NFL Breakdown Week Two - Jaguars D comes up big to help upset Miami

I can honestly say this Game was a surprise. I knew that the Jags were improving but I expected Miami to come in and walk it. So I was happy to still be watching a close game going into the 4^th quarter.

So going into the 4^th Q, we have 2 stalled Offenses giving each other every chance to run away with the game. Jags were struggling with drops, poor route running and questionable playcalling. However, on Defence they had finally started getting pressure on Tannehill. This was making life difficult for Bill Lazor (Miami’s OC) as he had lost all faith in his team’s ability to run the football, heavily leaning on his QB’s mobility.

What we are going to look at is 2 Key Sacks that helped Jacksonville’s Defence get off the field during the key a 4^th Q. Without them, I have little doubt that Miami would have found a way to score the points required to win this game.

The first Sack comes on a 1^st and 10 with 11:31 on the clock on the ‘Phins 35. It’s the second play of the drive after an 11 yard pick-up on the pervious play.

Tannehill is looking at the entire Defence, in a hope of working out the coverage. What we see here is a 1 high Defence with a Down Safety walking down to the LOS. The DL aren’t lined in anything 2 exotic, just a basic Over front. The Coverage is important on a sack. It’s not all about getting someone to the QB quickly. If there is a player uncovered, the QB can get rid of the ball before the Blitz/rushers can get there. There is a little motion on the trips side to help the QB.

 

The Defensive players swap receivers, which normally means a Zone. Add that to a Safety being down on the LOS. Tannehill can make a safe bet that this is a Zone. The only thing that could lead any QB to question this is the Press at the bottom of the screen.

 

What we actually get is a Safety blitz with Man coverage. Now there are a couple of rules you can follow to beat a Blitz as a QB. The safest one it to throw as the Blitz quickly. Hoping to get the ball to a receiver in that area before the coverage can either, fill the gap in a zone blitz or for another player to pick-up the free Receiver in Man coverage.

 

But because of the Play Action playcall, Tannehill can’t get the ball out that quickly. And because of where the Blitz comes from, there is no ‘free’ receiver.

So we have a perfect storm. Disguised blitz/coverage and an Offensive playcall that isn’t helping the QB. Now all the Defence needs is for the Blitz/Pass Rush to get there.

 

There are many beautiful things that can happen on a Football Field. One of them is a perfectly executed Blitz. And this is one. We have a Loop from the DE on the Right as we are seeing it, with the Down Safety coming hard off the edge. That’s 5 guys rushing against 5 Blockers as the RB releases to a route after the Play Action. Should stand up right?

 

But the Loop from the Defence causes communication problems on the O Line. The C and RG end up blocking the same guy, giving the DE a free run at the QB. Add to that a Good Rush from the rest of DL and Blitzing Safety…

 

And we get a Party in the Backfield, and everyone was invited.

This Play puts Miami into a hole on 2^nd down, which would be made worse by a penalty. 2 plays later and the Dolphins are punting the ball away.

 

 

The Second Sack comes after a Good punt from Jacksonville. Miami are 1^st and 10 on their own 8 Yard line, with only 3:02 on the ticker. With So little time left in the game, the last thing you want to do is punt the ball away inside your own 20. More than likely giving the opposition good field positon at the end of the game.

 

Jacksonville showing 1 High again. Getting the extra man in box to help defend any run Miami might try to give themselves room to work with.

 

Tannehill is working with another Pass play and making his pre-snap reads. The obvious 1 High Safety cuts the downs the possible Zone calls to C3 or a Zone blitz. But there is little else shown by the Defence to give away what they are running. Until the Cadence, when the Corners start bailing out, tipping Cover 3.

 

And that’s what the Defence turns out to be, a standard looking cover 3 with no extra Rush. This is what makes a DC so happy. Getting to the QB sending just 4.

 

All the routes are running into covered zones, nothing that is attacking any seams quickly or working through zones. Giving Tannehill no Quick outlet.

 

 

Jags DE Odrick Beats LT Fox so quickly that Tannehill can’t work through a progression or take off to run.

 

 

This Sack buried the Dolphins, leaving them on their own 1 Yard line. It could have been so much worse as Tannehill fumbles the ball into the Endzone. LT Fox cleverly scoops the ball back into the field of play, saving a Safety.

2 plays later, Miami are punting the ball away again. Giving the Jags the field positon they desperately needed to win the game.