Matt Bowen's Week 16 NFL Film Study

Every week, 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 NFL's Week 16 schedule.

1. Andrew Luck vs. Cowboys’ Cover 2

The Cowboys play much more than straight Cover 2 (Tampa 2), but there will be opportunities for Luck and the Colts to game-plan the two-deep shell when Indianapolis travels down to Dallas on Sunday.

Here’s one route I really like (called the “Seattle” concept) because of the formation and alignment that allows the Colts to put stress on top of the secondary while clearing out an underneath throwing window for wide receiver T.Y. Hilton.

Credit: Matt Bowen/Bleacher Report

Check out the reduced split from Hilton (X) on the back side of a 3x1 formation. That’s an automatic alert to the shallow drive route (crossing route) with the Colts sending three verticals up the field to clear out the closed (strong) side of the formation.

Luck can target the vertical routes with tight end Coby Fleener (Y) stemming back to the open (weak) side of the formation or come underneath to Hilton once the cornerback (LC) sinks outside to cushion the 9 route from the No. 1 receiver (Z).

This is just one example I drew up; however, it shows how Luck can attack Cover 2 to utilize the skill set of Hilton while also having the opportunity to challenge the deep-half safeties.

2. Deone Bucannon’s Impact vs. Russell Wilson, Seahawks

If you want to focus on a player this Sunday night in the Seahawks-Cardinals matchup, check out Bucannon when Arizona brings its defensive sub-package into the game.

Arizona defensive coordinator Todd Bowles deserves a lot of credit for utilizing the rookie safety out of Washington State as a dime linebacker. That caters to Bucannon’s skill set as an underneath defender who can play man-coverage versus a tight end, pressure or fit up versus the run game from an interior alignment.

Here’s an example of that with Bucannon rushing off the edge versus the Seahawks in the Week 12 matchup.

Credit: NFL Game Rewind

This is a six-man pressure from the Cardinals in the red zone with the Seahawks aligned in an empty formation. Look at the speed from Bucannon off the ball plus the rush discipline to create an angle versus Wilson on the edge.

The Cardinals can use Bucannon as a “spy” versus Wilson, and I expect him to play a key role when the Seahawks run the ball with Marshawn Lynch out of their three-wide-receiver personnel.

With Arizona down to its No. 3 quarterback in Ryan Lindley, it’s on Bucannon and this defense to make plays and create field position against the Seahawks.

3. Johnny Manziel’s Footwork

With Manziel making his second pro start this Sunday versus the Panthers, I’m looking for the rookie to show signs of improvement in his footwork after a very disappointing day against the Bengals in Week 15.

Manziel left too many plays on the field this past Sunday due to poor technique at the release point. That led to missed opportunities on inside breaking routes (ball placement) and turnovers as Manziel struggled with his footwork.

Take a look here as Manziel falls off the spot on the release and hangs this ball up in the air on a play that should have produced an explosive gain for the Browns.

Credit: NFL Game Rewind

I’m not going to write off Manziel after one pro start, but the lack of technique from the tape is concerning. The rookie has a lot of work to do until he develops his game to fit the pro level.

Let’s see if Manziel can make some adjustments based off the tape and show more control with his footwork this week.

4. The Deep Ball in Kansas City?

The Chiefs and quarterback Alex Smith found a way to manufacture some opportunities in the passing game last week versus the Raiders by getting the ball to Dwayne Bowe on the 7 (corner) route and the deep dig route (dagger concept).

Smith also took a shot down the field when the Chiefs occupied the free safety to create a one-on-one matchup versus cornerback D.J. Hayden.

Credit: NFL Game Rewind

This plays out like a double-post as the tight end holds the free safety with rookie receiver Albert Wilson matched up versus Hayden. This is a really smooth route from Wilson as he stems outside to widen Hayden before working back to the post.

