A Look Back - A Look Ahead

Welcome to “A Look Back / A Look Ahead,” where we break down one play from the Pats’ most recent game and one play from the upcoming opponent’s most recent game.  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 Bills nearly matched the Patriots blow-for-blow on Sunday, finally falling 37-31 in a game that was in doubt until the very end.  The most explosive player on the field for Buffalo was running back C.J. Spiller, who has averaged 7.3 yards per carry on the season.  This fourth-quarter run put the Bills in range to score a touchdown that would make it a 3-point game.

The Bills are in their typical three WR formation, with Spiller in the backfield, and a tight end to the offensive right.  The Patriots are forced to counter with their nickel defense, and so they only have six players up near the line of scrimmage against a dangerous running team (third in the league in YPC with 5.3). 

The Bills are running a counter here; Spiller is going to start running to his left like it’s an off tackle run, while the blocking pushes that way. Meanwhile, the tight end and right tackle are going to seal off defensive end Chandler Jones and linebacker Brandon Spikes to the offensive right, creating a hole between the right guard and right tackle.  The run is designed to go there (see red arrow above).

The blocking’s good, and Spiller hits the hole (red arrow).  However, he sees linebackers Spikes and Jerod Mayo are doing a good job fighting off their blocks and are threatening to close the hole after just a short gain.

Spiller (red arrow) bounces the run outside of Jones (blue arrow), who doesn’t even realize what’s happening before Spiller is past him.  This isn’t the best, most aware play by Jones, but it’s also a testament to Spiller’s explosiveness.

Safety Devin McCourty (white arrow) now steps up in run support.  He’s in good position to stop Spiller for just a gain of 7 or 8, but Spiller gives a little stutter step and blows right by him.

Spiller is finally tackled out of bounds by the pursuing Jerod Mayo, which draws a personal foul and adds 15 yards to the end of the run.  The Bills scored a touchdown a few plays later.

This play was indicative of how the Patriots struggled against Buffalo’s running attack.  The Bills have great backs and effective schemes, but the Patriots also struggled with containment, gap control, pursuit angles, and tackling. 

A Look Ahead – Andrew Luck is getting a lot of publicity for his rookie success, helping lead the Indianapolis Colts to a 6-3 record.  One of the most interesting stats is Luck’s percentage of deep throws - #2 in the league at 27.1%.  The Colts aren’t dinking-and-dunking with the rookie.  This play from last week’s Thursday game against the Jacksonville Jaguars set up their first touchdown, and also shows how Indy is using vertical routes.

Above we saw the Bills run out of a common passing formation.  Here we’re going to see the Colts pass out of an I formation, a typical running set.  They have twins left, with Reggie Wayne (red arrow) on the outside, Donnie Avery (blue arrow) in the slot, and TE Dwayne Allen (white arrow) tight on the right side.  Wayne runs  a deep out , Avery runs a curl in the middle of the field, and Allen is running a go / flag.  The two backs are running short routes.

The Colts have three receivers all at about the 17 yard line. They’re all past the underneath zones of the linebackers, and they’re all attacking different parts of the field. It’s a lot of pressure on Jacksonville’s secondary.

In the final broadcast shots, you can see Wayne running his route against Jaguars corner Derek Cox. Cox has help inside, and yet when Wayne cuts like he’s going to run a post, Cox can’t help but have his ankles broken when Wayne crosses back to finish the out route. It’s a thing of beauty. He’s wide open and it’s an easy throw for Luck.

Luck’s a great young talent, and the Colts are using his skills and those of his receivers to challenge teams deep. It will be an interesting challenge for a notoriously shaky Pats secondary.