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 5 Sunday NFL schedule.
Tom Brady, Patriots Work the Seam Route vs. Bengals
After a week of being questioned about the lack of execution on the offensive side of the ball, Brady and the New England Patriots utilized tempo, attacked the inside seams in the passing game and produced big numbers on the ground (220 yards rushing) while winning up front along the offensive line.
Here’s a breakdown of Brady’s touchdown pass to tight end Tim Wright to highlight how the Patriots targeted the Cincinnati Bengals' 3-deep coverage during the 43-17 win.
Personnel: Heavy/13 (1WR-3TE-1RB)
Formation: Unit (2x2)
Offensive Concept: Double Smash-Seam
Defensive Scheme: Cover 3
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The Patriots use pre-snap motion to widen cornerback Leon Hall to the open (weak) side of the formation. That forces Hall to sink over the top of No. 1 (smash route) and puts stress on the free safety (deep middle third) to play two inside vertical seam routes.
To limit this concept, the Bengals need their underneath curl-flat defenders ("Will" linebacker and strong safety) to re-route the tight ends, gain depth and cushion the seam before buzzing to the flat.
However, with the Patriots showing closed-side play action, Will ‘backer Emmanuel Lamur sticks his eyes in the backfield and steps to the line of scrimmage—opening up an inside throwing window from Brady.
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Check out Lamur versus the play action. The linebacker displays poor eye discipline (while squatting underneath) instead of getting a re-route and cushioning the seam.
And with Hall stacking over the top versus the outside smash route, Wright can now stem this route to the top of the numbers as the "Mike" linebacker works to create an angle to the seam.
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Look at the throwing window Brady has to target Wright versus the Bengals' three-deep shell.
Hall overlaps to the inside seam versus the throw, but with Lamur sitting short in his zone drop and the free safety in the deep middle of the field, Wright splits the top of the secondary.
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This is a good, clean shot from Hall after Wright makes the catch, but the tight end secures the ball and gets into the end zone for six points.
That was an impressive night from Brady and the Patriots offense as they worked the inside seams versus both Cover 3 and Cover 2 to utilize their talent at the tight end position.
Dez Bryant’s Circus Grab Sets Up Cowboys in OT
Bryant is one of the best in the league at finishing plays down the field because of his strength, body control and ball skills at the point of attack versus man coverage.
During overtime in the Dallas Cowboys' 20-17 win, Bryant made a circus catch versus Johnathan Joseph on the double-move (stutter and go) to set up the game-winning field goal.
Let’s go back to the route, talk about the Houston Texans' pressure that generated a free runner at quarterback Tony Romo and focus on Bryant’s ability to make the play.
Personnel: Posse/11 (3WR-1TE-1RB)
Formation: Doubles Slot “Orange” (Gun Far)
Offensive Concept: Double-Move (Stutter/Go)
Defensive Scheme: Dime Cover 1 Pressure
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The double-move from Bryant (stutter and go) breaks around eight to 10 yards with the receiver chopping his feet and then carrying the route vertically down the field.
Remember, the depth of the double-move is key as every route (outside of the three-step game) breaks between 12-15 yards. Because of that, there is no reason for a defensive back to jump a stutter move at eight yards.
In this situation, Joseph plays through the double-move and drives to the inside hip of Bryant versus an outside release (use the sideline as help with receiver in a plus-split outside of the numbers).
Looking at the pressure from the Texans out of their sub-package personnel, the inside “cross dog” stunt (two defenders cross on the blitz) produces a free runner to Romo (dime safety) as the back in protection picks up the linebacker.
With pressure up the field, Romo doesn’t have time to read to the closed side of the formation (three-level concept). Instead, the quarterback is forced to target Bryant before the blitz gets home.
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At the point of attack, Bryant climbs the ladder to high-point this ball. That’s exactly what you want to see from the receiver down the field. Go up and get it.
However, look at Joseph's technique.
This is called “playing the pocket” when a defensive back sticks his hand between the arms of the wide receiver to prevent the catch. Even if the defender is caught trailing the route, this technique allows him to play the ball.
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Here is a great look down the field as the ball is actually on the side of Joseph’s shoulder pad after the veteran defensive back uses the proper technique at the point of attack.
But it also shows us the focus of Bryant to stay with this play (and find the ball) as he is falling back to the ground.
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Check out Bryant on the finish. This is a ridiculous play to bring the ball in and secure the catch with Joseph in the proper position to defend the route.
I like the blitz from the Texans given the game situation (3rd-and-9), but give the credit to Romo for getting the ball out and to Bryant for making the catch versus solid coverage down the field.
Khiry Robinson Runs Through the Bucs on Game-Winning TD
The New Orleans Saints had to come back versus the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to send this game to overtime in New Orleans with Robinson closing it out on a physical 18-yard touchdown run.
Let’s break down the scheme and focus on the second-level blocks that allowed Robinson to cut up the field before lowering his pads to run through safety Mark Barron.
Personnel: Tank/22 (1WR-2TE-2RB)
Formation: I Tight
Offensive Concept: Stretch "T"
Defensive Scheme: Cover 1
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With Tank/22 personnel on the field, the Saints ran a two-back stretch scheme versus the Bucs' Cover 1 look (safety walks down over the closed-side tight end).
In the stretch “T” scheme (T = Tackle), the open- (weak-) side tight end blocks down on the defensive end with the left tackle pulling outside to fit on the cornerback. I also call this a “fold” technique.