I don’t expect the Chiefs to start chucking the ball down the field consistently this Sunday, but there will be situations where Smith can challenge the Steelers secondary. And I would like to see Andy Reid open up the offense a bit more when it can generate specific matchups over the top.

5. Jeremy Hill’s Production vs. Broncos

A.J. Green versus Chris Harris and Aqib Talib is a really good matchup to watch on Monday night, but I’m also curious to see how Hill produces versus the Denver defense after the rookie gashed the Browns for 148 yards in Week 15.

The Bengals showed the power run game, Iso, two-back stretch and even used the speed option with quarterback Andy Dalton (off the counter action) to create an opportunity for Hill on the edge.

Credit: NFL Game Rewind

The LSU product is very strong on contact, but I was more impressed with his vision once he got to the second level of the defense. That’s where he can set up defenders in the open field and cut back to attack vertical running lanes.

Control the tempo and try to wear down the Denver front seven with Hill. That’s how I would approach this Monday night matchup from the perspective of the Bengals.

6. 'Challenging' Dez Bryant

I hope the Colts let Vontae Davis “travel” with Bryant on Sunday (play the matchup regardless of alignment), because I want to see a cornerback truly challenge Bryant on the release.

Aligning in press is one thing, but to win on the release, cornerbacks must slide their feet, jam and impact the vertical stem down the field.

Credit: NFL Game Rewind

This is where the Eagles struggled on Sunday night as Bradley Fletcher often gave up the outside release and didn’t get enough on the jam (failed to stay square on the initial punch) while also looking back for the ball down the field.

I don’t know if the Colts will allow Davis to match up with Bryant, but that would be my plan to challenge the Cowboys wide receiver. Take away the outside release and also limit the underneath crossing concepts.

Put your best guy on Bryant and let him compete.

7. Calvin Johnson Can Expose the Bears Again 

Johnson lit up the Bears on Thanksgiving Day (146 yards receiving, two touchdowns), and I expect more of the same this Sunday at Soldier Field given the defensive scheme under Mel Tucker.

With the cornerbacks playing off and to the outside (in both man and zone defenses), Johnson will get a free release to work inside of the numbers where the Lions can use play action to remove the second-level defenders.

Check out this example from the Lions’ win on Thanksgiving versus the Bears’ five-man zone pressure.

Credit: NFL Game Rewind

Look at the open window with rookie free safety Brock Vereen gaining way too much depth in his middle-of- the-field drop and the underneath defenders sitting short versus the play action. That allows Matthew Stafford to target Johnson as he works away from the outside leverage of Kyle Fuller.

The Bears aren’t going to change their defensive scheme in Week 16 when they are just playing out the schedule. This is a matchup Johnson should expose again. 

8. Focusing on Tom Brady’s Mechanics

If you like to study mechanics at the quarterback position, then check out Brady with a focus on his footwork and the ability to control the free safety when he targets tight end Rob Gronkowski on the seam route.

Here’s an example with Brady opening his shoulders to the open side of the formation as Gronkowski presses the route up the seam.

Credit: NFL Game Rewind

What you should appreciate here is the entire operation from Brady. With no vertical threat to the open side of the formation, Brady can still hold the Dolphins’ free safety in the deep middle of the field before flipping his hips and delivering a perfect ball to Gronkowski.

And he does it with pressure in his face.

I expect the Patriots to beat the Jets on Sunday, but if you are looking for a reason to check out this game, my advice is to study Brady in the pocket. He is a true pro when it comes to mechanics and footwork.

9. Marques Colston in the Red Zone…Alert the Seam

I talk about pre-snap alerts from a defensive perspective often because these are the keys to making a play based on the personnel in the game and the formation at the line of scrimmage.

With the Saints, that means the defense should identify the seam route to Colston in the red zone when he is the No. 2 receiver (slot) in a 3x1 formation. That’s where the ball is going.

Going back to Monday night, Drew Brees found Colston for a touchdown versus the Bears' Cover 1 defense with the quarterback looking off the free safety before targeting the seam route.

Credit: NFL Game Rewind

Vereen is late on his break, which gives Colston the opportunity to widen the slot corner while creating leverage to the ball.

The Falcons know what to look for when they line up versus the Saints this Sunday, but it still comes down to identifying the route and playing the game situation. Remember, Colston is in the slot for a reason.

10. Will We See Another Blocked Punt in Week 16?

Punt protection was an issue for the third straight week in the NFL after the Jaguars failed to pick up a basic twist stunt versus a seven-man rush.

Credit: NFL Game Rewind

In punt protection, the PP will make a “rip” (right) or a “liz” (left) call. That tells the center (long snapper) which way to go. Here, the Jags make a “liz” call with the center blocking to the left. That means the PP should “track” the twist with the guard stepping down to the A-gap.

No different than pass protection, a blown assignment leads to trouble. In my opinion, the overall level of special-teams play in the NFL has declined recently. And this is just another example of a seven-man rush that should never get home.

10 Quick Takeaways from the Week 15 Film

1. 1st-and-20 with Pierre Thomas in the game for the Saints. That’s an automatic alert to the screen—and a major part of the pre-snap checklist for the defense. However, the Bears failed to identify the screen versus the Saints (multiple times) and were exposed in the open field due to poor angles and tackling.

2. The Bills played Cover 1 and 2-Man versus Aaron Rodgers and the Packers, but Jim Schwartz’s defense also utilized some combo-man calls. Check out this example with the strong safety “pushing” to Jordy Nelson on the seam route and the free safety playing over the top. The idea is to take away Nelson and play a “solo” call (man with no help) versus the tight end.

Credit: NFL Game Rewind

3. Remember the talk at the NFL combine when Chiefs rookie De’Anthony Thomas ran a 4.5-second 40-yard dash time? Not the time we expected based off his college tape at Oregon. However, his game speed is legit. Go check out Thomas’ punt return for a touchdown versus the Raiders and focus on his ability to get up the field.

4. The Rams and Shaun Hill had an opportunity to move the sticks on a critical fourth down late in the game versus the Cardinals’ zero-pressure look on the stick-out combo. With the Cardinals playing off-man, Chris Givens was open in the flat due to the cushion in the secondary. That ball has to come out quicker versus pressure off the edge.

5. Le’Veon Bell scored on the Counter OF scheme versus the Falcons when he bounced the run to the edge of the formation, but don’t look past the block from David DeCastro on the pull. The Steelers offensive guard swallowed up the safety walking down into the front and allowed Bell to push the ball outside.

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6. Andrew Luck’s interception versus the Texans is on the quarterback for failing to read Cover 4. With no inside vertical threat, safety Kendrick Lewis gets his eyes outside to No. 1. That’s an easy read to drive downhill on the slant route.

7. Aqib Talib’s interception versus Philip Rivers is a great example of how a cornerback can aggressively play a route when he has the protection of a safety over the top. With Malcom Floyd running an inside dig route, Talib played low to the hip and undercut the break to steal this one.

8. Did we see a glimpse of the speed from Robert Griffin III that has been missing since the injury earlier this season? On the odd call that took a touchdown away from the Redskins on the goal line, Griffin broke contain and displayed a burst to the pylon. 

Credit: NFL Game Rewind

9. Ball placement from Peyton Manning was the key on the fade route to Julius Thomas versus the Chargers. Safety Eric Weddle played with the proper technique on the release and squeezed Thomas to the sideline down the field. But the throw from Manning beat the coverage when the quarterback dropped this ball over the outside shoulder of the tight end.

10. Brent Grimes usually plays with very good eye discipline, but he got greedy versus Brady and the Patriots on Julian Edelman’s touchdown catch. Grimes put his eyes back inside on the quarterback once Edelman broke on the out cut. That allowed the Patriots receiver to separate for the score.

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

Follow @MattBowen41