Play Action Key to Brian Hoyer's Success in Week 6 Win over Pittsburgh

Raise your hand if you thought the Cleveland Browns would have a top-10 offense after five games. Now raise your hand if you thought Brian Hoyer would be the fourth-ranked quarterback. Maybe the only man who could raise his hand in either scenario is offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan. He has Cleveland playing at an elite level because of the play-action pass.

The Browns invested heavily in their run game this past offseason. They signed Ben Tate to a two-year, $7 million contract, spent a second-round draft pick on Terrance West and acquired Isaiah Crowell as an undrafted free agent.

They also invested in the offensive line. They matched the five-year, $42 million offer sheet for center Alex Mack, signed elite utility man Paul McQuistan and used a second-round pick on Joel Bitonio. All of that has built the fourth-ranked run offense and has the passing game clicking on all cylinders as well.

When your offense can move the ball at will on the ground, then defenses must pay extra attention every time the quarterback approaches the running back in the backfield. That opens the door for the basis of Shanahan’s passing strategy, and the Browns do the play-action pass as well as anyone in the NFL right now.

According to Pat McManamon of ESPN.com, on Sunday Hoyer threw eight passes out of play action. Of those passes he was 5-of-8 for 179 yards and a touchdown. When he threw regular dropback passes he was just 3-of-9 for 38 yards. Hoyer lives and dies by the play-action pass.

Let’s take a look at the three biggest plays in the Browns' best quarter Sunday. In the second quarter where they outscored the Pittsburgh Steelers 21-0, the Browns had passing plays of 51, 42 and 24 yards. Each was set up by the play-action pass.

Play 1

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With 12:15 to play in the first half and the Browns trailing by three, they were driving into Pittsburgh territory looking for their first score. Hoyer will fake the handoff to Crowell and have three passing routes to choose from.

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Tight end Jordan Cameron releases off the line and runs directly across the field toward the opposite sideline. The play-action freezes the corner at the bottom right of the screen and pulls Troy Polamalu toward the line of scrimmage just a few steps.

As Travis Benjamin comes across the field Polamalu tries to recover on his route, and it also draws the deep safety as well. Benjamin pulls the attention of three different defenders, and that allows Cameron to run free.

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Hoyer recognizes the breakdown in coverage and throws to Cameron. Even though he has to wait for the pass he still has nearly a six-yard cushion between him and the nearest defender. This went for 42 yards and set up a touchdown on the very next play.

Play 2

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Once again the Browns are going to run a play-action pass. This time the Browns have a two-tight end set to the right side of the line that will give Hoyer two different routes to choose from. Cameron will run directly up the seam while the outside receiver will run an out route near the bottom sideline.

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When Hoyer fakes the handoff to Tate, it sucks both safeties down toward the line of scrimmage. Even though it only draws them down a step or two it is just enough for Cameron to get inside position on his defender.

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Cameron is a matchup nightmare for defensive coordinators, and any time he has a corner defending him one-on-one in a vertical route, Hoyer will throw the ball his way. This time Hoyer throws a perfect pass up the seam and allows Cameron to catch the ball without slowing.

Troy Polamalu can’t even get within five yards of Cameron before the ball arrives, and Cameron is off to the races. This went for a 51-yard touchdown and gave the Browns a 14-3 lead.

Play 3

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Once again the Browns will be running a play-action pass, and this time they have a receiver split wide to each side of the field. Benjamin will run a streak down the bottom sideline, and Taylor Gabriel will run a crossing route about 20 yards downfield.

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When Hoyer fakes the handoff to Crowell it sucks down both safeties, and this time it even sucks down the linebacker who is supposed to cover the underneath part of Gabriel’s route. This will leave the deep corner as the only person trailing Gabriel.

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With the deep corner not able to recover under Gabriel it is a wide-open pitch-and-catch from Hoyer. The two defenders who were sucked toward the line of scrimmage are more than five yards away from where the football is delivered.

This pass went for 24 yards on the second play of the drive, and it put the Browns offense at midfield. You can see how effective the running game of the Browns is at setting up Hoyer and his receivers.

As long as they can continue to move the ball on the ground they should have success through the air as well. Opponents will have to continue to load the box to try to limit the Browns running backs, and that will leave plenty of space to do damage over the top.