SAINTS OFFENSE V. BUCS DEFENSE McCoy started at WLB for the Bucs Mack was the Bucs nickel corner, He played on the outside with Barber inside over the slot – Ruud and Heyward were the nickel LBs Bucs showed a lot of 3-4 looks out of their base personnel with White standing up at OLB Bucs also at times played 3-3-5 personnel as their nickel package LT Bushrod a significant liability in pass protection, The Saints and Brees have compensated for him all season but it’s becoming more and more of a problem down the stretch Thomas a more physical runner than his size would indicate, Strong legs and thighs, Consistently shows the ability to run through tackles LG Nicks a great job on Thomas 8 yd TD, blocking DT Hovan at the LOS and then getting up to the second level to get LB Ruud – Nicks had an excellent year, He was a better player this season than the Vikings’ Hutchinson Meachem 30 yd TD came ...

BEARS OFFENSE V. VIKINGS DEFENSE Kennedy started at DT in place of the inactive P. Williams Sapp was again the Vikings nickel corner Vikings at times utilized a 3-3-5 package against Bears 3 WR personnel, That kept Brinkley on the field Clark 26 yds on 3rd + 3 came with both Clark and Olsen on the field, Vikings stayed with base 4-3 personnel Olsen utilized as a “Joker”, aligned all over the formation; He dictates matchups based on personnel package and formation – Olsen’s ability to align as a WR allowed the Bears to utilize “22” personnel as a major part of their offense Forte no juice to his movement, Methodical but with one speed, No burst or acceleration One tendency I’ve noticed is that defenses drop DL into coverage against Cutler inside the 10 yard line given Cutler’s propensity to throw the ball inside with little definition Brinkley a tendency to play laterally, At times seemed tentative and hesitant in his reactions to run – ...

TITANS OFFENSE V. CHARGERS DEFENSE Cromartie no interest in run support, No physicality to his game at all Chargers matched up to Titans “22” personnel with Gregory replacing Cromartie, Jammer the only true corner on the field Oliver continued to replace Ellison at safety in the Chargers nickel package, He’s a better pass defender – Ellison is a glorified LB much more effective in run support Young did not account for back side LB Siler on Siler interception, An inexperienced mistake; Plus the throw was inaccurate Young had receivers open on his 3rd + 5 fumble, There was no need for him to leave the pocket and run Overall Young did not look comfortable in this game, He played a little fast with a lack of poise at times Young much more comfortable and more effective throwing the ball to the outside than between the numbers Young took a step back in this game, He abandoned the pocket too early on several plays; There ...

PANTHERS OFFENSE V. VIKINGS DEFENSE v Moore continued to be wild high with his throws, He’s a very erratic passer with poor throwing mechanics v Leber and Greenway were the Vikings nickel LBs, Sapp was the nickel corner over the slot v Right now MLB Brinkley is a little hesitant and indecisive; At times he’s a lateral mover not a downhill player, at other times he works the trash well and makes tackles – There is an explosiveness to his movement v Moore not a real confident passer at this point; That shows up in the fact that he had a tendency to be a little late with his throws, waiting to see receivers break open rather than anticipating v Brinkley was attacked and beaten on the Hoover 1 yd TD catch, Run / pass conflict on play action at the goal line v Martin and Moore were both used as the Panthers 3rd WR, but the Panthers did not use 3 WR personnel very often v Panthers offense very basic and straightforward in its use of personnel and formations, Not a difficult offense to defend conceptually v Moore average arm strength, Did not show the ability to drive the ball down the field on intermediate and vertical ...

BENGALS OFFENSE V. CHARGERS DEFENSE Gregory was again the nickel corner for the Chargers, aligned inside over the slot; Cooper and Dobbins were the nickel LBs, and Oliver replaced Ellison at S Merriman, Phillips and English rotated at OLB in the base 3-4, and DE in the nickel package Ellison an effective box safety; The closer to the line of scrimmage he is, the more valuable is – In some ways, he’s a glorified LB Bengals continued to utilize 6 OL and unbalanced OL concepts Ochocinco 49 yd TD came out of 6 OL personnel versus Chargers 8 in the box, single high safety; Ochocinco out-and-up versus Cromartie If you can dictate 8 in the box, single high safety looks with personnel and formation, you can attack and break down Jammer on the perimeter Rookie Smith played snaps at RT, predominantly in the 6 OL personnel package Bengals pass game more proactive in this game, They threw the ball more although there were a number of snaps in which ...

