Knapp's Playbook: Payoff

by John Morgan on Sep 8, 2009 5:58 PM PDT

Seattle was anticipating a blitz. It got one-on-one coverage on the outside. Run a few decoy go routes and deep becomes the new underneath.

3-6-DEN 34 (11:53) (Shotgun) 8-M.Hasselbeck pass deep left to 11-D.Butler for 34 yards, TOUCHDOWN.

Seattle is strong right. Deion Branch is on the outside and T.J. Houshmandzadeh is in the slot. Deon Butler is alone on the left. Matt Hasselbeck is aligned in shotgun and Justin Forsett and Owen Schmitt are left and right respectively.

The Broncos rush four. Matt Hasselbeck receives from shotgun and takes a three step drop. Forsett runs through the left "A" gap and Schmitt around the right "C" gap. They look to block, but no blitzers or delayed blitzers are coming, so curl and begin running "in" patterns in opposite directions. Branch runs deep on the left. Houshmandzadeh runs a deep in. Butler is matched against Andre Goodman and must only outrun him to be free. He does. Hasselbeck launches and Seattle scores six.

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Essential details: Forsett and Owens are blockers and receivers. Their assignment adjusts to the defense.

Denver's safeties are shifted offensive right to cover Branch and Houshmandzadeh.

Renaldo Hill is cheating shallow, prepared to cover Houshmandzadeh.

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Comments

I love the flaming ball!

That turns into a TD ball! Great graphics

by StonerHawks on Sep 8, 2009 6:01 PM PDT reply actions

How much confidence do you have in Hasselbeck consistently making that throw?

by Nate Dogg on Sep 8, 2009 6:21 PM PDT reply actions

It wasn't that deep and it angled high and hung

So the throw is in Hasselbeck’s repertoire. A better cornerback might make a play on the ball, and it does hang, but I think, given the lead up, Hasselbeck was within his ability making that throw. So, pretty consistently.

by John Morgan on Sep 8, 2009 6:24 PM PDT up reply actions

The trick to that throw was timing and anticipation

Two areas where Matthew excels. I am especially juiced about the fact that Butler showed his ability to maintain separation. Those are the kinds of plays that build trust with coaches and with the quarter back. I expect Butler to become the featured offensive De[i]?on in practice if not in name.

by timlin45 on Sep 8, 2009 6:32 PM PDT up reply actions

One Thing

I watched that one live, and was excited about it. The one thing that I noticed was that Butler was able to effectively use his body to shield the ball and keep the defender out of the play. He did a terrific job of making the catch on a ball that wasn’t thrown perfectly.

by robbbbbb on Sep 8, 2009 7:46 PM PDT up reply actions

Obviously you've already set the bar high

but with the essential details for these plays analyzing Knapp, this is possibly the greatest content I’ve read on FG since joining round the beginning of the year.

by jacobstevens on Sep 8, 2009 7:51 PM PDT reply actions

The graphics are a lot of fun

and if you’re a visual person like me, they help out quite a bit.

Just curious though, when you draw line for a route or a pass being thrown, or when out two linemen near each other, do you say BOOM! in your best John Madden voice?

by B.B.Finnegan on Sep 8, 2009 9:14 PM PDT reply actions