We last looked at the Jets game when the Steelers’ Cover 3 was exposed on a Jeremy Kerley 45 yard reception. We’ll take another look at this matchup, focusing on the power of playaction that led to the Jets only touchdown of the day.
Personnel: Heavy
Route Concept: Slant
Defense: Cover 1
Result: Santonio Holmes Touchdown
As noted, New York is in their heavy personnel. Creates a run look. Steelers counter by bringing strong safety Ryan Mundy in the box for an eight man front and walk Keenan Lewis up to the closed side of the field. Ryan Clark is the single high safety with Ike Taylor shading Holmes to the inside at the top of the screen.
Playaction from Sanchez off the snap. The goal? To bait safety Ryan Clark into driving downhill on the run action. The Jets are running only a one man route. Holmes up top on the slant. Everyone else in to pass protect or at most, block and release.
Taylor, in man coverage, opens his hips and lets Holmes have an inside release. If Clark doesn’t bite and reads the QB, it’s tough for Sanchez to even throw the quick slant. But with him biting hard on the fake, it’s pitch and catch once Holmes gets inside leverage on Taylor.
Mark Sanchez is no Aaron Rodgers. And overall on the day, he wasn’t (10-27, 138 yards). But when the scheme breaks down, for a play, it can be hard to tell the difference.
Photo Credit: Flickr.com/SteelCity Hobbies
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Note: This may be the last All 22 we’ll write. Thanks to all who followed it throughout the summer.
Recapping all the ones written over the past few months.
Bread and Butter of the Run Game
Making a Name on Special Teams
What Not to Do in the Red Zone
Ike Taylor and “Trail” Technique
