Playbook - Wilfork and Mayo
This play is a 3rd and 12 late in the 1st quarter. The Texans come out with 3-WR and TE Owen Daniels split wide. Matt Schaub sits in the shotgun next to Arian Foster, the lone RB. The Patriots counter with Dime personnel: #50 Ninkovich, #75 Wilfork, and #95 Jones up front; #51 Mayo and #54 Hightower at linebacker; #31 Talib, #24 Arrington, and #37 Dennard across from the WRs; #27 Tavon Wilson shadows the TE while #28 Gregory and #32 McCourty fall into a cover-2 shell.
The Texans don't do anything complicated here. It's just their typical bunch formation stuff, with the routes on both sides working at two different deep levels. In this play, the WR on the line of scrimmage runs a 16 yard out pattern to clear space underneath for a 10 yard out. Schaub could hit the deep man for a sure first down, or he could go short if there is a chance for 2 YAC.
The play design works all the time in the NFL, but this play cannot operate if there is pressure on the QB before the routes develop. Worst of all, Arian Foster gets caught up in the backfield, and provided no outlet pass for his Quarterback. The Texans don't even try to attack the middle of the field that is left open by the 5-man pressure. Belichick really showed confidence in his CBs this week, and for once, they didn't let him down.
Aqib Talib and Kyle Arrington exchanged a few words about the bunch formation, just to make sure they're on the same page about their man-coverage assignment. Talib takes the guy in front (only Andre Johnson) and sticks to him like glue. Arrington stands his ground as the WR initiates contact, and doesn't lose a step as he breaks the outside. On the other side, Alfonzo Dennard and Tavon Wilson employ a similar man-concept, but Dennard (who is allowing a free-release) takes the man on the line of scrimmage.
Tavon Wilson plays in the Dime coverage over Patrick Chung, which is a shocker to me. I am guessing that this is role-specific, but I wonder if Wilson is the #3 Safety on the depth chart. He is certainly the go-to guy for covering pass-catching TEs in obvious passing situations. Here, he takes a nice disciplined angle on (sort-of) double move. Alfonzo Dennard had a great game, and his coverage here was tight despite having to concede a free release (due to the bunch formation).
Still, the play ends in a fumble recovery by an offensive lineman, so the credit has to go to the pass rush. The Patriots bring a 5-man pressure with Jerod Mayo looping around the big body of Vince Wilfork. The Texans are forced to block 5-on-5 because Arian Foster can't quite decide who to block or how to escape the pocket.
Ninkovich hits his man with the speed rush, and forces Schaub to step up in the pocket. Jones and Hightower collapse the pocket from the blind side, which is what traps Foster in the backfield. Mayo actually gets knocked down on the play, but he does create a protection dilemma that puts Wilfork one on one against Rookie Guard Ben Jones, who's at least 20 lbs lighter than Big Vince.
Wilfork drives Ben Jones back like he's blocking sled (slowly, but surely). He puts the Guard Jones right into Schaub, just like he did on the Sanchez butt-fumble play. People are going to starting calling this move "The Wilfork." Schaub fumbled the ball for a big loss to set up a long punt. It's easy to forget that there was a sack-fumble in this game, but The Patriots Defense just keeps forcing turnover opportunities. Way to go Vince!
The play design works all the time in the NFL, but this play cannot operate if there is pressure on the QB before the routes develop. Worst of all, Arian Foster gets caught up in the backfield, and provided no outlet pass for his Quarterback. The Texans don't even try to attack the middle of the field that is left open by the 5-man pressure. Belichick really showed confidence in his CBs this week, and for once, they didn't let him down.
Aqib Talib and Kyle Arrington exchanged a few words about the bunch formation, just to make sure they're on the same page about their man-coverage assignment. Talib takes the guy in front (only Andre Johnson) and sticks to him like glue. Arrington stands his ground as the WR initiates contact, and doesn't lose a step as he breaks the outside. On the other side, Alfonzo Dennard and Tavon Wilson employ a similar man-concept, but Dennard (who is allowing a free-release) takes the man on the line of scrimmage.
Tavon Wilson plays in the Dime coverage over Patrick Chung, which is a shocker to me. I am guessing that this is role-specific, but I wonder if Wilson is the #3 Safety on the depth chart. He is certainly the go-to guy for covering pass-catching TEs in obvious passing situations. Here, he takes a nice disciplined angle on (sort-of) double move. Alfonzo Dennard had a great game, and his coverage here was tight despite having to concede a free release (due to the bunch formation).
Still, the play ends in a fumble recovery by an offensive lineman, so the credit has to go to the pass rush. The Patriots bring a 5-man pressure with Jerod Mayo looping around the big body of Vince Wilfork. The Texans are forced to block 5-on-5 because Arian Foster can't quite decide who to block or how to escape the pocket.
Ninkovich hits his man with the speed rush, and forces Schaub to step up in the pocket. Jones and Hightower collapse the pocket from the blind side, which is what traps Foster in the backfield. Mayo actually gets knocked down on the play, but he does create a protection dilemma that puts Wilfork one on one against Rookie Guard Ben Jones, who's at least 20 lbs lighter than Big Vince.
Wilfork drives Ben Jones back like he's blocking sled (slowly, but surely). He puts the Guard Jones right into Schaub, just like he did on the Sanchez butt-fumble play. People are going to starting calling this move "The Wilfork." Schaub fumbled the ball for a big loss to set up a long punt. It's easy to forget that there was a sack-fumble in this game, but The Patriots Defense just keeps forcing turnover opportunities. Way to go Vince!
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