Formation Chicanery
I thought that this observation from Jeff Legwold of the RMN was very interesting, and I certainly hadn't noticed it. Nor have I heard of anything precisely like it, strategy-wise, though I wouldn't claim to be an expert. Has Shanny done this before?
On a first-and-10 play in the third quarter from the Atlanta 11-yard line Sunday, the Broncos got the matchup they wanted by moving some people around in the formation.
They lined up tight end Daniel Graham on the outside of one side of the formation and tight end Nate Jackson on the outside of the other side. Receiver Eddie Royal then was tucked in the slot on Graham's side while receiver Brandon Marshall was tucked into the slot on Jackson's side.
This left the defense, on what was a run down against a run-oriented package in terms of personnel, to try to decide quickly whether to put the smaller defensive backs inside on the receivers where Jay Cutler then could check to a run if he wanted.
In the end, the Falcons were left with linebacker Keith Brooking on Royal, a mismatch of speed in Royal's favor. Royal easily had a step on Brooking in the scoring zone, so the defender had to pull him down before the ball arrived from Cutler.
Full column is here...
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9 comments
Comments
Not to take anything from Jeff's article...
(and it IS a very solid piece of work that I enjoyed), but what Shanahan did wasn’t that extraordinary. Jeff’s piece is insightful and instructive, but Shanahan really didn’t do much clever on that play. In fact, I credit Cutler.
Even at the high school level, when an offense comes out they can run or pass. In such a situation, if the defense has the wrong guys on the field, the offensive coordinator (or more likely the QB, through an audible) can call the play that takes advantage of whichever mis-match the defense chooses. Had ATL shown pass coverage, DEN might have ran the ball in that situation. My guess is that the credit for this play goes more to Cutler than Shanahan. I imagine he audibled the pass when he saw a LB assigned to Royal.
The best defense (for a defense) is to disguise their coverage. If ATL’s defense telegraphed a LB covering a WR, they deserve a little credit for the Denver TD too.
"Greater is an army of sheep led by a lion, than an army of lions led by a sheep" Defoe
by Steve Nichols on Nov 18, 2008 6:23 PM MST reply actions 0 recs
Thanks, HT
I hadn’t ever noticed that method of forcing a defense to declare its hand. So if Atlanta had played the pass, and the Broncos elected to run the ball, would Royal more likely operate as a run blocker, or would he run a pattern to clear out the cornerback playing opposite?
"You're slow. You're not a running back, and you're not a running back for a reason."
The Shanahan
by Broncs Cheer on Nov 18, 2008 7:24 PM MST up reply actions 0 recs
More likely he would run block.
"Greater is an army of sheep led by a lion, than an army of lions led by a sheep" Defoe
by Steve Nichols on Nov 19, 2008 1:00 AM MST up reply actions 0 recs
Nice link
I always enjoy reading Legwold’s often informative analyses, and in this instance he answered a question I asked here, about the role the line played in our linebackers’ effectiveness against Atlanta: “They did it with quality play up front, which enabled their linebackers to flow to the ball.” That would most likely mean the interior line, which suggests that D-Wayne and Thomas played well.
"In the empty spaces - lacunae, vacuums, pauses, voids, black holes - new things begin. We are born anew from the unexplored space, the badlands, the outlaw territory." - Sam Keen
by spock on Nov 18, 2008 6:46 PM MST reply actions 0 recs
If we can just plug the gaps in the interior...
…the LBs have a chance. Earlier in the season they were getting shoved around. The next step is to go beyond plugging, and to start manhandling the OL.
"Greater is an army of sheep led by a lion, than an army of lions led by a sheep" Defoe
by Steve Nichols on Nov 18, 2008 7:09 PM MST up reply actions 0 recs
Personnel groupings and formations....
have always been Mike Shanahan’s primary area of offensive creativity. They really run the same plays many times, from a lot of different groupings and pre-snap looks. The repetition of the actual plays encourages consistent execution. Legwold’s point is good, and I do tend to agree that the ultimate credit lies with Cutler for recognizing the defense and checking into (or staying with) the pass play.
By the way, to Spock’s comment, I have personally been pleased with the play of Robertson and Thomas at DT for most of this season. Teams haven’t had a lot of luck running up the middle, unlike last year. Where our problems have generally been is off-tackle, in the C gaps, and the big plays have mostly come on cutbacks, taking advantage of over-pursuit and poor tackling angles in the secondary. Our DTs have been pretty stout, but it’s a question of gap control and how well the DEs hold up outside, whether we see a consistent day stopping the run.
"I am not one of those who think that coming in second or third is winning." -- Robert F. Kennedy
by Ted Bartlett on Nov 18, 2008 7:05 PM MST reply actions 1 recs
agreed
cutbacks, misdirections, and play-action passes have been effective against this young lb unit. i expect gradual improvement here, and teams will certainly be trying to confuse this group. ditto for the de’s, although they should be experienced enough to hold the fort there. moss and doom out against the run is obviously a mismatch to be taken advantage of
hear me, perpetrators of bread crime, your punishment is at hand.
taste my blintzkrieg!
by davecheffy on Nov 19, 2008 10:38 PM MST up reply actions 0 recs
Thanks, Ted
I remember last year Doom in particular was often manhandled in those off-tackle plays. Maybe the ends have been playing the run better the last few games. Also, it seemed the back seven did a better job of contain, of not overpursuing, in the Atlanta game.
"In the empty spaces - lacunae, vacuums, pauses, voids, black holes - new things begin. We are born anew from the unexplored space, the badlands, the outlaw territory." - Sam Keen
by spock on Nov 18, 2008 8:11 PM MST reply actions 0 recs

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