Inside, the center blocks the nose tackle with both guards working up the second level to account for the Mike and "Sam" ‘backers scrapping to the ball.
This leaves the fullback to track the Will ‘backer with Robinson pressing the ball to the edge of the formation before finding a lane to get up the field.
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Check out the second-level blocks from the Saints as both guards fit up on the linebackers with the left tackle securing the cornerback on the edge of the formation.
Robinson works the ball laterally to the line of scrimmage (allowing his blocks to develop) and runs to daylight after the Will ‘backer attacks downhill versus the fullback.
The result is a clear, vertical running lane for Robinson to push the ball through the second level of the Bucs defense.
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This is a heck of a collision with Barron coming downhill from his safety position in the middle of the field and the strong safety pursing to the ball.
However, throwing a shoulder into a NFL running back isn’t going to get it done. And that’s what we see here from Barron at the point of attack instead of wrapping the arms.
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Barron does deliver a violent strike here. But the job of the safety in this situation is to get the ball-carrier on the ground.
Robinson drops his pad level on contact and drives through the hit from Barron to take the ball into the end zone.
That’s a tough, physical run. And it won the Saints a ballgame.
Cam Newton, Greg Olsen Close Out the Bears in the Red Zone
The Carolina Panthers trailed the Chicago Bears 21-7 early in this game, but with a chance to take the lead late in the fourth quarter and close out Marc Trestman’s team in the red zone, Cam Newton targeted tight end Greg Olsen on the slant route.
Here’s a look at the route from Olsen (outside stem to set up the safety) versus the Bears' "zero" pressure with no help inside to the middle of the field.
Personnel: Heavy/13 (1WR-3TE-1RB)
Formation: Unit Big Wing (Gun Far)
Offensive Concept: All Slants
Defensive Scheme: Cover 0 ("Zero" Pressure)
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This is a running formation from the Panthers with three tight ends in the game (Heavy/13 personnel) and Newton showing the quick, inside-zone action off the mesh point.
That forces the Mike ‘backer to step to the line of scrimmage, and it opens up an inside throwing lane with the Bears bringing zero pressure off the edge (six-man pressure).
This puts Danny McCray in a one-on-one matchup versus Olsen with no help to the middle of the field.
The Bears' free safety is coached to play with an inside shade (zero man) while utilizing a flat-foot read technique (no backpedal).
However, check out the stem from Olsen as the tight end works outside to widen the safety before breaking back to the middle of the field on the slant route.
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This is where McCray gets into trouble as he loses leverage versus the outside stem from Olsen (widens with the route).
The safety sticks his eyes in the backfield (creates separation) and opens up the door for Olsen to establish inside position with no immediate help as the Mike ‘backer is now removed.
The No. 1 rule in zero man is to maintain leverage. The ball is going to come out quickly. But defensive backs can’t get beat inside without a safety in the middle of the field.
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Check out the separation Olsen creates because of the route stem and McCray's poor technique.
The Panthers tight end can work inside and give Newton an easy read to throw the ball in the middle of the field for the game-winning score.
Zero pressure is a very common call from NFL defenses in the deep red zone. But without the technique and the proper leverage in the secondary, quarterbacks can find their targets and deliver the ball before the blitz gets home.
Demaryius Thomas Goes to Work vs. Antonio Cromartie, Cardinals Secondary
Thomas produced 226 yards (a new Denver Broncos record) on just eight receptions as he showcased his speed plus the ability to make plays after the catch when matched up versus Cromartie.
Let’s go back to his first touchdown on the quick, inside slant to break down the route scheme and focus on Thomas’ release versus Cover 1 “rover” in the Broncos' 41-20 win.
Personnel: Posse/11 (3WR-1TE-1RB)
Formation: Doubles Slot “Dakota”
Offensive Concept: Slant (Pick/Rub)
Defensive Scheme: Cover 1 “Rover”
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This is a pick/rub concept from the Broncos with Emmanuel Sanders on the deep 7 (corner) route,
Wes Welker on the option (whip) and Thomas coming underneath on the slant route.
With the Arizona Cardinals playing Cover 1 rover, the linebacker drops to the inside hole. This allows the defensive backs in coverage to use their free safety help over the top, while funneling any underneath route to the linebacker in the middle of the field.
At the snap, Sanders releases vertically down the field with Welker running an outside breaking cut. This forces Cromartie to avoid the pick/rub, while maintaining an outside leverage position versus the slant.
But with Thomas winning at the snap—and creating immediate separation on the release—Cromartie is stuck in a trail position and allows the receiver to work away from his initial leverage.
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Cromartie goes under the pick and works to get back in-phase (on the hip) versus Thomas, while leaning on the inside help from the linebacker playing the rover technique.
However, once Thomas catches this pass, the receiver pulls away from Cromartie and cuts the angle of the linebacker to run through an arm tackle and get the ball up the field.
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This is where we see the acceleration from Thomas as he eliminates the angle versus the free safety and cuts back to get into the end zone.
This was a smart call from the Broncos versus a heavy man-coverage defense that allowed Thomas to win a one-on-one matchup at the line of scrimmage and showcase his skill set after the catch.
Seven-year NFL veteran Matt Bowen is an NFL National Lead Writer for Bleacher Report.
Follow @MattBowen41
