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<\/a><\/p>\nThis play is a good example of how play action, and a running game, helps the passing game.\u00a0 Notice the linebacker in the middle on the play, and how hard he bites on the play action.\u00a0 The corner back playing Anderson is taking outside leverage, which means he wants to filter Anderson towards the middle, and the line backer is tasked with taking the underneath route away, while the deep safety takes away the deep middle part of the field.\u00a0 The read on this play is simple, it’s the linebacker that bites on the play action.\u00a0 If the defender stays home, then it’s a longer developing play and you wait to see who the deep safety picks up, Anderson or Charone Peake from the slot.\u00a0 While Peake just got placed on injured reserve, you will see some of his route limitations here, because he telegraphs his route to the corner back.\u00a0 The defender is giving up inside leverage on this play, because that’s where he has help over the top with the safety, and linebackers designed to drop back.\u00a0 However, Peake gives away his route early because he turns inside, which allows the defender to turn his hips and move with him stride for stride.\u00a0 A better route would have been to attack the corner back vertically by going directly at him, which causes him to stay defensive since he can’t predict an inside or outside route, and then turning inside, which allows more time to create separation.\u00a0 In that scenario, you are even with the defender when he’s turning his hips, while you are still running vertically, which allows for natural separation.\u00a0 Overall, a very good route by Anderson and, good recognition and throw by McCown.<\/p>\n
2)\u00a0 The Dolphins employ an unusual blitz in this scenario, where they bring a slot corner and safety from the same spot, which more than likely is a mis-communication, especially considering the distance between the QB and the defenders.\u00a0 In most instances, on a corner or safety blitz, the defender nearby would pick up the receiver to avoid a quick throw.\u00a0 For example, if the slot corner is rightfully blitzing on this play, the safety assumes the role of the slot corner.\u00a0 In this instance, the defense is in complete disarray as they leave one person wide open, which happens to be Robby Anderson.\u00a0 If this play develops longer, the outside receiver Jermaine Kearse is going to run by the safety to be open down field, while Anderson will be open underneath him as well.\u00a0 \u00a0The actual play doesn’t deal with any of them, because the primary read on this play is Austin-Seferian Jenkins.\u00a0 McCown is reading the middle linebacker on this play again, with crossing tight end routes.\u00a0 Whomever is picked up by the middle linebacker is eliminated, and the pass goes to the other tight end.\u00a0 McCown picks correctly and they get a sizable gain from this pass.\u00a0 It’s refreshing to see the Jets utilize the tight ends more in this offense because it gives the defense another dimension to worry about when planning their course of action.<\/p>\n 3)\u00a0 Staying with the middle linebacker reads, Josh McCown hits Kearse this time for a good chunk of yards.\u00a0 The read here is again the middle linebacker.\u00a0 If the linebacker sways towards Kearse, then Jenkins is cutting underneath for the open pass and room to run.\u00a0 If the linebacker stays in the middle, then Kearse is open for the easy pass, and McCown executes it well.\u00a0 As mentioned in the previous clip, the addition of frequent tight end routes limit the reaction time of linebackers because they have to account for tight ends running routes, unlike last year.\u00a0 Notice the route of Kerase here, and compare it to the route of Peake from the first clip.\u00a0 Kerase runs straight even though his defender is giving inside leverage, which causes the defender to pause, allowing for separation.\u00a0 There is a larger gap because the defender seems to be hesitant to follow Kearse to the middle, but it’s a good example of route running.\u00a0 He didn’t give away his route early, which limited the reaction time of the defender and helped him create separation.\u00a0 It’s a shame that Peake got hurt, because he could have learned a lot about route running from Kearse.<\/p>\n 4)\u00a0 This play doesn’t count since Kearse got called for a penalty, but it needs to be a staple in the play book because numerous teams take advantage of it, especially the Patriots.\u00a0 It’s essentially a pick play, similar to a setting a screen in basketball where one offensive player blocks the path of the defender playing another offensive player.\u00a0 It’s illegal to set a screen, but the rules are lax if you can make it seem like you are trying to run around, and just happened to be in the way of the defender.\u00a0 Ironically, Kearse was blamed heavily for not setting an effective screen on the infamous interception at the goal line in the Super Bowl.\u00a0 We also saw a similar play in the college football national championship game last year, where the University of Clemson won in the last minute.\u00a0 It’s a nice throw by McCown, and good catch but it’s all for naught.\u00a0 Kearse goes out of his way to set the pick, thus it can’t be interpreted as part of his route, and he rightfully gets called for the penalty.\u00a0 This play is here because the Jets need to utilize this play more often, and it’s a good sign that they are incorporating it into their offensive plan.<\/p>\n 5)\u00a0 ArDarius Stewart makes his presence known in this game with this wonderful catch.\u00a0 This is another feather in the cap for the offensive game plan, and comes on a 3rd and 13.\u00a0 The Jets are known to be conservative and this play is a big reason why they should take more chances down the field.\u00a0 First of all, look away from Stewart to the other side of the formation.\u00a0 The Jets have three receivers to the left side of the formation, but the defense has five defenders dedicated to the area.\u00a0 The Dolphins are in zone coverage, but it’s the deep route from the slot (looks like Kerley, hard to tell) that helps this play.\u00a0 The deep route keeps the single high safety planted in the middle.\u00a0 The second aspect of this pass is the running back out of the backfield, because he’s the one that occupies the underneath defender towards Stewart’s side.\u00a0 If the defender stays with Stewart, then throw to the running back in the open and hope he can make a guy miss in the open field.\u00a0 If the defender bites on the running back, a passing lane opens up for Stewart, and the opportunity for a first down.