Playbook - Tavon Wilson

On Defense, its hard to show everything that goes on. So, I try not to overload the details, and focus on personnel. I think pictures speak louder than words. Today we're going to be focused on a 3rd Down play, with specific emphasis on the decision making of Tavon Wilson in coverage. So let's see the tale of the tape:

Here, The Broncos face a 3rd and 10. Manning comes out with a bunch to his left, but then motions #87 Eric Decker out wide. The Patriots counter with Dime personnel (1 LB, 6 DBs). Likewise, The Patriots feature a pass rushing front with #96 Cunningham on the interior. #51 Mayo disguises pressure off the edge to distract the RT from #75 Wilfork and #95 Jones bunched up over the guard. Mayo picks up #35 Ball when he releases into the flat.

In the secondary, we see #21 Dowling positioned in the "money" spot as a LB/S-type covering #84 Tamme. #27 Wilson plays relatively close to the line, and #25 Chung plays deep. #32 McCourty and #29 Moore play man-cover on the outside. Arrington plays press-man on #14 Stokley in the slot.

Manning completes a throw to #88 Demaryius Thomas despite hip-to-hip coverage from McCourty. Manning does well to create a throwing lane by manipulating Tavon Wilson with his eyes. Peyton only has to look at Tamme and wait for Wilson to follow the TE out of the middle to get a lane to throw to Thomas. 

Dowling had good coverage, and didn't need the help, and Wilson misreads Manning's intentions. Wilson was not going to help McCourty on a vertical, but Wilson should have been there as inside help on Thomas. Also, with better awareness of the routes, Wilson might have bluffed a pick-up of Tamme only to rotate off to defend Thomas underneath. Nevertheless, Wilson's inexperience shows on this one as he is looked off the route by a veteran QB. 

 *Photos used are property of The NFL, I don't claim ownership, but use them educationally.