PATRIOTS OFFENSE V. BILLS DEFENSE Maroney showed the ability to make the unblocked defender miss, a critical attribute that he has not consistently exhibited Maroney ran hard downhill, More north-south; He has evolved into a sustaining downhill runner with power – He’s not vertically explosive Connelly started at RG and Volmer at RT for the Patriots Brady interception was an inaccurate throw under pressure, He had Welker on the shallow cross but pressure from Schobel impacted the throw Patriots went deep to Moss on designed big play opportunities twice on the first 2 series, The second one would have been a TD (PI was called on S Whitner) but Brady was hit on his plant leg by blitzing S Wilson as he delivered and the result was an underthrown pass Brady great throw under pressure on Moss 13 yd TD, LT Light by beaten quickly to the inside by blitzing LB Scott Patriots continued to utilize both unbalanced OL formations and 6 OL personnel Brady was ...

COLTS OFFENSE V. JAGUARS DEFENSE Mathis back at LCB for the Jaguars, Middleton was the nickel corner over the slot Allen started at LB for the injured and inactive Ingram LB Smith at times aligned at DE in the nickel package; Jaguars clearly groping for any kind of pass rush – Smith often dropped out into coverage as part of zone exchange and zone blitz concepts Jaguars blitzed consistently on the Colts first possession, mostly out if their 3-3-5 package with Smith at DE – Zone blitz and zone exchange concepts Jaguars very multiple with pressures and coverages on the Colts first possession, Tried to show Manning different looks Collie 23 yd TD was an unbelievable throw by Manning: It was “cover 2” with nickel corner Middleton locked man-to-man on slot receiver Collie; Manning threw the ball to the back shoulder of Collie, which was the only place the ball could be thrown Colts only had 2 possessions in the first half, and they scored ...

PANTHERS OFFENSE V. PATRIOTS DEFENSE Butler and Chung played in the Patriots nickel package First impressions watching Moore: A little impatient in the pocket, not comfortably going through his progressions, bailing mentally and physically a little early; Tendency to be a little wild high, missing open receivers Patriots base defense in this game was the 3-4; They went to a 4 man DL in their nickel package Moore threw with a low arm angle, did not come over the top; Inconsistent release point, which produces erratic accuracy Smith 41 yd TD came out of “22” personnel with Smith the only WR, Patriots “cover 3”; Post/cross combination, a great route combination versus “cover 3” – Springs played with outside leverage versus Smith, clearly expecting inside help; Deep safety Meriweather jumped the cross, and back side CB Butler carried the cross too far, leaving Springs with no help Panthers utilized the “Wildcat” with Smith taking the direct snap in the shotgun Wilfork a dominant force at ...

BENGALS OFFENSE V. VIKINGS DEFENSE Winfield back at LCB for the Vikings; Sapp was the nickel corner over the slot – Sanford started at S in place of injured Johnson Greenway and Leber were the nickel LBs, Leber replaced Henderson in the nickel Bengals OL continued to really struggle with pass protection, Palmer clearly expected and perceived pressure in this game, He was not consistently firm in the pocket Robison aligned at DT in the Vikings nickel package, Had a sack to end the Bengals first possession Rookie OL Smith again played in the 6 OL personnel package Vikings played press consistently against Ochocinco, especially Griffin at RCB Bengals clearly did not game plan to throw the ball down the field, No designed explosiveness to their passing game, A function of their inability to pass protect with any consistency Interior of the Bengals OL had a tough time blocking Pat Williams in the run game Vikings consistently double-teamed Ochocinco, and Palmer at times forced the ball to him – Palmer ...

COACHING TAPE – WEEK 14 VIKINGS OFFENSE V. BENGALS DEFENSE With Harvin inactive, Lewis was the Vikings 3rd WR MLB Jones stood out: Recognition and instincts in the run game, What he lacks is change of direction as a pass defender S Ndukwe very active in the run game as an add-in box defender in the first quarter Vikings often utilized Shiancoe in the slot in base personnel packages, Another way to use 3 WR formations Bengals a lot of man coverage concepts, especially in long yardage situations Favre ability to extend plays a big positive in the red zone, Often breaks down coverage discipline: Rice 9 yd TD Maualuga must do a more consistent job of contact, control and release; Tendency to run around blocks rather than take them on Bengals defense looked disciplined and fast, Not a lot of mental mistakes Bengals defense more aggressive with blitz in the red zone area, They even played some “cover zero” Vikings clearly more base personnel packages, with “12” and “21” personnel – ...