The Film Room: Odell Beckham Jr. wins rematch vs Josh Norman

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In their first rematch of the 2016 season, Giants wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. faced off against Redskins cornerback Josh Norman. Their matchup last season ended with a game suspension and many circled this game on the calendar as one of the big one-on-one’s of the whole year; we weren’t disappointed.

The game featured multiple lead changes, a schematic change by the Redskins, and exciting plays down the field. In Beckham’s 11 targets during the game, Norman was in coverage for nine, allowing five receptions for 88 total yards.

In coverage, Norman played mostly as a deep sideline zone defender in the Redskins’ Cover 3 nickel defense. Known for his acceleration and elusiveness in the open-field, Beckham made the most of his targets keeping the Giants in the game in the 4th quarter.

Based on the video breakdown, Odell Beckham won this rematch. While Josh Norman did not get beaten deep on any particular pass - longest reception went for 26 yards - he consistently caught his targets and slipped multiple tackles by Norman to get yards-after-the-catch.

While the Seattle Seahawks won’t face either team during the regular season, there are a lot of parallels between the two teams. All three offensive systems - Washington Redskins, New York Giants, and Seattle Seahawks - play a west coast-based system. Additionally, the Redskins’ Cover 3 defense should look similar to the same defense we regularly see Richard Sherman and Earl Thomas playing in.