Here is the pre-snap look with how the Packer defensive assignments will match-up with the offense: Jeffery will run back to where he started toward the goal line. Brandon Marshall will run a skinny post from the slot. (Both in navy blue). On the defensive side, Sam Shields (#37) for Green Bay is playing Man-to-Man on Jeffery (in red). Brandon Marshall is being “bracket” covered, or double covered, which is highlighted in orange. The slot Cornerback will play outside leverage, and #33 will be responsible for any in-breaking route from Marshall. The play is accompanied by play-action to the right, with a “Max-Protection” of 8 blockers.

Safety and slot corner “bracket” inside WR Brandon Marshall

Shortly after the ball is snapped, Alshon Jeffery pivots from his motion and goes back in the direction he started on an “Arrow” route. Sam Shields (defender highlighted in red) sprints across the formation to chase Jeffery. Meanwhile, Brandon Marshall is being double covered via an Inside/Outside coverage (highlighted in orange).

However, Sam Shields is not quick enough to react to Jeffery’s change of direction and is lost in the middle of the formation. From here, he won’t be able to catch up to Jeffery before the end zone and will need help. The Safety, (highlighted in orange) is the only player in position to recognize the play, attack downhill, and save the Touchdown.

This is where Trestman’s offensive genius and Marshall’s value come in. Trestman used Marshall as a decoy perfectly: Trestman likely knew Marshall would draw a double team in the red zone, and used this against Green Bay. As seen below, Shields has overrun the play and is out of position, while the Safety is completely preoccupied with guarding against Marshall instead of diagnosing the play.

With the Safety (#33) only focused on Marshall and Shields out of position, the only thing that will stop a Touchdown is if Quarterback Jay Cutler doesn’t recognize the bracket coverage. But Cutler has a perfect line of vision to see exactly what is going on and make the perfect read. Once again, Shields is highlighted in Red while the Safety (33) is highlighted in orange.

See the play unfold below from two different angles, first in slow motion and then standard speed:

As you can see from this play, double teams often come at a price: pay extra attention to one player, and another may be left wide open. The play also highlights how elite Wide Receivers (such as Marshall) do not have to catch the ball to make a profound impact on the game. Finally, as Marc Trestman did, a great offensive coach will exploit the weakness in an over-aggressive defense using the Ghost Motion.

POST SEASON EDIT: Want to see the full Brandon Marshall affect in action? Found this during my post-season film review: Below, the Saints run the exact same Ghost Motion play from the exact same formation 4 weeks later. The Packers are once again in Man to Man coverage, and once again the Cornerback at the top of the screen is fooled with locked hips after the Ghost Motion and Swing Route. Except this time there is no bracket coverage or special treatment for an elite receiver. This allows Safety (#21) Ha Ha Clinton Dix to diagnose the play and slow it down before Sam Shields cleans up the play for a loss of 1 yard.

See Also: (Where Trestman may have gotten the play from)

Brandon Marshall has been traded to the Jets— look for him to have this same impact on Eric Decker, Jace Amaro, and Geno Smith (or whoever the Jets QB may be).

2016 update: The Eagles use Ghost Motion to help QB Carson Wentz:

The post Alshon Jeffery’s “Ghost Motion” Touchdown & how Brandon Marshall Affects Defenses appeared first on Syed Schemes.

In the picture below, Shane Vereen (#34) starts as the outside most Wide Receiver and motions in to the backfield. A Raiders Linebacker (#50) chases him all the way across the formation; this is a tell-tale sign of Man-to-Man coverage. This is highlighted by the squares in the freeze frame.

If the defense did not reveal Man Coverage, Tom Brady would likely audible the play or focus on his zone coverage read, which is the right side of the field (Edelman and Amendola) in this picture. Once Vereen sets in the backfield, here is Vereen and Gronkowski’s (#87) mesh combination. Oakland is playing Man-to-Man on all other Receivers, with Charles Woodson as the Free Safety in Cover 1.

We already know the Linebacker that has followed Vereen’s motion will be covering him in Man-to-Man, which leaves Rob Gronkowski. No Raider Defensive Back is lined up directly on Gronkowski, but there is one on his outside shoulder. This leaves one Raider Linebacker unaccounted for (#50). His assignment is to “bracket” or double-cover Rob Gronkowski. More specifically, he is supposed to “wall-off” any inside breaking route by Gronkowski and help the outside shade Defensive Back. These defensive assignments are seen below:

However, as the play unfolds, Gronkowski is able to beat the Bracket Coverage Linebacker across his face. This happens for multiple reasons:

First, Gronkowski is able to have a completely free release off the line. Defensive End Justin Tuck has the opportunity to hit Gronkowski off the line, but Gronk quickly dips inside and avoids any contact, getting a clean release. Second, the Mesh concept creates traffic between Vereen, Gronkowski, and the 3 Oakland defenders. This traffic is exactly the purpose of the Mesh Concept and is difficult to cover. Finally, Gronkowski is a special talent: There are only a handful of Tight Ends that can get off the line clean and have the speed to beat a Defensive Back across the field while avoiding a Linebacker.

The result of the Motion & Mesh Concept is seen below first in slow motion, and then standard speed:

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