Playbook - Offense, week 4

Everyone's favorite segment is back to break down a few different looks with Brandon Bolden and Danny Woodhead and their utilization in the passing game. It seems obvious (to me) at this stage in the year that The Patriots do not see Stevan Ridley as a 3 down player. Woodhead and Bolden offer a bit more reliability in pass protection and superior catching/route running ability over Ridley.

After looking closely at the coaches film, I see a few trends emerging. Ridley will almost always line up as a traditional RB, but Bolden and Woodhead may align themselves out wide, in the slot, or in the backfield. This positional versatility gives Brady a wider variety of audibles and protection options. It looks like Woodhead is the go-to guy for the shotgun formation, but Bolden moves around the formation when Brady is under center. This reflects Woodhead's talents on the quick draw and Bolden's ability to run between the tackles while also giving Bolden the threat of pitches and sweeps.

Before we get too deep, lets take a look at the tape:

This play resulted in a Danny Woodhead TD catch from a scrambling Tom Brady. As you can see, Brady is next to Woody in the shotgun set. Gronkowski is in a tight wing position with Welker in the slot and Branch out wide. Brandon Lloyd is split out to the opposite side with press-man coverage and inside leverage from the Safety. Pre-snap, Brady is looking for Gronkowski because both the Safety and Linebacker have inside leverage, but Gronk will run an out-route into the vacated space cleared by Branch and Welker's verticals.

However, The Bills Defense runs a TEX stunt (tackle-end cross). The pressure takes away Brady's ability to step up in the pocket. A chip from the DE and the quick pressure makes Brady miss the window for Gronk. The TEX stunt is picked up well, and Nate Solder smothers the DT to the inside. Solder's block gives Brady an opportunity to escape the pocket. Also, Solder's good block allows Danny Woodhead to get out into his route without having to help in protection.

Brady does well to extends the play, but with Lloyd on vertical, Woodhead is his only option to the left side. Woody does a nice job of leading his man to the sideline, but then getting free back toward the middle. Not only does Woodhead catch it for a first down, he makes his man miss and extends it for a TD. Woodhead is dangerous in the open field, and his awareness to get open on a broken play is the reason why he'll continue to get snaps on 3rd down.

This play shows a little versatility from Brandon Bolden:

Brady and company originally come out in an empty backfield, with Brandon Bolden in the slot next to Lloyd. Gronkowski is in tight with Welker in the slot and Branch out wide. This is a very similar formation Offensively, and The Bills counter with the same Nickel personnel as in the first play shown here. This play ends in an easy TD catch by Gronkowski over Nickel LB #43 Bryan Scott. The Bills seem to have a miscommunication here because Scott plays underneath Gronk, and neither of the Safeties give him any help. Welker and Branch converge to crowd the DBs and rub Welker free on the out-route, which leaves him wide open. Still, Gronkowski was even more wide open, and he waltzed into the endzone.

Brady reads the blitz from #50 Nick Barnett, so he brings Bolden into the backfield to help. Once Bolden retreated to the backfield, #31 Jairus Byrd backs off the line another few steps. This give Gronk a bit more space to work over the middle. Also, Bolden does a good job to put a hit on Seabastian Vollmer's man, Mark Anderson, to ensure a clean pocket for Brady. Dan Connolly and Ryan Wendell do a good job in the 1-on-1 matchups created by the blitz.

Overall, this is a just a good read by Brady to see that the Safeties are too far away to help out Bryan Scott. Gronk gets a free release, and there's no stopping Gronkowski 1-on-1 with an undersized LB. Also, credit goes to some nice route running by Lloyd, Branch, and Welker to occupy the Safeties long enough to give Gronk an opportunity to catch an easy one.

This play resulted in an over-the-shoulder diving catch by Brandon Lloyd:

This play is another shotgun set, but this time Danny Woodhead is out wide with Deion Branch in the slot and Gronk in a tight wing spot to the left. Welker and Lloyd attack the single high Safety, #37 George Wilson. #31 Jairus Byrd is reading down and distance (3rd and 5) as well as Gronkowski, so he creeps up to about 8 yards deep. Brady reads blitz, but he decides to let it ride with 5-on-5, leaving Woodhead out wide. Branch and Woodhead run identical comeback routes at the sticks, but are both well covered. Gronkowski takes Byrd over the middle, but Brady looks deep.

Welker takes a step to the outside, but then takes his man back toward the middle of the field. George Wilson sits on Welker, thinking that Lloyd was well covered. Welker's route here is very good because he fights his way to the middle, and gets a step on his man. Welker's route gives Lloyd a lot of space to work with. Brady certainly makes a perfect throw, but Welker's ability to freeze the Safety gives Brady an opportunity to put it over Lloyd's shoulder. Also, we can't talk about this play without admiring the diving play that Lloyd makes to catch this ball. Even he couldn't stop himself from smiling as he caught it.

*All pictures are property of The NFL, and I do not claim ownership, but use them educationally.