No matter what position you play, study film until see it in your sleep. It’ll pay off Sunday.
Mention Peyton Manning and one of the first things you’ll hear back is his devotion to film study. And it’s his ability to prepare for that week’s opponent that makes him so successful. The end results of players who don’t take the time to break down film are all too common.
But it isn’t just quarterbacks that need to grind away in front of film during the week. All 53 men on the roster stand to gain from it. No example better than Bengals’ cornerback Leon Hall in Week 16.
We’ll start the week prior in Pittsburgh’s matchup against Dallas. Second quarter, “Fake Zap” motion (terminology varies but man motions to behind the center then returns to original spot) with David Paulson pre-snap. Angle route, essentially a slant to the outside then breaking back on a slant to the inside, to Heath Miller for a 17 yard gain.
From the end zone angle, we can get an excellent look at Miller’s route. Check out the player boxed in, Dallas’ Danny McCray. Opens the gate (opens his hips) when Miller slants to the outside.
Miller breaks back in and has inside leverage on McCray. Pitch and catch at that point.
Fast-forward to the following week against the Bengals. First quarter. The formation is different but there is still the use of Fake Zap motion. This time with Miller himself.
But post-snap, you get the same look from Miller. Starts to slant to the outside. Hall, unlike McCray, squats and does not open the gate.
Because of that, he’s able to undercut and jump the route. Picks it off and returns it 17 yards to the house.
It was the Bengals only touchdown of the day in a three point win over the Steelers.
No matter what position you play, study film until see it in your sleep. It’ll pay off Sunday.
Photo Credit: Flickr.com/SteelCityHobbies
