Matt Bowen's Week 11 NFL Film Study

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

Five Matchups to Watch in Week 11

1. T.Y. Hilton vs. Darrelle Revis

Think matchups and defensive personnel groupings once again with Bill Belichick’s game plan this Sunday night versus Andrew Luck and the Indianapolis Colts.

I like the idea of Revis vs. Hilton with the Patriots mixing their matchups across the board to account for Reggie Wayne and tight end Dwayne Allen (look for Brandon Browner to see time versus both players) out of their base sub-package and “penny” personnel (4CB-1FS). 

But I’m more focused on Revis if he gets the majority of the snaps versus Hilton because of the wide receiver’s ability to produce explosive plays over the top and also work away from leverage on the underneath crossing routes.

Credit: NFL Game Rewind

That’s when you will see Hilton isolated as the backside X in a 3x1 formation or inside the numbers on the Hi-Lo concepts with the Colts clearing out the closed (strong) side of the formation.

Create space for the wide receiver on a quick, underneath read for Luck that allows the Colts to expose opposing defenses because of Hilton’s speed/acceleration after the catch.

What do you want to watch for in this matchup? The release. That’s where Revis can use his footwork, hands and hip flexibility to impact the release and stay close to the hip of Hilton. He can’t allow separation and expect to recover versus Hilton.

2. Clay Matthews vs. Jason Peters

Focus on the rare athletic ability of Peters versus the speed and countermoves from Matthews at the point of attack when the Green Bay Packers bring their sub-package on the field this Sunday.

Here’s an example of that speed from Matthews with the linebacker using the quick, inside stutter to set up the Chicago Bears’ Jermon Bushrod before attacking the edge, turning the corner and throwing quarterback Jay Cutler to the ground.

Credit: NFL Game Rewind

If the Packers want to slow down the Philadelphia Eagles, they must generate edge pressure and create a muddy pocket for Mark Sanchez. Green Bay can’t allow Sanchez to maneuver in the pocket while working the seams, the crossing routes, etc., in Chip Kelly’s system.

I thought Sanchez played at a high level in the win over the Carolina Panthers because of his ability to slide (or step up) when he felt pressure while exposing matchups in the secondary versus Cover 1.

Let’s see if Matthews can win versus one of the top offensive tackles in the NFL to collapse that pocket up at Lambeau Field.

3. Travis Kelce vs. Seahawks Secondary

I spent time this week digging through Kansas City Chiefs tape to find some explosive plays in the passing game. And there isn’t much out there in the last four ballgames if you are looking at true vertical opportunities outside of a fade route or quick double move.

I expect Andy Reid to stick with his core West Coast concepts versus the Seattle Seahawks, but Alex Smith isn’t going to challenge Pete Carroll’s secondary throwing the hitch route to Dwayne Bowe off play action. That’s not going to cut it.

From my perspective, the Chiefs have to create opportunities for tight end Travis Kelce versus the Seahawks' single-high safety defenses (Cover 1, Cover 3). It’s time to feed the big man and let him eat in matchups he can win.

Here’s an example from Week 9 with Kelce removed as the backside X receiver (Dakota or X iso formation) with Ace/12 personnel (2WR-2TE-1RB) on the field.

Credit: NFL Game Rewind

All we are looking at here is a clear-out concept with the No. 1 receiver running off the cornerback and the tight end to the closed side of the formation occupying the free safety in the deep middle of the field. Clear out the top of the secondary and create a window to target Kelce where he can use his size/frame at the point of attack.

The way I see it, the Chiefs can use combination routes like this and flip the formation (get Kelce matched up versus Byron Maxwell) or align the tight end in the slot to work the seam versus three-deep zone looks.

Bottom line: The Chiefs should game-plan specifically to use Kelce versus the Seahawks secondary and utilize his skill set. That’s the ticket to picking up chunks of yardage in this offense.

