New Orleans Saints Passing Game (Part II)

Continuing the New Orleans Saints Passing Game, we move from their vertical-stretching 5-step game into their deadly 3-step horizontal stretch.

SPACING
If you have to defend four vertical receivers, you’ll be looking to keep a cushion on the receivers and safeties deep to prevent them from getting over the top. What happens when those receivers bolt out of their stance only to come up short (quickly)? With four deep defenders, you’re not left with many bodies left to cover the 53 1/3 yard width of the field underneath (horizontal stretch). This leads us to the spacing concept and its variations.

After threatening and torching DBs with the 5-step game, what do you do when those same receivers come up short on their stem and break short? You're left with a big cushion between the receiver and the ball.

Previously covered here, with its variations stick , scat, and snag, these short concepts allow receivers to gain immediate horizontal leverage on underneath defenders, gain separation, and allow the quarterback to quickly throw a completion.

SCREENS

Again working off the 5-step passing game, the utilization of screens to trap an over aggressive defense underneath creates another dimension of attack. So for a defense, just wildly attacking the quarterback won't get it done (because you only open up the effectiveness of the screens). Getting full use out of the athleticism of their running backs and tight ends, the Saints can further isolate less athletic defenders in space by showing a ‘deep pass threat’ (drop back action) then throwing to a back (feigning blocking) with a linemen leading on the perimeter for them.

RB Screens

Here we'll see backs Reggie Bush and Pierre Thomas athleticism exploiting linebackers and safeties to get to the perimeter.

TE Screens

With versatile players like Jeremy Shockey, David Thomas, Billy Miller, and Heath Evans (now Jason McKie), the Saints can create a 3-way threat H-back. Using these players in such a role further aids the run game and deep passing game.

PLAY ACTION

BOOT

As with any good zone / stretch running team, the bootleg off of run action is a great way to slow down and victimize backside defensive edge pressure. A back or tight end will release backside (of run action) with a post (playside of run action) creating a two-level horizontal stretch that a quarterback can be assured of an easy downfield completion.

FLOOD

The flood concept creates a three-level sideline stretch after freezing the defense with run action. With a receiver deep (outside the hash), a receiver intermediate (outside the hash), and a back flaring to the flat; the quarterback is assured a completion by overloading a defense to one side.

I hope this overview of 5-step, 3-step, and complimentary passes provides a 100-foot perspective of how these concepts are employed to keep a defense on their heels. With a myriad of ways to attack on any given play, every down becomes a "passing down" regardless of field position. This versatility also alleviates pressure on the offensive line both in pass protection and run blocking. Because the defense cannot pin their ears back and focus on one or two game plan elements, they are forced to slow down and react, allowing the offense to dictate the tempo of the game (and why you'll often see Sean Payton open games with up-tempo/no-huddle drives).

PROLOGUE

PART I - VERTICAL
PART II - HORIZONTAL
PART III - SEAN PAYTON QUARTERBACKING

New Orleans Saints Passing Game (Part I)

The Super Bowl Champion, New Orleans Saints, and Head Coach Sean Payton have perfected an age old recipe for moving the ball down the field. With just a handful of concepts the offense can generate a solution on any given down to always leave the defense guessing what will hit them next. This versatility is what is required for an offense to adapt and survive in an increasingly competitive age of evolving defenses. It also illustrates the necessary "toolbox" of answers an offense must possess in its arsenal (when your best play and your counter to your best play is shut down, now what?).

The next few posts will explore some basic concepts of their passing attack to horizontally and vertically stretch defenses and provide easy answers to any situation. I don't intend to reinvent the wheel here - most of these concepts have been covered extensively before, either on smartfootball (which we'll borrow heavily from) or this site. We're merely attempting to provide an overview of the concepts (this site is mainly for coaches who already know this stuff) and how they adapt to a defense's response. These methods are actually quite common and are the standard blueprint for the modern offense ( air raid principles ). What makes the application for the Saints so effective obviously is a more-than-competent quarterback, a bevy of consistent receiving threats, and an emphasis on the 3-step game to alleviate pressure on the offensive line to be engaged in pass protection for extended durations.

VERTICALS

The crux of the passing game is premised on blowing the top off defensive coverage by sending multiple receivers down field on any given play. It only takes one open deep receiver on one play to threaten a defense. As written about extensively at smartfootball, the 4 vertical package is a 5-step concept that is best run out of 1-back or no-back sets meant to horizontally stretch deep safeties.
The illustration shows the 4 vertical package, and subsequent pictorials will be overlaid with the 4 vert concept to demonstrate how the stems will appear the same.

