TUNNEL SCREEN

The Broncos run the Tunnel Screen (a/k/a Jailbreak Screen) more than any team in the NFL, with 6’3 230 Thomas on the receiving end almost every time. Denver runs the play from a variety of formations. Below is the play, with Denver is in Trips tight:

Assignments: (#1 WR): Sell Vertical, Bend back square to QB (#2 WR): Block out CB on #1 WR (#3 WR): Arc Block to Safety over #2 WR( Right Tackle): Sell Stretch Left, arc to first defender outside box (Right Guard): Sell Stretch Left, arc to first defender inside box

Above, the Broncos fake stretch play action going left, with the Tunnel Screen coming from the right. In order to execute the Tunnel Screen, Demaryius Thomas must first create space between him and the cornerback lined up over him by so the next inside Wide Receiver can block out his man. Thomas does this by selling hard vertically for 2-3 yards to drive back the cornerback before bending back to the ball with shoulders square to Manning. The inside most Wide Receiver here then arc blocks to the next inside defender (here, it is #29 Safety Eric Berry). This area is also known as “the sidewalk.” This creates the lane for Demaryius Thomas to run inside of:

Coaches sometimes break up the blocking assignment on Tunnel Screen by area, with the above delineations

Now, the inside of the defense must be sealed off to give Thomas a lane to run. Both the right guard and right tackle take their outside zone step to the left to sell the play action stretch, and then widen out to their blocking assignment. The right tackle blocks the first player outside the box (the alley), and the right guard blocks the next inside player (here, the outside linebacker). This creates the lane or “Tunnel” (depicted in blue in first picture) to run through. After he sells vertical (driving back the corner nearly 7 years) and bends back square, he catches the ball and finds the crease between where the Safety and Corner have been blocked out and where the right guard and tackle have sealed off the defense:

Denver can also run Tunnel Screen from a 2-WR or 1-WR 1-TE set to a side:

The Tunnel Screen works especially well here because of the Rams blitz, which makes it easier for the right guard and tackle to identify who to block in space:

Denver also runs the play with the Center pulling, depending on the front 7 look the defense is giving. Here the Tunnel Screen is once again run with a play action stretch fake going the other way. The #2 Receiver blocks the defender over Thomas, with the Right Tackle blocking the “sidewalk”, the right guard blocking the “alley”, and the center going straight down the middle of the field looking for someone to block:

The Tunnel Screen has become a staple of the Broncos offense; Manning loves to call it against blitzes, in short yardage when the box is loaded, and against both press and off coverage. Overall, it’s a great way to get a big fast Wideout an easy catch and have the ball in space.

 “NOW” SLANT

The “Now” slant (Or no step slant) isn’t a screen, but it functions similarly to the Tunnel screen by getting the ball to Demaryius Thomas on an easy catch in space with a head of steam. The Broncos run the “now” slant with Thomas from various formations. Thomas is always the outside most Receiver and either one or two inside Receivers clear out the space within the first five yards of the line of scrimmage for him. Thomas takes one jab step outside without going upfield and runs his slant route:

The play is particularly effective against Man coverage and blitzes because as long as Thomas beats his man with the outside jab, he’ll catch the ball on the run with the space vacated by other defenders:

Thomas does an excellent job of planting a foot in the ground and getting upfield almost immediately after the catch. The play is extremely simple yet incredibly effective for the Broncos. Denver especially likes the “now” slant in the red zone, serving almost as an extended handoff but gaining almost 7 yards a pop. While the above cutup has Wes Welker running a route, toward the goal line it appears as if the Bronco Receivers are just clearing out to block:

TRIPS X-DRAG

The Broncos like the Trips X-Drag in 3rd and more than 7. Demaryius Thomas is the lone receiver on the backside of Trips (or Tight End Trips), with the Running back as #4 strong, meaning he is also to the side of the Trips. Thomas runs a drag route across the formation, while the 3 Receivers on the other side push vertical but really look to block, as they know the ball will be out quickly to Thomas with a head of steam. Also take note of the running back, who runs an angle route but is also clearly looking to block. The running back is specifically looking to pick the linebacker or DB who is pursuing Thomas from the middle of the field:

A few clips of the Broncos running Trips X-Drag, picking up yards on 3rd and long either for a first down or to set up better field position:

These 3 concepts made up around 20% of all of Demaryius Thomas’ production on the 2014 season. They are plays specifically designed to get the ball in his hands, as no other Bronco runs them. Even with some questioning Peyton Manning’s health, notice that all these pass concepts are short throws and actually highlight Manning’s greatest strength: assessing the defense and calling the right play. When Manning notices a blitz or off coverage, the Tunnel Screen is a great audible. When Manning sees Cover 0, Cover 1, or an edge blitz from the secondary, the “now” slant is a perfect check.  Be sure to notice them while watching Denver next season!

The post Peyton to Demaryius: Breaking down the Broncos Tunnel Screen, Now Slant, and Trips X-Drag Concepts appeared first on Syed Schemes.