4. Ndamukong Suh vs. Cardinals Interior Offensive Linemen

I fully expect the Cardinals to be just as aggressive from a play-calling perspective with Drew Stanton taking over for Carson Palmer, but can offensive guards Ted Larson and Paul Fanaika handle Suh in both the run and pass game?

The interior of the Cardinals offensive line struggled versus the St. Louis Rams, and it’s not going to get any easier with the Detroit Lions coming out to the desert this Sunday. This is a nasty, physical defensive front with speed on the edge and the size inside to generate a push up the field.

Here’s an example from the Lions' Week 10 win over the Miami Dolphins as Suh showcases his strength/power at the point of attack to expose a one-on-one matchup on his way to recording a sack.

Credit: NFL Game Rewind

There are plenty of quality matchups in this game (Patrick Peterson vs. Calvin Johnson), but my focus is going to start up front with Suh and the rest of the talent the Lions have on that defensive line.

Stanton has proved already this season that he can produce and win games, but let’s find out how the backup quarterback responds if the Lions can get home with four while playing coverage in the secondary.

5. Frank Gore and Carlos Hyde vs. Giants 

After watching tape of the Seahawks produce 350 yards on the ground versus the New York Giants, should there be any question about the San Francisco 49ers' game plan this Sunday when they travel to New York?

Yes, I would add some read-option for Colin Kaepernick after watching Russell Wilson expose the Giants’ edge defenders consistently in the option scheme. But the goal here is pretty simple: Win up front, and get the ball to both Gore and Hyde.

The 49ers' game plan did have more of that old-school feel to it last week versus the New Orleans Saints, and they used formation and alignment to dress up some base power schemes like the Counter OF (pull front-side guard, H-Back/Y).

Credit: NFL Game Rewind

I understand the need to have a balanced call sheet in the NFL, but the 49ers should force the Giants to prove they can limit the read-option and the power-/zone-running game. Attack the front seven and find out if the Giants have made the proper corrections to close the edge. 

This is the type of game where Gore should be featured early with Hyde also getting some carries out of the gun.  

Five Players to Watch in Week 11

1. Rob Gronkowski, TE, Patriots

I’m really interested to see how the Colts game-plan Gronkowski on Sunday night because I don’t see many answers out there on the tape right now.

The Patriots tight end is consistently winning on the release, running through the jam and using his strength to create leverage on the intermediate square-in, corner route (red-zone concept) and the inside vertical seam. Plus, as you can see below, the Patriots and Tom Brady will use play action (with counter protection) to create inside throwing windows to target the tight end.

Credit: NFL Game Rewind

Cover 1 and Quarters have been a bust the last couple of games versus Gronkowski, so let’s find out if the Colts show some combo coverages to either bracket the tight end (based on down and distance) or utilize a linebacker to reroute at the line of scrimmage.

I just don’t see the positives in asking your safeties to check Gronkowski for four quarters. That’s a matchup advantage for New England. There has to be more.

2. Aldon Smith, OLB, 49ers

We don’t know how many reps Smith will see in his first game back, but the overall impact will show in the 49ers' defensive game plan if the rush linebacker can get home to the quarterback.

Marcio Jose Sanchez/Associated Press

That takes stress off the secondary and allows the 49ers to play more base looks (think Cover 4, Cover 3) while also using specific coverages to take away a slot receiver or roll the safeties. There are plenty of options from a game-planning perspective when you don’t have to lean on blitz pressure to hit the quarterback.

Can the 49ers get Smith on the field this Sunday versus the Giants on third downs? Again, the reps should be limited, but his return to the field is still a major upgrade for the defensive front in San Francisco.

3. Andy Dalton, QB, Bengals

The film on Dalton from last Thursday night’s loss to the Cleveland Browns is pretty rough. The Bengals quarterback was very inaccurate with the ball, he made poor reads and I thought he looked panicked at times.

Here’s an example with Dalton sailing the ball in the middle of the field on a throw that should have resulted in a basket interception.

Credit: NFL Game Rewind

That’s bad football, and it has to improve (quickly) if the Bengals want to pick up a win this weekend down in New Orleans. Dalton can’t miss on deep-ball opportunities (like we saw versus the Browns), and he has to be much more accurate with the ball inside of the numbers.

I like how A.J. Green and Mohamed Sanu match up versus the Saints secondary, but Dalton has to give them a chance to make plays. Let’s see if the quarterback can improve this week.

4. Ryan Mallett, QB, Texans

Without any real tape to study on Mallett, I’m just as curious as you are to see what he can do for the Houston Texans this Sunday versus the Browns.

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From my perspective, this is all about the opportunity in front of Mallett. We all know he has a big arm, but can he manage the game plan, make some plays in crucial situations and protect the football?

The Texans have talent at the wide receiver position, and I expect Bill O’Brien’s team to lean on the run game with Arian Foster (if healthy) or rookie Alfred Blue. But it still comes back to production and the decision-making at the quarterback position for Houston.

5. Jordan Matthews, WR, Eagles

If the Packers do play more Cover 1 to account for LeSean McCoy in the running game (drop a safety down), keep an eye on Matthews inside of the numbers. The rookie won a number of matchups versus the Panthers on the shallow drive route, the intermediate crosser, the quick angle route, etc.

And he is playing really fast on the tape.

Here’s a quick look at Sanchez targeting Matthews on the boot action in the red zone with the rookie working back across the field (away from the defender’s leverage) to finish the play for six points.

Credit: NFL Game Rewind

Plus, we can’t forget about Matthews running the inside vertical in the Eagles' 2x2 and 3x1 alignments with Sanchez using play action to open up second-level throwing windows. Those are quick reads that allow the rookie to stack and separate versus defensive backs versus both Cover 1 and Cover 2.

10 Quick Takeaways from the Week 10 Film

1. If you want to see how the crack block works in the run game, check out Darren Sproles’ touchdown Monday night on the outside stretch scheme. The cornerback has to replace on the edge once the wide receiver blocks down (or cracks) on the defensive end.

2. Where was the reroute (or jam) on Jordy Nelson’s 40-yard touchdown catch versus the Bears' Cover 2 shell? Tim Jennings gave the Packers wide receiver a free release. That’s trouble for the deep-half safety versus Aaron Rodgers.

Tom Lynn/Getty Images

3. If you were curious about Mark Barron’s role under Gregg Williams in St. Louis, the tape tells the story. Barron is going to blitz—a lot.

4. Cary Williams gave Kelvin Benjamin a free one on the deep post for a score. The veteran cornerback took a false step, opened the gate on the release and looked back for the ball. That’s a nightmare from a technique perspective.

5. The Chiefs caught the Buffalo Bills on fourth down when they called the running back “flip” play to Jamaal Charles (fake the fullback belly, pitch to the running back). With the edge defender crashing down at the snap and the receiver running off the cornerback, Charles had a soft edge to attack before utilizing his speed and cutback ability to produce a score.

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6. Giants rookie wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. gets better every week. Check out the double move he ran on Richard Sherman when you get a chance. Win on the release, sell the stutter and then stack to finish versus one of the best corners in the game. 

7. Take a look at Justin Forsett’s second touchdown run versus the Tennessee Titans, and focus on his quick jump-cut in the hole and the acceleration to get up the field. That’s how you create running room in the NFL off the zone scheme.

8. You better be strong if you want to line up versus Dez Bryant. And those arm tackles in the open field aren’t going to get it done. The Jacksonville Jaguars secondary couldn’t handle the Dallas Cowboys wide receiver.

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9. I really liked the technique from 49ers safety Antoine Bethea on his interception versus Drew Brees. Playing in a Quarters technique, Bethea drove to the hip of receiver Marques Colston and then got his eyes back to the quarterback. That’s why you don’t look for the ball until you are in phase with the receiver.

10. Brian Hoyer’s pass to tight end Gary Barnidge in the red zone was one of the best throws of Week 10. Off the fake bubble screen, Hoyer put the ball on the back shoulder with a safety in a trail position underneath. That’s an aggressive (and confident) throw.

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

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