CORNER

After threatening the defense with four vertical receivers, the offense uses another 5-step concept, a corner or china concept where the vertical #2 receiver bends his route deep outside away from any deep safety, while the #1 receiver stops his route shallow, thus "high-lowing" a side of the field (if corner retreats deep, throw underneath / if corner stays shallow, throw over the top outside).

As you will see in the clips below, it can be run out of any formation and even out of play-action ( becomes "Rodeo / Lasso" in 'the system ).

DIG

After presenting a threat to the horizontal and vertical sides of the field, with the 5-step Dig concept, the offense looks to exploit the width of the safeties created by the previous two concepts. So, if you're attacked deep and outside, the dig will victimize you where you ain't (inside and intermediate).

Variations of the 'dig' concept

With Dig, and its many varations (shallow /levels /drive), the concept is made more effective by running a player into the intermediate hole of a defense while simultaneously running another player at a lower depth to create two (often intersecting) levels on underneath inside defenders.

This opener of 5-step concepts will lead us into 5-step traps (screens) and (my favorite) the 3-step game.


PROLOGUE

TRENDS: Dime Pressure

Noting the trend of defenses to use dime packages even in nickel (11 personnel) situations.

Clips from the past season where 3 receiver-1 tight end formations (standard fare in the NFL) allow the defense to introduce a nickel and dime back and only leave in 2 or 3 defensive linemen.

I intended to go over some of these in more detail, but I've been swamped of late and wanted to share some clips rather than sit on them.

09NYJ_dime @ Yahoo! Video

09NYJets_Dime @ Yahoo! Video

09gbchi @ Yahoo! Video

09gb @ Yahoo! Video

09GB_a @ Yahoo! Video

09MIA @ Yahoo! Video

09NE @ Yahoo! Video

09NOSaints_GWilliams @ Yahoo! Video

Gregg Williams

In the coming weeks leading into the next fall season, I plan to have some (not much) free time....



To occupy my time, I plan on examining the New Orleans Saints defense and attempt to get a handle on the utilization of personnel and the many ways he looks to manufacture pressure.

SBXLIV - Final Drives

Serving up some drive-thru Daquiri Who Dat,

New Orleans finally gets it DONE!

As expected, the Super Bowl featured a matchup of two teams that were about as evenly-matched as you could hope for. The Indianapolis Colts played a fine game and took advantage of the many weaknesses of the Saints defense.

I was actually pretty surprised to see Gregg Williams live in a 3-man front for the majority of the game, replacing some of their better defenders (Ayodele and McCray) in favor of Jeff Charleston (leaving me screaming WTF with seeing Mitchell and Young in the game). Obviously, Williams was going to treat 11 personnel as a dime matchup, instead of nickel, counting Dallas Clark as a receiver. Point being, it was remarkable to see a defense come out in the biggest game of the season in a look they rarely relied upon all year.

With that, it would appear that Williams (B.Ryan protege) took a page out of Rex Ryan's NY Jets game plan from last week, and threw some double-eagle ("46") Cover 1 on the Colts. Again, rather uncharacteristic of what they've done all season.

Saints

SBXLIVNOFINAL @ Yahoo! Video

Colts

SBXLIVFINAL @ Yahoo! Video

...and of course, the Balls Deluxe call of the evening (onside and ensuing drive);

ghug @ Yahoo! Video

I did some experimenting of my own for this game, relying on a steady dose of Guinness and Strongbow (known as a 'Black Velvet' or 'Velvetene') to create an amazingly smooth taste ala a Black and Tan.

* for some perspective here (impact on the state), up here in "East Texas, Louisiana" (Shreveport-Bossier), at about 9:00 pm CST, AT&T cell towers were overloaded and remained crippled until 5 am this morning.

Mango Mango on Bourbon St. last night (after Porter INT)

The Porter pick

Porter @ Yahoo! Video

The deflating stalled goalline drive for the Colts

FinalDrive @ Yahoo! Video

Breesus (stat analysis)

Manning
attempts 11-20 of a Game is where he has his highest QB rating 111.7
attempts 31+ of a Game is where he has his worst QB rating 81.4

