Posted by Rafael at Wednesday, October 13, 2010
The big pass plays are back. Like a chronic disease, the bombs which have troubled the Cowboys since Darren Woodson's retirement again plague the secondary. The reason, as it has been these last seven painful seasons, is suspect safety play. Here are three big plays from the Chicago and Tennessee games where the safeties hung their corners out to dry.
1. Chicago, week two:
The Cowboys have just taken a 14-10 lead and have the Bears in a 3rd-and-15. A stop gets the ball back to the offense with a chance to widen the lead.
Chicago runs a stack on its left side, with Johnny Knox and Devin Hester lining up in an I, with Hester motioning just behind Knox at the snap. They run upfield together and at twelve yards Hester cuts inside, while Knox continues straight up the left seam:
Dallas is playing zone; note LCB Mike Jenkins' width. The safeties are to backpedal and keep action in front of them. If either Alan Ball or Gerald Sensabaugh sees the man on his side going deep, he's to turn and run with him. Notice, however, that Sensabaugh has given up his cushion on Knox. That's because he's going to close on Hester. But notice in the next still how Ball is ready to pick up Hester's cross. Both safeties have jumped the short route, turning Knox free. By the time Sensabaugh peels off and tries to get back into his deep zone, it's too late; Knox is behind him. Jenkins has to close but he has too much ground to cover. Jay Cutler hits Knox for 59 yards:
2. Tennessee, 2nd quarter
The Titans face a 2nd-and-8 from the Cowboys' 18. On this play they run a two man combination to their right side. Nate Washington runs a crossing route from the slot against Sensabaugh at 12 yards while Kenny Britt runs a cross six yards farther upfield against Orlando Scandrick. Alan Ball is the safety on that side. In the first still, notice how he's dropped a couple of yards into the end zone, and has both routes in front of him:
Ball, in this case, anticipates Vince Young will throw short to Washington and tries jumping into the lane for a pick. You can see in still two that Ball winds up in front of Washington's route.
The problem is Young threw to his deeper target; Young's pass zips into the area Ball vacated and Britt grabs a touchdown. (Look carefully and you can see the ball on the back line, just above the "Y''.)
The big pass plays are back. Like a chronic disease, the bombs which have troubled the Cowboys since Darren Woodson's retirement again plague the secondary. The reason, as it has been these last seven painful seasons, is suspect safety play. Here are three big plays from the Chicago and Tennessee games where the safeties hung their corners out to dry.
1. Chicago, week two:
The Cowboys have just taken a 14-10 lead and have the Bears in a 3rd-and-15. A stop gets the ball back to the offense with a chance to widen the lead.
Chicago runs a stack on its left side, with Johnny Knox and Devin Hester lining up in an I, with Hester motioning just behind Knox at the snap. They run upfield together and at twelve yards Hester cuts inside, while Knox continues straight up the left seam:
Dallas is playing zone; note LCB Mike Jenkins' width. The safeties are to backpedal and keep action in front of them. If either Alan Ball or Gerald Sensabaugh sees the man on his side going deep, he's to turn and run with him. Notice, however, that Sensabaugh has given up his cushion on Knox. That's because he's going to close on Hester. But notice in the next still how Ball is ready to pick up Hester's cross. Both safeties have jumped the short route, turning Knox free. By the time Sensabaugh peels off and tries to get back into his deep zone, it's too late; Knox is behind him. Jenkins has to close but he has too much ground to cover. Jay Cutler hits Knox for 59 yards:
2. Tennessee, 2nd quarter
The Titans face a 2nd-and-8 from the Cowboys' 18. On this play they run a two man combination to their right side. Nate Washington runs a crossing route from the slot against Sensabaugh at 12 yards while Kenny Britt runs a cross six yards farther upfield against Orlando Scandrick. Alan Ball is the safety on that side. In the first still, notice how he's dropped a couple of yards into the end zone, and has both routes in front of him:
Ball, in this case, anticipates Vince Young will throw short to Washington and tries jumping into the lane for a pick. You can see in still two that Ball winds up in front of Washington's route.
The problem is Young threw to his deeper target; Young's pass zips into the area Ball vacated and Britt grabs a touchdown. (Look carefully and you can see the ball on the back line, just above the "Y''.)