\u00a0 Josh McCown makes a great read on this play, but a mediocre throw.\u00a0 The ball is a bit ahead of Stewart, who make a diving catch to save the drive.\u00a0 Also notice the reactions of the defender because Stewart is running a straight route, as the defender can’t make up his mind if it’s an inside or out route.\u00a0 This hesitation causes the defender to slow down and speed up a couple of times during this route, and Stewart catches him at a critical point in the transition, which allows him more space when breaking down.\u00a0 It’s not an ideal route but better than the routes run by Peake, and shows a better knowledge of setting up defenders while in route.<\/p>\n 6)\u00a0 There are offensive systems that focus on individual match-ups and then there are systems that help the QB make quick reads at various levels of the field.\u00a0 Most systems intermingle between the two to keep defenses honest.\u00a0 Therefore, on certain plays, it’s up to the receivers to win their match ups\u00a0 to be open on the play, while in certain situations, it depends on spacing.\u00a0 This one would fall under the latter.\u00a0 The play is designed to give McCown options while on the run, and it works perfectly here and you can see it unfold.\u00a0 While it’s a simple play, the set up on this is very complex.\u00a0 First of all, the play action leaning towards the left side of the formation, the biggest intent of this is to freeze the linebackers on the right side of the formation instead of driving backwards.\u00a0 The lack of movement from the defenders robs them of momentum, while the offensive players are running full speed, therefore it creates drastic differences in velocity between the offensive and defensive player.\u00a0 All the players involved in the play are then running towards the right side of the formation at varying times, which creates different levels for the QB to pick.\u00a0 If the linebackers drop too far, then there is the quick route to Jenkins available as the safe option.\u00a0 If the linebackers come up, there is Charone Peake cutting across the field at the intermediate option.\u00a0 If the linebackers slow down a bit, Kerley has the angle to the sideline.\u00a0 If the deep safety sees Peake open and goes towards him, there is an offensive player running deep behind him for a TD.\u00a0 The options vary and the defense picks it’s poison, rather than the offensive players winning individual battles.\u00a0 Josh McCown probably picked the second best option, as Peake seemed to be the safer throw with opportunity to run down the field.\u00a0 The pass to Kerley is a bit towards the sideline, and the receiver makes a good catch as he goes out of bounds.<\/p>\n 7)\u00a0 This play occurs on 3rd and 22, and even the best offensive systems can’t draw up plays that are consistently successful in these situations.\u00a0 It’s actually a bad route by Kearse as he gives away his route and sticks to the inside defender, instead of gaining more separation first.\u00a0 The Dolphins decide to put the pressure on the Jets by having just a single high safety and leaving the middle of the field open for the pre-snap read.\u00a0 If Kearse does a better job of creating separation from the inside defender, he would have had an opportunity to run for yards after the catch.\u00a0 Nevertheless, this is a great throw by McCown, who puts it exactly where Kerase could catch the ball and gain 18 yards.\u00a0 It’s not enough for a first down, but made the field goal attempt much easier.<\/p>\n 8)\u00a0 It’s likely you missed this touchdown live, because most two minute drills for the team involve kneel downs and check downs.\u00a0 The Jets decided to take some shots this time, and got rewarded with a touchdown.\u00a0 The breakdown on this play is fairly simple, read the deep safety who has two deep routes coming towards him from opposite sides of the field.\u00a0 Pick the side that appears to be safer.\u00a0 McCown does a good job of picking the right side, and then making a great throw.\u00a0 This is probably one of the best throws of McCown’s short stay with the Jets.\u00a0 Notice the route by Anderson, and the slight movement to the outside when he gets off the line.\u00a0 This small movement creates just a tad more separation with the defender because he has to take half a step to make sure Anderson is going to the inside.\u00a0 Afterwards, the receiver just turns on the afterburners and runs by the defender.\u00a0 Jenkins does his best Warriors impression by celebrating even before the catch is made.<\/p>\n 9)\u00a0 Remember the play from earlier about tiers on a roll out?\u00a0 The Jets try this again, and the Dolphins are better prepared for it.\u00a0 The offense tries the same play fake to one side, roll out to the other with receivers running in tiers, but it’s defended better on this play.\u00a0 What makes the play for the Dolphins is the middle linebacker turning around to locate Robby Anderson and close the gap as soon as possible, limiting the choices for McCown.\u00a0 He does well to take the safe option to Jenkins, although if he had more time, there is an option open down the field for a come back route.\u00a0 Unfortunately, there isn’t enough time for that route to develop.\u00a0 This is one of the advantages of having tiered routes because it allows for built in hot reads (Jenkins), intermediate reads, and deep reads, depending on how much penetration is allowed by the offensive line.<\/p>\n 10)\u00a0 Almost a TD on this simple play.\u00a0 Why is it here?\u00a0 This is a 3rd and 1 play with the Jets looking like they are going to run.\u00a0 Instead, they decide to pass, and almost get a TD out of the play.\u00a0 Remember the failed play by Kearse, where he got called for interference?\u00a0 Well guess who is back running a pick play in a crucial moment and succeeding.\u00a0 Kerase does a better job of hiding his intentions here, and even tries to get out of the way once the defender has slowed down.\u00a0 The whole point of the pick play here is to allow a clean catch, and just enough yards to get the first down.\u00a0 Since it’s a short yardage situation, most likely the defense is in a run stopping package, which means any outside passes will be defended one on one.\u00a0 Therefore, by running the pick, Kearse is impeding the momentum of the defender and ensuring a clean opportunity for a catch.\u00a0 There is also a nice block down the field that helps springs Lawrence Thomas down the field.\u00a0 Thomas was a former running back at Michigan State University, who converted to the defensive line in college, so it’s definitely a surprise to see him run down the field.<\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n