In this game between 2 Heisman winning QBs, We are going to
look at 2 Deep TDs from the more polarising of the Two. Johnny Manziel.
If you have been living under a rock for the last few years,
let me quickly catch you up on Johnny Football. He was drafted with the #22
overall pick of the 2014 NFL Draft by Cleveland. The Team was in desperate need
for a playmaking QB after struggling at the position since Bernie Kosar (Pre
Injuries). They believed they picked that with the Texas A&M Star, but
Manziel struggled to adapt to the ‘Pro Game’ and failed to beat out long time
back-up Brain Hoyer for the starting gig. He’s play was so bad that Kyle Shanahan,
OC at the time, reportedly quit is position because the Browns front office
wanted Manziel as starter for the 2015 season. Fast forward to the start of the
2015 season and Manziel once again failed to win the job, this time from
journeyman QB Josh McCown. Though his play had improved under the new OC John
DePhilippo impressing some during the pre-season.
Now in Week 2, Manziel is forced into the Starting role
after an injury to McCown. Making only the 3rd start of his Career.
His opposite number, Marcus Mariota, has had a great start to his Pro Career.
Beating fellow rookie QB and #1 pick Jameis Winston easily.
Enough of the intro. Let’s get into the 1st of
our 2 plays.
This is only the Second offensive play for the Browns. It’s
a clever play call that reminds me of something the Eagle used to do with Michael
Vick, another mobile QB that had a ‘live’ arm. Let’s throw it Deep early. The
Idea is very simple, Take a shot deep and hope you score or give yourself good
field position. And in the Browns case, they aren’t expecting much from
Manziel. They are going to be leaning on their Defence most of the game any
way. So why not take a low risk shot, if he fails its 3rd down with decent
field position if they are forced to punt. If he hits it, there is a great
chance of points.
2nd and 8 on the Browns 40.
After a motion we get a slight adjustment by the LB’s. This
action gives us a clue to the coverage. With the LB’s shifting so far to the
left, we can safely assume that neither one of them will be in Man coverage on
the TE on the right of the formation. Add that to the rolled down SS (8 Yards
off the LOS) and a CB in press. We can guess at Man coverage. The only question
mark is the FS. He’s got a wide alignment which is going to make any Deep
Middle zone difficult to get into. Plus a Play Action to hold his depth early
in the play. Manziel is onto a winner.
These shots show Manziel knows it. There is no look off, no
pump fake. His eyes go straight from faking the hand-off to looking Benjamin on
the Skinny Post.
The location of the football wasn’t great, but he puts
enough on it to clear the trailing Corner and give the WR time to adjust.
And just like that, the Browns are 6-0 up on a play that
would have been much harder for the weaker armed McCown.
Now we look at the more spectacular of the 2 TDs. This play
shows at times, Coaching is overrated. You can design a play to work whatever
way you want, but when you have a QB like Manziel, you can guarantee that he
will show you a different way of running it. And here he is, at is
unconventional best.
Its 3rd and 6
We have Trips Right (Bottom), an Eligible Tackle playing TE
to the Left (Top) and a RB to the left of the QB. Plus a motion from #2
receiver on the trips receiver.
The Motion gives us the coverage. Defender follows the
Receiver showing us Man coverage. 1 high Deep safety gives us Cover 1 Man. What
we don’t know what’s happening in terms of blitzes or QB Spys/Extra zones (1
over 1 Robber/Rat).
The have a Flood concept called to the trips side. The play
is drawn up so Manziel just has to read half the field, picking either of the 2
Receivers running towards the sideline or running himself to the right side.
Extending the play. There is nothing on the Left for Manziel. Odds are there
was a Naked Boot to the right to help the QB. However…
We will never know because the Defence have called a blitz
to go with their man coverage and it’s a big one. Let’s see it from the other
angle
Count them… 7 Guys are coming after Manziel. The angle #91
Morgan on the Right gets, shuts down any option of running that way. The ILBs
just mistime their Crossing blitz that could have blown this play up more. Even
the DTs were Stunting. The titans were determined to get to Manziel on this
play and get the ball back. Maybe too much as they got in their own way trying
to get pressure. However, #98 Orakpo gets a clean run but takes too shallow an
angle to Manziel. Giving him the chance to spin out of the pocket to the left.
If you’re a Titans fan, you’re happy right now right?
Manziel is trapped on the wrong side of the field. There are no Routes running
to the Left and there are no running lanes thanks to the hustle of 305lb DT,
#99 Jurrell Casey. All Manziel can do is throw the ball away…
Manziel does throw the ball away… Deep down the field to Travis
Benjamin who had started coming back across the field to help his QB out.
TD Browns and a 2 score lead with only 2:52 remaining. Yep,
there is a time when coaching is overrated Ladies and Gents.
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