A Look Back - A Look Ahead (Week 12)
Welcome to “A Look Back / A Look Ahead,” where we break down one play from the Pats’ most recent game and one play by the upcoming opponent. This is a new playbook segment brought to you by the newest member of The Flying Elvis team. If you enjoy this breakdown, check out his blog at http://davebreaksdownfilm.blogspot.com/
A Look Back - The Patriots are going to be without the services of star tight end Rob Gronkowski for a few weeks after he broke his forearm late in the 59-24 win over the Colts. His presence will be missed, and he showed why during the lopsided victory, catching 7 passes for 2 TDs, 5 first downs, and 137 yards on just 7 targets. This play, his first catch, highlights how the Patriots get mismatches with "Gronk." The Pats are in their "12" personnel (one running back, two tight ends) with two receivers left and Gronkowski (#87) and Visanthe Shiancoe (#80) to the right.
With 2 TE in the game, the Patriots can run, so Indianapolis is in their base 3-4. They give a man look with one deep safety (#28, Tom Zbikowski). Since both WR are to the left side, both corners are to the left, which means Shiancoe will be covered a safety (#41, Antoine Bethea) and Gronkowski will be defended by a linebacker (#53, Kavell Conner).
Gronkowski runs a seam route up the numbers, while Shiancoe runs a wheel route to the right to space things out a bit. On the opposite side, Wes Welker (#83) also runs a seam; this puts pressure on Zbikowski, the deep man, and prevents him from helping on Gronkowski until it's too late. The Colts send a five-man blitz so quarterback Tom Brady doesn't have a lot of time, but the mismatch is so obvious it hardly matters. He hits the TE for a big gain, and Gronk shakes off a couple tackles to make it a a 36-yarder.
Interestingly, the Pats ran almost exactly the same play (flipped to the other side) late in the 3rd quarter for a 24-yard touchdown. That play was against zone defense, not man, but it was just as effective. It just goes to show what a dangerous weapon Gronkowski is, and how the Patriots will miss him.
A Look Ahead - The Jets are known for their creative blitzes, but they get creative with coverages, too. They invest heavily in their defensive backfield, so they can cover man-to-man even without star cornerback Darrelle Revis (on injured reserve with a torn ACL). This play from overtime of the last Pats / Jets game shows how they are unafraid to leave their corners one-on-one so they can use extra defenders elsewhere. Sometimes its a funky blitz, but here they flood the underneath zone so Brady can't throw to either of his two favorite targets: Gronkowski and slot man Wes Welker.
The Patriots have a play design with three vertical routes. RB Danny Woodhead (#39) is split wide left with Deion Branch (#84) in the slot; they're both running go routes. Brandon Lloyd (#85) is doing the same wide right. These deep routes should draw away deep centerfielder LaRon Landry (#30), but he ignores them to bracket Gronkowski as he runs a post. There are four defenders covering Brady's top two options. You can see the coverage best from the end zone view (below).
This only works if the Jets have defensive backs that can cover. Woodhead, Branch, and Lloyd are all single-covered; if one of them can get open deep, the Patriots should be able to get an easy touchdown. But the Jets have tight coverage. Brady throws a deep ball in Branch's direction that has little chance of being caught, and it falls harmlessly into the end zone, incomplete.
The Jets' corners are strong in man coverage and coach Rex Ryan is bold enough to let them cover their men without safety help. If he does so Thursday night, the Patriots' receivers will need to work their way open for big gainers. Likewise, Brady will need to actually connect with them on some deep throws. This is all especially true with Gronk out of the lineup. Lloyd, Edelman, and Welker need to step up and beat single coverage on the outside.
A Look Back - The Patriots are going to be without the services of star tight end Rob Gronkowski for a few weeks after he broke his forearm late in the 59-24 win over the Colts. His presence will be missed, and he showed why during the lopsided victory, catching 7 passes for 2 TDs, 5 first downs, and 137 yards on just 7 targets. This play, his first catch, highlights how the Patriots get mismatches with "Gronk." The Pats are in their "12" personnel (one running back, two tight ends) with two receivers left and Gronkowski (#87) and Visanthe Shiancoe (#80) to the right.With 2 TE in the game, the Patriots can run, so Indianapolis is in their base 3-4. They give a man look with one deep safety (#28, Tom Zbikowski). Since both WR are to the left side, both corners are to the left, which means Shiancoe will be covered a safety (#41, Antoine Bethea) and Gronkowski will be defended by a linebacker (#53, Kavell Conner).
Gronkowski runs a seam route up the numbers, while Shiancoe runs a wheel route to the right to space things out a bit. On the opposite side, Wes Welker (#83) also runs a seam; this puts pressure on Zbikowski, the deep man, and prevents him from helping on Gronkowski until it's too late. The Colts send a five-man blitz so quarterback Tom Brady doesn't have a lot of time, but the mismatch is so obvious it hardly matters. He hits the TE for a big gain, and Gronk shakes off a couple tackles to make it a a 36-yarder.Interestingly, the Pats ran almost exactly the same play (flipped to the other side) late in the 3rd quarter for a 24-yard touchdown. That play was against zone defense, not man, but it was just as effective. It just goes to show what a dangerous weapon Gronkowski is, and how the Patriots will miss him.
A Look Ahead - The Jets are known for their creative blitzes, but they get creative with coverages, too. They invest heavily in their defensive backfield, so they can cover man-to-man even without star cornerback Darrelle Revis (on injured reserve with a torn ACL). This play from overtime of the last Pats / Jets game shows how they are unafraid to leave their corners one-on-one so they can use extra defenders elsewhere. Sometimes its a funky blitz, but here they flood the underneath zone so Brady can't throw to either of his two favorite targets: Gronkowski and slot man Wes Welker.The Patriots have a play design with three vertical routes. RB Danny Woodhead (#39) is split wide left with Deion Branch (#84) in the slot; they're both running go routes. Brandon Lloyd (#85) is doing the same wide right. These deep routes should draw away deep centerfielder LaRon Landry (#30), but he ignores them to bracket Gronkowski as he runs a post. There are four defenders covering Brady's top two options. You can see the coverage best from the end zone view (below).
This only works if the Jets have defensive backs that can cover. Woodhead, Branch, and Lloyd are all single-covered; if one of them can get open deep, the Patriots should be able to get an easy touchdown. But the Jets have tight coverage. Brady throws a deep ball in Branch's direction that has little chance of being caught, and it falls harmlessly into the end zone, incomplete.
The Jets' corners are strong in man coverage and coach Rex Ryan is bold enough to let them cover their men without safety help. If he does so Thursday night, the Patriots' receivers will need to work their way open for big gainers. Likewise, Brady will need to actually connect with them on some deep throws. This is all especially true with Gronk out of the lineup. Lloyd, Edelman, and Welker need to step up and beat single coverage on the outside.
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