The NFL Blackboard is back! A look back at the notable actions of 2023. Second episode, CJ Stroud rookie of the year.
Week 9: Texans – Buccaneers (39-37), touchdown by Tank Dell
The framework
The Houston Texans arrive in 9e week of the regular season with a negative record of 3 wins for 4 losses. Yet NFL followers are surprised. The Houston franchise, which was promised hell, is doing almost well.
The person responsible: CJ Stroud, rookie quarterback, who already looks like a veteran with his ratio of 12 touchdowns to 1 single interception. If his season is good, he is still missing the major performance.
The rookie was monumental during his opposition against the Buccaneers, collecting 4 passing touchdowns before the last drive. And with 9 seconds left on the clock, he has just moved up 60 yards of ground to offer the match point to his team trailing 37 to 33.
Demolition of Cover 2
Following a superb 28-yard pass to Tank Dell (video), the Texans find themselves on the opposing 15 line. With the receiver going out of bounds, time is stopped and Bobby Slowik (OC) sets up his play.
The conditions are special. The Buccaneers lead and with less than a minute they have chained the defenses in Cover 2. But the Texans cut this pattern to perfection thanks to a good offensive line and well-run routes.
Cover 4 against bunch
Closer to its in-goal, the defense decides to adapt and calls a Cover 4 defense or “ quarters “. Thus, no space will be left in the back of the cornerbacks exteriors. All the men of the secondary retreat on the same line deep into their camp.
To counter this device, Bobby Slowik decides to use a device in 11 staff (1 running back, 1 tight end and 3 receivers), with a “ bunch » on the wide side of the field.
THE bunch is a formation with 3 receivers close to each other. This creates confusion for defenses with a lot of movement in a rather small area. It is also a weapon for the quick passing game, the quarterback has a smaller reading zone but must analyze quickly to make the best choice.
Pin combo
THE pin combo is the number 1 weapon to beat the cover 4. Behind this name hides a simple combination, the association between a road post (straight road of 10 yards, then 45° angle inside the field) and a road in/dig (straight road of 10 yards, then 90° angle inside the field).
The goal is to attract the safety thanks to the road in (in the photo, in blue furthest inside the field). So the latter will not be able to help his cornerback. The receiver who makes the route post (in the photo, in green), he must manage to rush inside the cornerback to receive the ball between the two defenders.
The action
From his position shotgun (behind the offensive line), CJ Stroud signals his running back to move. Thanks to this he has the certainty that the defense is not disguising something.
The quarterback can then concentrate on his right side. He knows that it is here that pin combo will be run, with Tank Dell (#3, Blue) completing the route postand Noah Brown (#85, Blue) paving the way in.
After the snap, he observes the two safety. He sees that they respect their respective half of the field and that the one on his right turns his shoulders to defend Noah Brown. The window opens. The throw is perfect.
CJ Stroud scores his 5e passing touchdown of the game, signs his major performance with a victory, and puts both hands on the title of offensive rookie of the year.
