Tale of the Tape for NFL Week 12
Throughout the 2014 regular season, former NFL defensive back Matt Bowen will bring you an X's-and-O's look at the pro game. Here are his five key plays from the Week 12 Sunday NFL schedule.
Tony Romo Finds Dez Bryant in the End Zone to Beat the Giants
With an opportunity to put the ball in the end zone on Sunday night to beat the New York Giants, Romo had the luxury to move in the pocket behind his offensive line, while Bryant worked the back of the end zone to get open on a classic “scramble drill.”
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Here’s a look at how the play unfolded with the Dallas Cowboys using five-man protection to shut down the Giants' front-four rush in a crucial game situation.
Personnel: Posse/11 (3WR-1TE-1RB)
Formation: Empty
Offensive Concept: Smash-7
Defensive Scheme: Cover 1
The Giants initially take away the deep 7- (corner) route to Bryant with Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie maintaining his outside-leverage position versus the release and stem of the Cowboys wide receiver. That’s the exact technique you want to see as the cornerback rolls through the break with help in the middle of the field (single-high safety).
However, when this play “breaks down,” defensive backs have to “plaster” to their coverage while using the end line as their help. That’s a tough spot for any defensive back when the quarterback can buy time or stand in the pocket because of the protection up front.
Look at the blocking from the Cowboys offensive line as Romo can step up, slide, pump, etc. while his receivers work away from leverage and find room to separate in the secondary.
The Cowboys win their one-on-one matchups (with a double on the nose) and give Romo an enormous amount of time (almost seven seconds) to scan the field as Bryant starts to work the end line.
This turns into a playground route. Get open. That’s it.
Even if the defensive backs “plaster” to their coverage and use a “basketball technique” on the end line (face up the receiver), that’s a long time to chase after a wideout.
Bryant works the end line here and eventually separates from Rodgers-Cromartie as Romo finds the receiver for the game-winning score. But it started up front for the Cowboys. And that’s been the story all season in Dallas on the offensive side of the ball.
Peyton Manning, Broncos Execute the “Pick” Route vs. Dolphins
Every offense in the NFL runs a “pick” (or “rub”) route inside of the deep red zone (plus 10-yard line) to create room to the flat from a bunch or 2x2 formation. But is there a team that runs the concept better than the Denver Broncos with Manning on the sprint action?
Let’s break down Manning’s touchdown pass to Wes Welker on the rub route (flat-7) with Demaryius Thomas taking a inside stem at the release to create traffic during the Broncos' comeback win over the Miami Dolphins.
Personnel: Posse/11 (3WR-1TE-1RB)
Formation: Doubles Gun Far
Offensive Concept: Flat-7 (Pick)
Defensive Scheme: Zero-Pressure
“Pick” routes in the NFL are technically “illegal,” but if the wide receiver sells the release and stem, these will never get called in the red zone. And that’s what we see here from the Broncos out of a 2x2 formation with an offset back (sprint alert) to the open (weak) side of the formation.
With the Dolphins showing zero-pressure (or Cover 0), the Broncos will move the pocket (sprint action) and seal the edge of the formation (running-back block). This allows Manning to get to the edge of the pocket to create a throwing angle to target Welker in the flat.
Outside, Thomas takes a hard, inside release/stem to run the 7- (corner) route. However, that stem is designed to “pick” defensive back Jimmy Wilson in the slot. Thomas has to sell the stem and then push the route up the field, but the idea is to force Wilson to slide underneath the “pick” or bubble over the top while allowing Welker to separate to the flat.
With the Broncos moving the pocket off the sprint action (and the running back sealing the edge), the Dolphins' zero-blitz isn’t going to get home. This gives Manning time for the route (and the “pick”) to develop to the open side of the formation.
Looking at the “pick,” Wilson hesitates and is forced to duck under the stem of Thomas. That creates immediate separation for Welker as he establishes leverage to run the flat route.
Wilson tries to recover on this route, but the Dolphins defensive back rounds his angle to the ball and can’t get back in-phase versus Welker. That allows Manning to toss his fourth touchdown pass of the day in a game he took over in the fourth quarter.
Shaun Hill Gives One Away in the Red Zone vs. Chargers
After throwing a nice ball on the deep 7-route to Kenny Britt to set up a scoring opportunity inside of the 5-yard line, Shaun Hill had a chance to close out the San Diego Chargers with just over a minute to play.
However, with the Chargers playing Cover 1 (or man-free), the St. Louis Rams quarterback locked onto an underneath crossing route while failing to read the backside safety.
Here’s a look at Marcus Gilchrist’s interception that won the game for the Chargers on a throw we shouldn’t see from a veteran quarterback given the game situation and the field position.
