Knapp's Offense: Movement to create mismatches

by John Morgan on Sep 8, 2009 3:50 PM PDT Comment 7 comments

More photos » by Elaine Thompson - AP

Seattle found mismatches by putting T.J. Houshmandzadeh in the slot. On this play, Housh was covered by a safety.

3-2-SEA 49 (13:14) (Shotgun) 8-M.Hasselbeck pass short middle to 84-T.Houshmandzadeh to DEN 38 for 13 yards (23-R.Hill, 31-D.McBath).

It's third and two, but Seattle sets three wide and in shotgun. Prior to the snap, Deon Butler motions inside and just behind and to the right of T.J. Houshmandzadeh. He bounces twice and Chris Spencer snaps the ball. The snap count is built off the motion.

Greg Knapp is faced with third and short but calls a deep passing play. Only Justin Forsett's release into the right flat is conservative, and he's blitz protection. Butler runs a drag route left. Carlson works through the mess and runs a deep crossing pattern right. Deion Branch runs deep. Houshmandzadeh runs ten yards up and then cuts crisply in. He is running towards the space Branch's deep pattern has cleared out.

Denver blitzes five. The right outside linebacker stretches Sean Locklear. The remaining four run stunts, with the inside man cutting out. Rob Sims puts a very good block on the right defensive end, but does not adjust to the nose tackle stunting into his vacated zone. Chris Spencer attempts to assume Sims block on the end, but nose tackle Ronald Fields is through the line of scrimmage and free before Sims can adjust. Hasselbeck finds Houshmandzadeh running away from safety Renaldo Hill, hits him in stride, and Housh runs before being bookended by Hill and safety Darcel McBath.

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Essential details: Knapp gambles and wins.

Forsett is open in case of pressure.

Sims misses his block, but Fields is slow.

Branch clears out the left.

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Comments

Not that it really bothers me - I really just care who goes where -

But the background and yardage are not accurate.

by Groundhog on Sep 8, 2009 4:06 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

For now it's just a backdrop

For aesthetics essentially. I will replace it when I have a chance.

by John Morgan on Sep 8, 2009 4:10 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yep, I'm not sure I'd even bother

With yard markers if it slows down the process.

by Groundhog on Sep 8, 2009 4:20 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Agreed.

However, more readable/larger player numbers would be great. I have a hard time making them out, even at close range or enlarged.

Early prospect watch: RB C.J. Spiller, QB Jevan Snead, OT Ciron Black, DT Gerald McCoy, S Eric Berry, DT Ndamukong Suh, CB Ras-I Dowling 6'2, 200, RB Jonathan Dwyer

by Misfit74 on Sep 8, 2009 4:30 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Can't see the LB's in your diagram.

On third and short, was Housh the first read? Or was he simply open because the LB’s were paying more attention to Carlson running underneath them?

If there was ANY way you could gif the video of the play, that would rule. Too bad the NFL would probably shit its pants.

by djafrot on Sep 8, 2009 4:41 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Housh was matched against safeties.

He was open because he ran a tight route, because he was matched against safeties, and because Branch cleared out the offensive right by running deep.

by John Morgan on Sep 8, 2009 4:49 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs