker to create a running lane for Lynch on an explosive gain.

Credit: NFL Game Rewind

This Seattle offense under Darrell Bevell is multiple because of Wilson’s skill set and the matchups Percy Harvin can create. But at the core of this playbook is Lynch’s ability to wear out defensive fronts in the run game.

On Sunday, we get to find out if the Chargers defense can match the physicality of the Seahawks and Lynch versus these base running schemes.

8. Cardinals Pressure Defense vs. Eli Manning

I loved the game plan from Cardinals defensive coordinator Todd Bowles on Monday night during the win over the Chargers.

This defense was aggressive in blitz packages, and they went after quarterback Philip Rivers with interior A- and B-gap pressure when they had a chance to close out the game.

This is what Rivers saw in the final Chargers offensive series with the Cardinals sending seven-man pressure (peel on the running back) and the secondary playing blitz-man technique (inside shade/no safety help).

Credit: NFL Game Rewind

With a “banjo” technique to the closed-side stack alignment (in and out coverage), the Cardinals can play the inside levels concept (Hi-Lo read) and force the ball to come out.

Given that the Giants offensive front struggled in the loss to the Lions in Week 1, look for Bowles to dial up even more pressure versus Eli Manning as the quarterback continues to adjust to a new playbook.

That means more zero-pressure looks with cornerbacks Patrick Peterson and Antonio Cromartie playing blitz-man on the outside.

9. Matthew Stafford and Calvin Johnson vs. Panthers Defense

The Panthers can play Cover 2 this Sunday versus Stafford and the Lions offense because of their front four.

With a deep rotation up front—including ends Greg Hardy and Charles Johnson—the Carolina defense can drop seven into coverage and put a tent on top of the secondary.

However, the technique is key in the Panthers secondary when Detroit aligns Calvin Johnson in the slot to push the deep-half safety vertically up the field.

Here’s an example from the Lions' win over the Giants with Stafford finding Golden Tate on the deep 9 route.

Credit: NFL Game Rewind

Look at the cornerback rolled down versus Tate. He fails to get a jam on Tate (allowing an outside release) while Johnson forces the free safety to open his hips on the inside seam (safety has to stay square).

That’s an easy read for Stafford to target the outside 9 route with the safety now open to the quarterback and the corner trailing Tate up the sideline.

The Panthers have to collapse the pocket versus Stafford (while keeping contain) and lean on their technique in the secondary to limit the big plays from the Lions offense.

10. Randall Cobb vs. Rex Ryan 

With extra time to prep for the Jets defense, the Packers should have opportunities to create matchups for Cobb from an inside-the-numbers alignment.

Here’s an example from Week 1 with the Packers running the levels concept versus the Seahawks 3 Buzz coverage.

Credit: NFL Game Rewind

The tight end occupies the underneath defenders (linebacker and safety) with Cobb stemming this route to the deep hole in the front of Kam Chancellor.

If the Jets want to pressure Aaron Rodgers, then the sight-adjust slant and stick-out are options. And if Ryan wants to play more coverage, then look for the intermediate concepts that target both zone and man schemes with Cobb working the middle of the field.

The point here is to get Cobb the ball in favorable matchups versus the New York defense where he can produce after the catch. 

Week 2 Chalk Talk

49ers Read-Option vs. Bears 4-3 Over Front

Every week, we will break down a specific scheme up on the whiteboard to give you a look at personnel, execution and technique at the NFL level. Today, I drew up the 49ers read-option scheme (2-Back Pistol) versus the Bears 4-3 Over front. 

Week 2 Film Terminology

To give you a better understanding of the terminology used in the NFL, we will talk about personnel groupings, concepts, formations or specific techniques every Thursday to get you ready for the games.

“Pony” Alignment

“Pony” alignment is a defensive term used to identify two tailbacks in the game. This can apply to any two-back personnel grouping (Tank/22, Houston/20, Regular/21) with the offense usually showing a split-back look.

On Monday night in the Chargers-Cardinals matchup, Ryan Mathews scored on the old-school fullback “belly” dive out of a “Pony” alignment with Tank/22 personnel on the field (1WR-2TE-2RB).

This is a look at the backfield set with Mathews at fullback (F) and Donald Brown aligned at the tailback position (R).

Credit: NFL Game Rewind

This allows the Chargers to run the "belly" dive (with Brown showing the “flip” action) to get production out of the fullback position on a short-yardage situation. Put a tailback in the game (more speed, vision) and run a basic scheme.

Here’s how it played out with Mathews taking the dive to the end zone for six points.

Credit: NFL Game Rewind

Five Players to Watch in Week 2 

1. J.J. Watt, DE, Texans

Watt was unblockable at times in Week 1, and I’m curious to see how the Raiders game-plan to limit the defensive end’s production this Sunday.

Credit: NFL Game Rewind

Whether he is aligned inside in a “2i” technique (inside shoulder of the guard), as a 5-technique defensive end or on the edge in the Texans sub-packages, Watt’s power and technique at the point of the attack continue to create stress for opposing offenses.

The Raiders will have to use some six-man (or seven-man) protection schemes versus Watt to protect rookie quarterback Derek Carr in passing situations.

2. Desmond Trufant, CB, Falcons

Trufant has the coverage skills, transition speed and footwork to play both press and off-man outside of the numbers. And he has the tape to back it up.

But can the Falcons cornerback limit Bengals wide receiver A.J. Green this Sunday?

Green showcased his vertical speed last week versus the Ravens, and we know he is a smooth route-runner who accelerates out of his breaks to create separation back to the football.

Let’s find out if Trufant can mix up his techniques (press, bail, taxi) and make some plays versus one of the league’s top wide receivers.

3. Sammy Watkins, WR, Bills

The rookie wide receiver displayed the footwork and burst out of his cuts that we saw on his college tape when running the quick option route, deep dig and the curl in the Bills' win over the Bears.

Nam Y. Huh/Associated Press

However, can the Bills get the rookie more involved in the game plan this week versus the Dolphins?

I would look for the bubble screen (packaged read), the shallow drive route and more opportunities on deep, inside breaking cuts.

That’s where he can really showcase his skill set and explosive talent after the catch. 

4. Giovani Bernard, RB, Bengals

Bernard is a good fit for Hue Jackson’s offense because the scheme caters to his abilities out of spread looks.

The running back can makes plays as a receiver out of the backfield on the rail/swing route, produce in the screen game and showcase his speed through the hole in the one-back zone schemes.

Jackson was creative in the Week 1 game plan with Bernard (removed from the backfield on the missile/middle screen) and used pre-snap motion to get Bernard in matchups he could win in the passing game.

With Jackson’s playbook, Bernard should be in a position to produce again this week versus the Falcons.

5. Ryan Tannehill, QB, Dolphins

I expect Tannehill to be quicker with his reads and show the ability to make more plays in Bill Lazor’s offense in Week 2.

Last Sunday, the Dolphins dressed up the swap boot (a concept in Chip Kelly’s playbook) to beat the Patriots Cover 1 look for a touchdown.

Credit: NFL Game Rewind

Whether that is throwing the Hi-Lo concepts, the inside seams or producing off the packaged plays in Lazor’s system, we should look for a progression here from the Dolphins quarterback.

Let’s see how the Miami game plan advances versus the Bills in Week 2 with a focus on Tannehill’s development in the new system.

Seven-year NFL veteran Matt Bowen is an NFL National Lead Writer for Bleacher Report. 

Follow @MattBowen41