How Josh Gordon Tore Apart the Atlanta Falcons in Week 12
The Cleveland Browns offense looked rejuvenated on Sunday because it finally had its show pony back on the field. With wide receiver Josh Gordon in the fold the Browns scored 26 points and got their seventh win of the season. His immediate production and impact was as much a product of game planning as it was his natural talent.
He reeled in eight catches for 120 yards and made one of the biggest plays of the game on the Browns’ final drive. It seemed baffling the Atlanta Falcons would allow him to be so open so often but maybe they just couldn’t stop it.
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The Falcons entered the game with the worst passing defense in the NFL but offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan made sure they stayed that way. He used formations and routes to put Gordon in the best position possible.
Even when he did not make the catch or quarterback Brian Hoyer missed him with the throw there was still opportunities for the plays to be made. He is not known as one of the most innovative offensive minds in football for nothing.
Let’s take a look at two plays from Sunday’s game and see exactly how Shanahan gave Gordon the chance to have a big game.
Play 1
This is a third-down play on the Browns' very first possession. Hoyer is in a shotgun formation and Gordon is lined up as the slot receiver to the bottom on the formation.
On this particular play Shanahan loads the opposite side of the formation with receivers. He has one split out wide and two in a bunch to the inside. This will force the safety to cheat closer to that side of the field, as there they will need the extra help.
The extra second the deep safety had to spend watching the opposite side of the field gives an opportunity for Gordon to get behind his defender. With no safety help over the top Hoyer sees the one-on-one coverage and lets a deep pass fly.
The pass was slightly overthrown and the defender actually held decent coverage on Gordon. It ended up an incompletion but you can see how the safety never had a chance to recover because the attention that needed to be paid to the opposite side of the field.
This play resulted in no yards and forced a punt but it also made the Falcons respect the fact Hoyer was going to test the top of the defense whenever he and Gordon had a chance.
Play 2
This play was perhaps the most exciting of Gordon’s day and the best example of the type of playmaker he can be. Hoyer is under center and Gordon is lined up wide to his left.
Shanahan has a receiver in the slot and a tight end split out to the side as well. This makes for two blockers ahead of the wide receiver screen Gordon is about to have thrown his way.
As Gordon receives the pass, both receivers and left tackle Joe Thomas are now on the outside ready to pick up blocks. One of the reasons Gordon is so special is his speed and vision of the defenders that are in front of him. Getting him into the space is the best way to ensure he remains dangerous.
The blocks are executed perfectly and this pass ends up going for a huge gain and nearly a touchdown. Gordon does not need to be a deep threat all the time. With his athleticism and size he is very tough to take down. The open field is just another place where Gordon can do major damage.
Play 3
This is the final drive of the game and the Browns need to kick a field goal to win the game. Hoyer had been terrible all game long and needed to find a rhythm quickly.
This—unlike the other two plays—will end up successful because Gordon has a knack for finding soft spots in zones and Hoyer tends to make big throws in clutch situations. All Shanahan did on this play was give Hoyer options.
With plenty of time to throw Hoyer can survey the field and find a soft spot in the zone. There are four defenders deep and it looks as though no one is open.
Gordon spots an area where he can run and a pass could be made. There is a safety valve option at the 37-yard line but the Browns need more yards than that with the game on the line.
Gordon found a slight crack in the zone and Hoyer threw a perfect pass. This was a key play to set up Billy Cundiff's 37-yard game-winning field goal as time expired.
Shanahan knew the Falcons were not going to send pressure so he ran a plethora of routes for Hoyer to choose from.
The talent Gordon brings to the field is undeniable but it also attracts attention. If Shanahan did not get creative with Gordon on Sunday he may not have been able to have the big debut he ended up having.
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