Personnel: Regular/21 (2WR-1TE-2RB)
Formation: Slot Open (Motion to Bunch)
Offensive Concept: Shallow Drive Route
Defensive Scheme: Cover 1 (man-free)
As I said above, the Chargers are playing man-free. Nothing complicated here with the free safety in the middle of the field and the defensive backs/linebacker playing at different depths versus the bunch formation (press the point) to avoid the pick/rub off the snap.
With Britt coming underneath on the shallow drive route (underneath crossing route), the Rams are looking for the wide receiver to gain inside leverage versus Cover 1.
However, check out Gilchrist to the closed side of the formation. The Chargers’ strong safety is playing man coverage versus the tight end. If the tight end blocks, Gilchrist can use a “green dog” technique (rush to coverage) or drop as a robber/rover with his eyes on the quarterback.
With the free safety occupied over the top (seam route), and Britt working away from the defender’s leverage on the shallow drive route, Hill locks on to the underneath concept.
This allows Gilchrist (playing as a “rover”) to sink (or “zone-up”) versus the tight end block with his eyes on the quarterback.
This is a classic example of a defensive back “lying in the weeds” as Hill fails to read the safety to the backside of the formation. That creates an opportunity for Gilchrist to jump this throw and undercut the route.
Poor read for Hill and a smart play from Gilchrist to “look for work” once the tight end blocks.
Carlos Hyde’s Game-Winner on the Zone Read
The San Francisco 49ers struggled to produce numbers on the ground versus the Washington Redskins on Sunday (66 yards rushing). But with a chance to take the lead late in the fourth quarter, Hyde found the end zone on the zone read.
Here’s a look at the option concept with a focus on the inside dive that created a one-on-one situation for Hyde coming downhill versus the free safety in the alley.
Personnel: Posse/11 (3WR-1TE0-1RB)
Formation: Slot Open (Gun Far)
Offensive Concept: Zone Read
Defensive Scheme: Cover 1
Let’s pick this up at the mesh point (quarterback-running back exchange) with Colin Kaepernick “reading” the path of the edge defender (linebacker Ryan Kerrigan) out of a Slot Open formation (trips to the open side of the field).
With Kerrigan staying up the field, Kaepernick hands off to Hyde on the dive (inside zone) as right guard Alex Boone works up the second level on the zone-blocking scheme versus linebacker Perry Riley.
That creates an inside running lane for Hyde to push the ball through the hole with free safety Ryan Clark in a position to fill the alley.
With the 49ers completely washing down the Redskins defensive front (and Boone clearing Riley out of the second-level running lane), Hyde can attack downhill versus Clark.
The issue here for the Redskins free safety on contact? Look at the head placement. When tackling a back with the size and power of Hyde, defenders must get their head across on contact.
With Clark failing to get his head across on the tackle, Hyde explodes through the hit and doesn’t break stride, and he takes this ball into the end zone.
Powerful run from the rookie out of Ohio State on the game-winning score, but it’s also an example that points to defensive technique when tackling running backs in the NFL.
Tom Brady, Patriots Catch the Lions in Cover 2
Last week, Bill Belichick’s team leaned on the power run game to whip the Indianapolis Colts up front. However, on Sunday, it was Brady (349 yards, two touchdowns) and the passing game that took center stage as the New England Patriots rolled through the Lions’ top-ranked defense for their seventh straight win.
Let’s break down Brady’s touchdown pass to Tim Wright versus the Detroit Lions' two-deep coverage inside of the red zone.
Personnel: Ace/12 (2WR-2TE-1RB)
Formation: Slot Open
Offensive Concept: Smash-Seam
Defensive Scheme: Cover 2
This is a check from the Lions as they roll to Cover 2 at the snap (safeties drop to the deep half). That’s a common check (or adjustment) in the NFL with defenses dropping to two-deep based on offensive alignment.
With the Patriots in a Slot Open formation out of Ace/12 personnel, Wright is aligned as the No. 3 receiver (count outside-in) to the open side of the formation on the smash-seam concept.
This allows the Patriots to run the tight up the seam with the "Mike" linebacker carrying the route. The idea is to split the safeties while creating a one-on-one matchup versus the linebacker.
In Cover 2, the linebacker is coached to “open” to the passing strength. Here, that is the open side (or trips side) of the formation. However, as you can see from the end-zone angle, the Mike ‘backer opens to the closed side of the formation.
With the Mike ‘backer squatting underneath, Brady now has a clear throwing window to target Wright as he works up the seam.
Looking at the finish, Wright splits the safeties on the seam route for six points as the linebacker fails to carry the tight end up the field.
It’s tough enough to defend Brady and this Patriots offense when you play with the technique of the scheme. Can’t give him a free one in the red zone.
One More…
I can't wrap this post up without mentioning Odell Beckham Jr.’s grab versus the Cowboys on Sunday night. That was a ridiculous catch. Filthy stuff…
Seven-year NFL veteran Matt Bowen is an NFL National Lead Writer for Bleacher Report.
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