More Plays: Hackett Bunch Skinny Post
When we last left the Football Outsiders playbook, the focus was on goal line deception. Today we look at the bunch formation, specifically from the 2007 2006 Seahawks.
The situation: first quarter, first-and-10 on the Seahawks 30-yard line, Cardinals leading 14-0. The Cardinals jumped to an early lead on a long touchdown pass and a Seahawks turnover.
With Clancy Pendergast running the show for the Cardinals defense, Arizona breaks in a 3-3-5. The Cardinals go small, with Dansby coming up to the line and Adrian Wilson acting as a linebacker. The Hawks bunch Burleson, Darrell Jackson, and D.J. Hackett on the right side with Branch alone out left and Shaun Alexander in the backfield. Based on the zone the Cardinals drop into, there are two linebackers, a corner, Adrian Wilson, and two safeties left responsible for the offensive right, the middle, and anything deep.
Burleson and Jackson play important roles in this route combination. Jackson maintains the depth of the linebackers; as long as he is crossing the middle of the field and threatening their zones, they cannot release deep. Burleson's route draws Wilson away from Hackett. If Burleson had run a simple flat route, Wilson may have retreated as soon as Jackson left his zone, putting him in position to disrupt any deep pass. With Burleson threatening (and Alexander still in the picture on the offensive right side), Wilson is effectively neutralized.
That leaves the combination of Aaron Francisco and Robert Griffith to cover the streaking Hackett. Griffith has to shade toward Branch down the left sideline, and Burleson's route requires a fraction of Francisco's attention. As Hackett angles in, he naturally splits both defenders for the catch.
While the deep ball to Hackett worked effectively against the zone in this case, we can see the importance of play design: had the Cardinals come out in man coverage, both Burleson and Jackson would have had separation due to the rub/pick caused by their cross. If Hasselbeck reads man instead of zone, he then has a drag over the middle against a linebacker or single coverage on Hackett or Burleson, depending on how Francisco reads the play.
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Comments
I would be interested to see your thoughts if you replaced this with zone blocking and 3 receiver set
I guess what I’m saying is let’s maybe look at some old Atlanta offenses or even some Oakland last year and see what we are getting into.
by Sonic Boom on Jun 1, 2009 10:34 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs
Protection
Worth noting, even with “crappy” Rob Sims and Chris Spencer blocking on a play like this, they had enough time to be successful. This is not a fast developing play. Coach must have confidence in the protection to call it.
by Section 128 on Jun 1, 2009 2:03 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
Sims' strength is pass protection
and Spencer’s problem isn’t ability but consistency.
The play is pretty balanced though, two deep routes (Branch and Hackett), an intermediate route (Burleson) and two short routes (Jackson and Alexander). And like Tanier said theres always the option of audibling to a hot route if Hasselbeck had read blitz. It seems like a high reward low risk kind of play, especially with a smart QB.
by Nate Dogg on Jun 1, 2009 5:50 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
2007?
Darrell Jackson was not a Seahawk that year.
Sam Bradford, future Seattle Seahawk.
by Carl Shinyama on Jun 2, 2009 1:58 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs
Hahahaha
"Part, fools!
Put up your swords. You know not what you do."
by Fearless Frog on Jun 2, 2009 12:36 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

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