FLORHAM PARK, NJAn NFL broadcast can oftentimes last for over three hours. The total time viewers watch live-action (with the ball actually in play) averages out to a measly 10:43, per a 2010 Wall Street Journal study.<\/p>\n
Incredibly, the average NFL play is usually just under four seconds.<\/p>\n
So why does it feel as though analysts who possess the ability to break down the Xs and Os never have enough time to hit on everything? Well its simple: there actually is too much to go over during each four-second play.<\/p>\n
Outside of its nature of pure will, football is a game of strategy. Coaches deploy their pieces as if it was a game of chess, attempting to punch, counterpunch and think multiple moves ahead.<\/p>\n
The anatomy of a singular play is complex, especially when a touchdown is involved. The New York Jets first score against the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 16a Sam Darnold-to-Robby Anderson beautyis no exception.<\/p>\n
The ninth play of the Jets opening drive featured a challenge. Nine yards for a first down on an excellent drive that kickstarted the game, something Adam Gases offense has excelled at this season.<\/p>\n
At the 23-yard-line, a Sam Ficken field goal try would equal 40 yards. Darnold cannot take a sack and Gase cannot play it conservatively, but he knows the Steelers defense wont lag. Theyll play the sticks aggressively, at the very least.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
Darnold scans the defense and nothing is out of the ordinary. Pittsburghs usual single-high\/three-deep look is fully intact on this crucial 3rd-down.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
By the time Darnold takes the snap, the defense remains vanilla. The Steelers send four at the quarterback with two excellent bookend rushers in T.J. Watt and Bud Dupree.<\/p>\n
Therefore, the young quarterback knows he should have time. His five big heavies should handle the four-man rush for at least a standard 5-to-7 drop.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
This play is designed for Darnold to hit something on the right side. Of course, the left side is available in the right coverage, meaning a man-to-man look; but the Steelers go with a zone.<\/p>\n
Notice the Z-close alignment of Anderson. This is intentionally done by Gase for a reason. On the previous nine plays, Pittsburgh deployed a single-high look with cornerback lag on the outside seven times. The other two plays featured a two-deep look that even saw the strong safety messing around with a lurk\/robber position pre-snap.<\/p>\n
The soft spot in the zone against a single-high\/three-deep look is the seam. (Against a two-deep zone, its the middle of the field on a post or deep dig or down the sideline on a fade\/9-route.)<\/p>\n
Therefore, Andersons seam out of the close alignment is the perfect call against this Steelers pre-snap look and Darnold should be looking his way from the jump.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
The Steelers gamble with the coverage. Instead of allowing the free safety to take his usual deep middle-third zone, he jumps up into a robber position, looking to take away the sticks over-the-middle.<\/p>\n
Darnold sees it and knows he doesnt have to adjust. Instead of looking to fit the seam into Anderson against three-deep, he can do it against a two-deep CB look (with the corner maintaining outside leverage).<\/p>\n
The free safety action to robber is the key.<\/p>\n
Luckily, there wasnt much for young Darnold to think about on this one. Anderson represented the primary target initiallyespecially if single-high\/three-deep was the lookand he turned out as a better choice once the free safety walked up into a robber.<\/p>\n
The only thing Darnold had to worry about was the strong safety trailing, who helped bracket Anderson.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
It didnt matter. Darnolds strong and confident throw coupled with perfect placement allowed Anderson to make a tremendous catchone that showcased the greatest evidence that he can be a No. 1 receiver in the NFL.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
Its not always this easy. Granted, the throw and catch were difficult; it was the pre-snap primary target remaining the perfect choice that turned out as a relatively easy quarterback read on this onethanks to the single-high move to robber.<\/p>\n
In the end, credit Darnold, Anderson and Gase. Especially credit the play-caller for knowing to place his top wideout in the close alignment to run that seam against a familiar Steelers single-high look.<\/p>\n
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Read more from the original source: FLORHAM PARK, NJAn NFL broadcast can oftentimes last for over three hours. Continue reading
\nNew York Jets Film Room: The anatomy of a Sam Darnold-to-Robby Anderson TD - Elite Sports NY<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"