The play is a common goal line pass play for many college and NFL coaches: a Slant route and a Shoot or Flat route with the hopes of a natural “pick” to make it difficult to cover in Man to Man coverage. Notre Dame ran the play from a “Bunch” formation, which is 3 Wide Receivers aligned in a triangle close together. The Apex, point man, (Middle WR) runs to the goal line and attempts to make himself a big target and box out any defender. The outside Wide Receiver runs a Slant route, and the inside most Receiver runs a Flat route. Florida State matches this with straight Cover 0: FSU is in all Man to Man with no Safety help anywhere, with everybody else blitzing. Notice the backside Tight End and Running Back do not go out for pass patterns, and the pre-snap assignments are shown below:

After the snap, the Apex (Middle) Receiver attempts to make himself a target, but gets jammed badly. However, the rest of the play works to perfection: FSU is in Man-to-Man, they don’t communicate, there is crossing and the inside most WR for Notre Dame is able to get free for an easy score. You can see this after the play: The FSU defenders don’t complain to the referee, they are talking amongst themselves about the blown coverage. The problem is that the two outside Notre Dame WR’s don’t continue routes or even make it appear they are running routes after contact with defenders. Instead, they extend their arms and box defenders out, probably knowing the natural pick has occurred and a TD is imminent. This is likely what raised suspicion to the official; the Notre Dame WR’s made contact, sealed off the Florida State defenders, and then made no more football moves. Natural traffic is perfectly legal, while blocking while the ball is in the air or impeding a defender by sealing them off from another route is not. Here is the freeze frame before the ball is thrown:

The penalty is eventually called on the outside most WR for Notre Dame, but as the videos below show, the offensive pass interference penalty could have been called on either of the WR’s because it arguably looks like they are blocking instead of running routes: (first in slow motion, then standard speed)

It is somewhat difficult to see exactly who initiates contact and what happens after the snap from the broadcast TV angle. A side field angle gives a better view:

The penalty call is certainly open to interpretation. It looks like #7 and #20 (ND WR’s) initiate contact, but the FSU defenders also tried to jam them. The Notre Dame WR’s could have accomplished their goal simply by making it look like they were running a route (still having the intention to get in the way to free up the flat route). Take an NFL example from Week 7, with the Packers running a 2 Wide Receiver Slant/Flat combo on the goal line against Man-to-Man:

No penalty is called on the Packers Touchdown with nearly an identical situation. Why? Because Jordy Nelson, the outside WR running the Slant avoids any contact with the defender while still sealing him off from the Flat route Defender. Additionally, Jordy Nelson continues to run his route and even turns and turns and continues a route instead of looking directly at the route he just picked for. Here is the video of Jordy Nelson setting a legal pick on a Slant/Shoot combo for a Randall Cobb TD from multiple angles:

The key isn’t what the Wide Receiver intends to do or if a pick occurs, it’s how Wide Receivers selI what is occurring to a Referee watching the play at full speed and without the benefit of replay. Jordy Nelson, a true professional, does exactly the same thing the Notre Dame WR’s wanted to do without extending his arms or making it appear like he is blocking early or not actually running a route. In fact Jordy Nelson never even makes contact with the Panthers defender.  Had the Notre Dame Receivers done a better job selling the Slant/Flat pick play, they would likely be ranked #1 in the country this week.

The post TD or Penalty? Analyzing the Controversial End to Notre Dame vs. FSU appeared first on Syed Schemes.

Via Bleacher Report

This play resulted in a Touchdown via a Julius Thomas backside slant route. Fast forward to week 1 of the 2014 season. The Colts see the Dakota formation and decide to play Safety LaRon Landry in Man-to-Man coverage. Julius Thomas runs a slant again:

Julius Thomas toasts LaRon Landry for a Touchdown. In Week 6, the Broncos came out in Dakota formation in the Red Zone once again versus the Jets:

Once again, Julius Thomas is going to run the slant. While there is an inside Linebacker, there is no inside help from a secondary member, as seen by the completely empty JETS logo in the end zone. This matches up rookie safety Calvin Pryor with Julius Thomas in true man-to-man coverage. Although tape gives a slant route tendency, Pryor allows Thomas inside for an easy score:

Keep note of this formation going forward late in the season and the playoffs. Given how many times Julius Thomas has scored from this formation and route, NFL defenses certainly will adjust and take away the inside slant in some way. This can be done with a Robber, an extra safety, a dropping defensive lineman or linebacker. The Cornerback could also play hard to the inside, but this could leave a smaller Cornerback vulnerable to a fade route from the 6’5 Thomas. If too much attention is focused on Julius Thomas, the Trips side will become the go to side, via run or pass.

Looking for the “Dakota” formation elsewhere in the NFL? The Saints with Jimmy Graham, Patriots with Rob Gronkowski, and Chargers with Antonio Gates use the Dakota formation most in the NFL. Several other NFL Analysts have also noticed the Broncos prevelant use of the Dakota formation.

Post-Season Note: Julius Thomas has signed with the Jacksonville Jaguars. While he won’t be as productive as he was in Denver, the favorable match ups Julius Thomas creates (via Dakota formation and others) should certainly help out young QB Blake Bortles in 2015.

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