Brees
attempts 1-10 of a Game is Where he has his highest QB rating of 117.7
attempts 11-20 of a Game is Where he has his Lowest QB rating of 99.1


the Third Quarter is typically Manning's worst
6 of his interceptions were thrown in this quarter(most of any quarter)
qb rating 81.6 (lowest of any quarter)
Half of his sacks have come in the Third quarter
66.4 completion percentage(lowest of any quarter)

the Fourth Quarter is typically Manning's best
1 interceptions
qb rating of 115.3
3 sacks
71.8 completion percentage

the Second Quarter is typically Brees's Worst
7 interceptions thrown in this quarter
qb rating of 105.9
8 sacks
64.2 completion percentage

the First Quarter is typically Brees's Best
2 interceptions thrown
qb rating of 114.9
5 sacks
79.9 completion percentage

Manning's best quarter is slightly better than Drew's Best quarter
Drew's Worst Quarter is way better than Manning's Worst quarter

since the game will be played on Grass
Brees on Grass
QB Rating 98.1
He has been sacked 8 times on grass compared to 12 on turf

Brees has been worse on Grass this year than turf pretty much the opposite of Manning

Manning on Grass
QB Rating 121.1
He has been sacked 3 times on Grass compared to 7 on turf

Manning has been way better on grass as opposed to turf this season all of his stats are actually better on Grass

Since we both will technically be away lets see how both did away

Brees
98.1 QB rating
Sacked 11 out of his 20 times
67.8 completion percentage

Manning
112.6 QB Rating (better than at home)
sacked 3 out of his 10 times
73.2 completion percentage

Manning has been way better on the Road this year.
Lets look at situations they may face in games

Last 2 minutes of the Half

Manning
112.6 Rating
0 sacks
67.6 completion percentage

Brees
106.1
3 sacks
61.5

Both dangerous within last 2 minutes but as you can see Manning is beastly within last 2

since we know both of these quarterbacks are great when playing with a lead, lets compare them win behind

Brees
Behind by 1-8 points
128.9 qb rating
7 of his sacks have happened when down by 1-8
74.2 completion percentage

Behind by 9-16
86.0 qb rating
2 of his sacks have happened when down by 9-16
66.7 completion percentage

Manning
behind by 1-8
qb rating 116.2
7 of his 10 sacks have happened when down by 1-8
71.6 completion percentage

behind by 9-16
qb rating 58.4
3 of his 10 sacks happened when down by 9-16
60.5 completion percentage

as you can see this year Brees has been the Better QB when down and should fare better if he falls behind than if Manning Falls behind

One last aspect of game we'll look at final 7 minutes of 4th quarter

Manning
135.8 qb rating
2 of his sacks happened in the final 7 minutes
in the final 7 minutes he has a 75% completion rate

Brees
108.2 qb rating
2 of his sacks happened in the final 7 minutes
in the final 7 minutes he has a 73% completion rate

Though both were very good this year in final minutes Manning has the edge in the waning minutes of a game

Drew Brees has accomplished all of the following throwing the ball 39 (that's an entire game)fewer times than Manning through 14 games:

• If Drew Brees has a shot at breaking Otto Grahams single season record for yards per attempt of 8.63 (Drew is at 8.54)
• Drew has a shot of breaking Ken Anderson's completion % record in a single season of 70.55% (Drew is at 70.6%)
• Drew Brees leads the NFL with 36 touchdowns- 34 pass and 2 rush.
• Drew Brees leads the NFL with 70.6% completion percentage.
• Drew Brees leads the NFL in first down passing, 150/212 completing 70.8% with 1900 yards, 8.96 yards per attempt, 18 passing TD's, 2 rushing TD's, and 2 int for a QB rating of 122.8; for the down that sets the tone of down and distance, Drew Brees is by far the best QB in the NFL.
• Drew is the best on second down with a passer rating of 99.8
• Drew Brees leads the NFL in passer rating with 109.6
• Drew Brees is leads the NFL in redzone scoring, with 23 TD's (21 pass and 2 rush) to go with 16 more rushing TD's by our RB's.
• Drew Brees leads the #1 overall offense in yards and scoring, having a very rare top 5 rushing (5th) and passing attack (3rd).
• Drew Brees leads the NFL in passing against the blitz, with a rating of 129.8 and 13 TD's and 9.91 yards per attempt.

*Drew Bress leads the NFL in downfield passing --passes 21 yards or more in the air, before the catch--
Drew is.... 29/48 (60.4%) for 1024 yards, 12TD's and 3 ints
Manning is 16/54 (29.6%) for 534 yards 7TD's, 4 ints.

