Matt Bowen of the National Football Post posted a breakdown about how San Diego was able to attack the New York while down the red zone. This write up is pretty in-depth as he explains the X’s and O’s of how San Diego defeated New York’s 2 Man coverage scheme in the red zone.
The following is an excerpt from the post called “ Inside-the-playbook-Rivers-beats-the-Giants” that posted by Matt Bowen on June 29, 2010.
“Previously here at the NFP, we talked about the concepts and the techniques of the 2-Man coverage — a 2 Deep, man-under defense using trail technique (align inside, force outside release, play to the back hip of the receiver). We used the chalkboard and the TV tape of the Packers-Steelers matchup from last season when Green Bay QB Aaron Rodgers hit WR Greg Jennings for an 83-yard TD pass.
On that particular play, the Packers took advantage of one of the weak spots of the scheme — the middle of the field. Today, we will head back to the chalkboard and to the TV tape of the Chargers-Giants matchup from 2009 to illustrate another weakness of the defense and why it can be victimized in the red zone.
Let’s set it up. The Chargers, down 20-14 late in the fourth quarter, are driving on the Giants. Knowing that New York is a heavy 2-Man defense (even in the red zone), San Diego uses a basic passing concept to attack the corner of the end zone — away from the half-field safety to the closed, or strong, side of the formation.
San Diego is in its “Ace” or “212” personnel (2 WR, 1 RB, 2 TE), and align all four wide receivers away from the core of the formation. New York counters with its base nickel package (4 DL, 2 LB, 5 DBs).
Let’s check it out on the chalkboard and then get into why the route worked…
As we can see, the Chargers run a basic 7-Flat combo to the open or weak side of the formation. The “X” receiver runs the 7-route (or flag route), while the “U” TE (second TE in the game) runs the flat route. RB LaDainian Tomlinson, No. 21, stays in for protection and then check-releases on a swing route.”
To read the rest of the breakdown, please click on the following link – Defeating 2-Man in the Red Zone
