Playbook - Edelman Slip Screens
Julian Edelman has the potential to be an absolutely electric football player in the open field. In my opinion though, his skills are far different from those of Wes Welker. Too many people get caught up in that comparison purely on the basis of skin color. If you actually watch the games, you know that Welker is a far superior route runner and decision maker. However, Edelman has the ability to make a man miss at a stand still. Where Welker creates space with crisp routes, Edelman uses his explosive first step. Every time Edelman gets the ball with one man to beat, it has the potential to be a big gainer or a TD. Let's take a look:
In this first look (2nd and 10), Edelman is on the strong side flank with Gronk and Welker to his side. Shane Vereen is in the backfield, and Tom Brady runs a play-action to Vereen. The hand-off is sold to the Defense by bringing Gronkowski back across the formation to make it look like he's blocking for a trap play. Instead, Brady throws out wide to Edelman. At first glance, this looks like Edelman will be dropped for a loss by #20 Darius Butler. However, Edelman has just enough time to spin-off his would-be tackler to pick up a first down and more.
A couple things happen to spring Edelman here, and the first of which is the shape of Welker's first few steps. Welker runs at Butler, forcing him to go inside and around, and this delays him just enough to give Edelman a chance. Welker also gets downfield to seal the CB to the outside. Likewise, the whole left side of the line gets out in front of the play to seal the remaining 9 players to the inside.
On this next play (3rd and 11), Edelman is the lone man to the weak side of the formation. Welker originally lined up next to Edelman, but he was motioned across the formation to bring Darius Butler away from the action. This puts Edelman one on one against a CB that's giving him too much space. Just like the last play, Brady runs play-action to allow time for blocks to develop. This time, RG Nick McDonald sells the run to the defense by pulling into the hole to lead the way for Woodhead.
After the fake, Brady hits Edelman on the slip screen. The FS gets caught in the run fake, and the DE gets caught in the middle of Brady and Edelman. Likewise, the CB over Edelman hesitates just long enough to get blocked by Seabastian Vollmer. Edelman finds a seam and explodes through the defense for a first down and more before he's brought down by the backside pursuit.
Overall, its pretty much always a good idea to get the ball to Edelman in the open field. He can take a 5 yard throw to the house, and that takes a lot of pressure off Brady. Edelman's ability to exploit open space forces CBs to play tight even when the situation is a 3rd and long. He may not be the next Wes Welker, but his skill set can prove deadly in the open field. Still, with Gronk out I will be more worried about Edelman's blocking than his play making.
In this first look (2nd and 10), Edelman is on the strong side flank with Gronk and Welker to his side. Shane Vereen is in the backfield, and Tom Brady runs a play-action to Vereen. The hand-off is sold to the Defense by bringing Gronkowski back across the formation to make it look like he's blocking for a trap play. Instead, Brady throws out wide to Edelman. At first glance, this looks like Edelman will be dropped for a loss by #20 Darius Butler. However, Edelman has just enough time to spin-off his would-be tackler to pick up a first down and more.
A couple things happen to spring Edelman here, and the first of which is the shape of Welker's first few steps. Welker runs at Butler, forcing him to go inside and around, and this delays him just enough to give Edelman a chance. Welker also gets downfield to seal the CB to the outside. Likewise, the whole left side of the line gets out in front of the play to seal the remaining 9 players to the inside.
On this next play (3rd and 11), Edelman is the lone man to the weak side of the formation. Welker originally lined up next to Edelman, but he was motioned across the formation to bring Darius Butler away from the action. This puts Edelman one on one against a CB that's giving him too much space. Just like the last play, Brady runs play-action to allow time for blocks to develop. This time, RG Nick McDonald sells the run to the defense by pulling into the hole to lead the way for Woodhead.
After the fake, Brady hits Edelman on the slip screen. The FS gets caught in the run fake, and the DE gets caught in the middle of Brady and Edelman. Likewise, the CB over Edelman hesitates just long enough to get blocked by Seabastian Vollmer. Edelman finds a seam and explodes through the defense for a first down and more before he's brought down by the backside pursuit.
Overall, its pretty much always a good idea to get the ball to Edelman in the open field. He can take a 5 yard throw to the house, and that takes a lot of pressure off Brady. Edelman's ability to exploit open space forces CBs to play tight even when the situation is a 3rd and long. He may not be the next Wes Welker, but his skill set can prove deadly in the open field. Still, with Gronk out I will be more worried about Edelman's blocking than his play making.
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