• Drew Brees is the best with passes thrown behind the line of scrimmage with a passer rating of 111.5
• Drew brees is also the best with passes thrown 11-20 yards (in air from LOS) with a passer rating of 99.9
• *Drew Brees leads the NFL in passing inside the numbers with a passer rating of 117.9, 21 TD's, 9.5 yards per attempt, and 68.8%
• Drew Brees is the best throwing to the left side with a passer rating of 114.6
• Drew Brees is the best throwing to the left sideline with a passer rating of 97.8
• Drew Brees is the best throwing to the right side with a passer rating of 138.0
• Drew Brees is the best throwing to the right sideline with a passer rating of 103.1
• Drew Brees is best in passing yards per ATTEMPT with 8.54
• Drew Brees is the best passing out of the shotgun with a rating of 106.5
• Drew Brees is the best passing out of a lone setback with a rating of 114.6
• Drew Brees is the best in the first 8 games of the season with a passer rating of 106.1
• Drew Brees is the best in games 9-16 of the season with a passer rating of 113.4
• Drew Brees is the best in games he wins with a passer rating of 112.3
• Drew Brees is the best in a final margin of victory of 15+ points with a passer rating of 136.8
• Drew Brees is the best in a margin of victory of 0-7 points with a passer rating of 101.8
• Drew Brees is the best on turf, with a passer rating of 114.4
• Drew Brees is the best indoors with a passer rating of 118.0
• Drew Brees is the best vs the NFC with a passer rating of 114.1
• Drew Brees is the best in division play with a passer rating of 112.2
• Drew Brees is the best in September with a passer rating of 118.1
• Drew Brees is the best in November with a passer rating of 120.2
• Drew Brees is the best in December with a passer rating of 103.7
• Drew Brees is the best when playing from behind by 1-8 points with a passer rating of 126.3
• Drew Brees is the best when playing from behind by 9-16 points with a passer rating of 86.0
• Drew Brees is the best in passer rating when playing with a lead (any marigin, all splits and collectively) with 123.1
• Drew Brees is the best in his first 10 passing attempts with a QB rating of 115.2-- Talk about setting the tone early.
• Drew has by far the best passer rating with attempts 21+. In other words, once Drew throws more than 20 times in a game (normally when a QB's throws are of most importance because it is later in the game) completing 69.2% for 1816 yards and 16 TD's, Drew is the best with a rating of 116.1!
• Drew Brees has thrown ZERO!! 0 interceptions in the 4th quarter.
• Drew Brees is the best in the last two minutes of a half, with 7TD's (6 pass, 1 rush), 9 20+ yard throws, and a qb rating of 104.0
• Drew Brees is the best in the first half with a passer rating of 106.3
• Drew Brees is the best in the second half with a passer rating of 113.9
• Drew Brees is the best in the first quarter with a passer rating of 110.7
• Drew Brees is the best in the second quarter with a passer rating of 101.8
• Drew Brees is the best in the third quarter with a passer rating of 114.6
• Drew Brees has a passer rating of 113.4 in the 4th quarter
• Drew Brees is the best at home, by far, with a passer rating of 120.1.
• Drew Brees is the best with 1 or more TE's in formation with passer ratings of 111.1 (1 TE), 110.8 (2 TE), and 132.4 (3+ TE)
• Drew Brees is the best with NO TE in the formation with a passer rating of 95.7
• Drew Brees is the best with 2 and 3 WR sets, with a passer rating of 99.2 (2 wr) and 111.1 (3 wr)
• Drew Brees is the best when sending a man in motion with a passer rating of 134.6.
• Drew Brees is the best with NO motion with a passer rating of 108.4
  
  

Drew Brees

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/player...?playerId=2580

Peyton -
http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/player...?playerId=1428

Manning leads Drew with 15 interceptions.
Manning has 17 more passing yards than Drew.

Manning has a better passer rating for away games with 116.3
Manning plays better during a loss with a passer rating of 95.7 (to Drew's 95.4)
Manning has a better rating when winning by 8-14 points of 87.5 (to Drew's 85.6)
Manning has a better passer rating in the month of October with 111.9
Manning has a better passer rating on grass with 121.9
Manning has a better passer rating outdoors with 102.1
Manning has a better passer rating vs the AFC with a 98.2 (to Drew's 95.4)
Manning has a better passer rating the 4th qtr with 116.0
Manning has a better passer rating during attempts 11-20 with 113.2
Manning has a better passer rating on third down with 114.0
Manning has a better passer rating on fourth down with 126.7
Manning has a better passer rating when the game is tied with 117.1
Manning has a better passer rating throwing to the middle with 126.4
Manning has a better passer rating with passes thrown 1-10 yards (in air) with 99.6
Manning has a better passer rating with 4+ WR's in formation at 114.6

Super Bowl XLIV ....lagniappe

I’m, as are you, looking forward to a great matchup this weekend for the Super Bowl. I really was hoping for this matchup of two great teams going at it for a competitive game. I’m not sure how anyone can come away from this matchup and believe there is a clearly decided superior going into the game. Both teams have equal performances and big-play capabilities. I think one should temper the Conference Championship games with some perspective, however;

• The Minnesota Vikings battled the Saints the entire season for supremacy of the NFC every week.
• The New York Jets were thought to be eliminated from playoff contention in November.

