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<\/a><\/p>\nThis is a terrible drop by Jalin Marshall, as Hackenberg throws a dart right to his hands. \u00a0The mechanics aren’t perfect for Hackenberg, as the hips fly open a bit quickly, but it’s not horrible as Hackenberg manages to get the lead foot pointed in the vicinity of the receiver. \u00a0While this looks like Hackenberg is staring down the receiver, his read on this zone defense (as mentioned in the article before, with the lack of coach’s film, all defensive looks are merely guesswork) is the outside linebacker. \u00a0If the linebacker follows Marshall outside, then the TE is open for a check down throw. \u00a0Since the LB did not follow Marshall to the outside, the throw was open and Hackenberg makes the throw. \u00a0Unfortunately, Marshall drops the ball, which he has shown a tendency to do in the past. \u00a0Another thing to notice on this play is the arm strength on this pass because Hackenberg is throwing the ball from the far hash mark to the sideline with laser precision. \u00a0The trajectory of the ball is important, because a QB like Fitzpatrick would need to put loft on the ball, which would allow more time for defenders to make a play.<\/p>\n
2) \u00a0 The read on this play would be familiar to most people that read this series last year. \u00a0 Considering the number of defenders on screen, the Titans are most likely showing single high safety with press man cover, except for Anthony Firkser (the receiver at the bottom of the screen), so Hackenberg makes the correct read to look at him with the first option. \u00a0Since his man is playing off the ball, and it’s a short route, the percentages say that the receiver should have an opening. \u00a0Hackenberg makes a great throw with good mechanics, but it’s flat out dropped by the receiver. \u00a0 There is no excuse for this drop.<\/p>\n 3)\u00a0 This play is on the borderline of team failure and Hackenberg’s failure. \u00a0The blame falls somewhere in the middle, but since Frankie Hammond (14) got a penalty on this play, it’s in this section. \u00a0The major problem with the play is Hammond, who does a horrendous job of blocking for this screen pass. \u00a0His main assignment on this play is to cause disruption between the two defenders, which would slow them down, and give enough time for the screen pass to take effect. \u00a0However, Hammond doesn’t anticipate the LB to move laterally as quickly, which forces him to try and block his own defender into the path of the LB, which gets called for a penalty. \u00a0Another version of this play is pretty famous from the college football national championship game, where Clemson scored the last touchdown on a rub\/pick play. \u00a0One receiver runs into the path of another defender, forcing the defense to go around him, causing the other receiver to be open. \u00a0The Jets are trying the same time here for a screen pass, but fail miserably. \u00a0Penalties are rarely called on this type of play (New England runs a fair share of them) unless it’s blatant that the receiver is just trying to block before the pass is thrown (as was the case here). \u00a0Hackenberg’s failure on this play is two fold. \u00a0One, he makes a terrible read at the line, because the Titans have two defenders to the left of the formation to account for Hammond and the running back out of the backfield. \u00a0The defender on Hammond is playing press cover, and he is not the intended receiver to this side, thus he’s just a blocker on this play to the left side. \u00a0On the other side of the formation, the Jets are in a stack formation with three options, while the Titans cover this three options with defenders at three different levels. \u00a0The pre-snap read should have gone to the left side first, which would have revealed two receivers open (somewhat open) for a quick pass. \u00a0It would still be a risky pass, but a better option than the screen pass. \u00a0Two, Hackenberg takes some zip off the screen pass (you can see that he’s reading Hammond on the block first) which allows the defenders to circle the receiver. \u00a0This is just a bad read and execution from the team all around, but since Hammond got the penalty to negate everything, it goes under Team Failure. \u00a0However, this could very well be deemed a failure by Hackenberg.<\/p>\n 4)\u00a0 The biggest culprit on this play is Jordan Todman, the running back. \u00a0The Titans bring a blitz, but the Jets are set up with max protection, but still end up letting a guy get a free run. \u00a0Todman absolutely misses his block, which allows the defender to get a free run at the QB. \u00a0Hackenberg does a good job of avoiding the sack, only to realize that the fullback missed his block as well. \u00a0On a play where the Jets have seven blockers to five defenders crossing the line, it’s an atrocity to have a defender hit the QB before he’s even at the top of his drop back.<\/p>\n 5)\u00a0 This play is here because it seems extremely conservative. \u00a0Considering how the line and receivers moved to block down the field, the screen pass was the intended play all along. \u00a03rd and 18 is not a high percentage down for a conversion, but the Jets should use these opportunities to see what they can do with Hackenberg, instead of playing it safe. \u00a0This is a coaching failure, as there should have been a more aggressive call to test out the QB, since the results hardly matter. \u00a0The Jets gain absolutely nothing by having a safe pass here. \u00a0There may be a psychological argument that the safe pass prevents the occurrence of a negative play, helping the confidence of a young QB. \u00a0However, the counter argument would be that, playing it safe should translate to the QB that his own coaching staff has no faith in him converting this down, which should hurt him psychologically.<\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n