That being said, I would enjoy a Saints victory on a personal level and also for what it would do for New Orleans and the entire state of Louisiana. The weeks following the NFC Championship game have been euphorically uplifting to all the citizens of the Boot. As a football enthusiast, I would settle for just watching two teams compete at a high level, with an emphasis on execution.

 I just want to illustrate a few points leading up to the game. First and foremost, it is imperative that the Saints get off to a fast start. Sean Payton has been methodical for the past few seasons by opening games with an up-tempo, scripted series. This is how the Saints establish the rhythm they carry throughout the game. Often times, they may not even huddle in the opening drives – they will do little shifting or motions to start out. I really hope they get back to these ‘basics’ for the Super Bowl, as it was absent during the Dallas Cowboys regular season game as well as the NFC Championship game. Not necessarily the tempo, but the play selection of “what the Saints do”. In the games that the Saints dominate on offense and get into an unstoppable groove, occur after they stress defenses out horizontally and vertically. They work the 3-step game better than any other team in the league – I hope they return to this attitude in this game. This is the crux of setting up runs by Pierre Thomas, Reggie Bush, and now Lionel Hamilton (Mike Bell, what happened?), screens, reverses, and boot action.

spacing @ Yahoo! Video

Also, I would really hope they stress the Colts defense out quickly with their empty package. It makes protection that much simpler as well as creating the horizontal divide of underneath defenders that more pronounced (as seen in these clips). All concepts are the quick 3-step, alleviating issues with Indianapolis’ pass rush (with or without Freeney).

empty @ Yahoo! Video

While the Colts have struggled this season in establishing their run game, I must say that their most effective weapon comes from their play-action passing, as that involves the mastery of quarterback, Peyton Manning. It almost sounds like an oxymoron (that play-action remains effective when their actual run game struggles), but as you will see, Manning’s execution of ball fakes (and Howard Mudd’s offensive line’s footwork) is what makes this work. In these clips with Edgerrin James (pre-Dallas Clark days) and Joseph Addai (Clark era), the effectiveness of Manning to blow the top off of coverages, may be an Achilles Heel for New Orleans defense, whose linebackers have difficulty in controlling the seams.

Unfortunately, I think the matchup that certainly favors the Colts is the Lija/Saturday/DeVan vs Ellis(Hargrove)/Ayodole combination.  This, of course, will be the lynch-pin for establishing the inside zone running, and Ayodele is not partiularly stout at handling doubles. Also, the WLB, Scott Shanle, (who remains in with Vilma in nickel situations) has been victimized throughout the past seasons with his athletic shortcomings.  I anticipate the Saints playing a lot of quarters in an Under front, with SLB Fujita rolled up in a 9 tech on Cloherty (as Dallas Clark will take his usual spot as a slot/flex) to help control perimeter stretch game.

play action @ Yahoo! Video

Play Action (gun) @ Yahoo! Video

For the Who Dats reading this, enjoy this new Zydecco rally song performed by cajun guitarist, Kip Bacque, as well as the return of NFL Analyst, Poo Poo Broussard.

Who Dat Nation - Kip Bacque

And now something completely and totally unrelated.........
Hey! Lookit my Cock(s)

From everyone's favorite Atchafalayian representative

Breakdown of Saints Scoring Explosion

pretty simple really......
anything to get both arms up for the TD signal

Defensive End Speed Rush

Remember the good old days when the Saints actually had a pass rush and not two overpriced fat bodies?

DE drills courtesy of Darren Howard

Drew Brees: Serving up Cracklin

The New Orleans Saints, since Sean Payton’s arrival in 2006, have been looking to aggressively attack defenses at will. Like a good batch of boudin, Payton uses as many ingredients as he can get his hands on. Last night, they were afforded the stage and competition to show off his patented recipe.

Today, we’ll take a look at two plays, in particular, that illustrate the mastery of Brees attacking the oft-mentioned fire-zone blitz, as well as 1-high man-free coverage (both concepts detailed considerably before on here).

The first example includes a 5-man pressure, bringing the nickel from the edge (on top of #2 into the field). Presnap, the Patriots show a 2-high coverage shell, with the press alignment on #2 and corners squatting in the flat. Brees points out the MLB (the +1 to the 3 down linemen and the linebacker crept up in the weak B gap), who would be assumed to be the potential blitzer (since both #2 weak and #3 strong have defenders on them in 'man' coverage). This would put the offensive linemen accounting for the nose, both ends, and the tight weak inside linebacker, leaving the right guard free to account for the MLB and/or assist with the nose. Only thing is, the MLB begins walking out to gain leverage on #3 (strong), who's aligned as a wing (in empty).

This is an alert that not everything is as it seems.

At the snap, the weak inside linebacker showing blitz bails to the middle hole and (should be) looking to #3 or any crossers to rob. The field side End and Nose pirate stunt inside to gain leverage for the blitzing nickel on the edge and the boundary outside linebacker is also blitzing.

Where things go wrong (for the Patriots) is that the SCF player to the field is peeking inside (like he should be taking the hole). He fails to control the vertical stem of Henderson (#19) as he goes up the field. Making matters worse, the FS attempts to (over) compensate for the dropping strong safety (to the boundary) who's going to cover-down the #2 threat (who expands to the flat). With no immediate vertical threat by #2 weak, there is no weak receiver to respect, and with 3 receivers to the field side, the FS really should have been looking to match the immediate threats on Henderson's side.


breesus @ Yahoo! Video
The second example simply illustrates victimization of Cover 1 out of a 2-back set. Much like the Orange/Tan looks we detailed earlier, New England is going to present 2-high (MOFO) then screw the strong safety down late to get 8 in the box to stop what would be a predictable run down (2 tight ends, 2 running backs).

With flow action, the linebackers keying #2 and #3 weak, the Saints are able to sucker them in to create the high-low conflict on the remaining free safety with a Post-Dig combo. The free safety bites on the Dig as it opens behind the linebackers, leaving the middle-of-the-field-breaking Robert Meachum, who already has out-leveraged his corner inside. Because the corner was expecting (rightfully so) inside help from the free safety, he assumed he could play Meachum in a low-shoulder trail position.


free @ Yahoo! Video

POO! AIIIEE!!!! Dats some goo' Cracklins, Cher!

Of course, some folks jess don't have the stomach for Cajun cuisine.....

PS

Hats off to Randy Moss for perfecting the Johnny Walker Lindh beard-look. Not many can pull that off as well as he has.

Application of the Spacing Concept

An example of using the short passing game to advance the ball in an efficient and risk-averse manner, is the spacing concept. As these examples will illustrate, many teams, such as the New Orleans Saints, rely on this concept (as well as screens) in place of a run game. The obvious advantage is, a multiple area attack that can horizontally stretch underneath defenders.

Essentially, just like Y stick, the receivers look to attack the defenders and work to gain horizontal separation. Multiple shallow receivers dispersed along the same plane, puts underneath players (such as linebackers) into a 'pickle' scenario. Choosing one receiver, only opens another.

These pictorials show the contraction and expansion of this route combo. All the receivers set their 'stick' or plant aiming at underneath defender seams.

As the two inside breaking routes put the MLB in conflict, it also draws the OLBs inside the hashes (carrying the route). As this first illustration shows, bunching all the defenders inside creates a chasm for flaring backs.

As seen here, the H, Reggie Bush, has 10 yards between him and the hapless WLB because the flat defender has constricted with the inside breaking X.

Here, we see a crucial short-yardage, mid-field conversion down and we see the spacing concept relied upon (especially by the Saints) as a bread-and-butter stallwart in their offense.

A 2-back formation is presented with 21 personnel (dictating a 3 LB defense) on a short-yardage down. Because a fullback is presented, the threat of a lead run (iso or power) must be respected to prevent the 1st down.

This pictorial probably best illustrates the 1,2, and a BIG 3 in the timing of the drop.

As the WLB frantically rallies to the flaring Reggie Bush, he inadvertantly opens the seam to 1st outside receiver (Colston).

You can see in these next pics the chasm between both inside stemming receivers, putting the MLB & SLB in a can't-win scenario. Brees delivers the ball to the shoulder furthest away from the 'danger player' in the receivers area. This causes Colston (#12) to turn his body to accept the throw and be in position to run away from the nearest defender (for positive yards)

To see this particular game in action;




For more information on Spacing,check out;