Aug 27, 2016; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver Dorial Green-Beckham (18) runs with the ball after making a catch against Indianapolis Colts linebacker D’Qwell Jackson (52) at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports
I’m not going to get too excited ab0out success in the preseason, but I do like some of the offensive concepts Eagles new head coach Doug Pederson has focused on during the offseason and in training camp. The Birds offense showed a lot of three TE sets throughout training camp, but waited for Saturday versus the Indy Colts to use them in the preseason.
Indianapolis still hasn’t stopped that three tight end formation. It’s going to have defensive coordinators throughout league sleeping in their offices because they’re going to need to find a way to match up with four big receivers, while staying strong against the run.
In training camp I’ve seen the Eagles offense feature Zach Ertz, Trey Burton and Brent Celek in their three tight end sets. Now with 6’5″ 240 pound wide receiver Dorial Green-Beckham, the Birds have started using the three tight ends with Green-Beckham, which means four receivers as big as tight ends. This is considered a 13 formation because you have 1-wide receiver and 3-tight ends.
It’s going to be very tough for opposing defenses to matchup with all of that size. They will have a huge size advantage if defenses try to take it on with a standard 3/4 or 4/3 defense because the defensive backs will have to take on the tight ends blocking in the running game. They will need to come up and defeat a blocker, who outweighs them by 30 to 40 pounds. If the defensive coordinator sends in nickel personnel, then the Birds will have an even larger size advantage in the running or in the passing game. It’s a tough matchup for a defense.
This formation should be very strong in the running game, especially running outside with the tight ends matched up against defensive backs. You’ll see #86 Zach Ertz try to come off and pick up the safety after the double team. He’ll get better at it, the more times they run that play. Check it out.
Shot 5 – A group we saw a lot of last night. '13 personnel' with DGB as the lone WR. Lot of options w/ this grouping pic.twitter.com/PkhtsLPwzv
— Fran Duffy (@EaglesXOs) August 28, 2016
They used the same 13 personnel and Green-Beckham did a great job of reacting to the corner blitz by running a quick slant route to give Sam Bradford a receiver to get the ball to immediately. This was a very impressive sight adjustment for Green-Beckham and if he continues playing smart alert football, he will get a great deal of playing time.
Shot 6 – Perfect play call or a well-executed sight adjustment from QB/WR? Regardless, it's a first down for DGB pic.twitter.com/z5kWQPERHE
— Fran Duffy (@EaglesXOs) August 28, 2016
The Eagles ran a “mesh route with two tight ends crossing” out of the 13 formation. The Colts linebackers reacting to the crossing receivers in front of them and Burton stopped behind them in the middle and was wide open. Doug Pederson was very successful with this formation with the Chiefs during the 2015 season.
Shot 7 – 'Mesh' play works to perfection, watch how big of a void is created by 2 crossing routes on Burton's catch pic.twitter.com/Fh2Exa7y7t
— Fran Duffy (@EaglesXOs) August 28, 2016
The used the 13 formation again with DGB at the goalline and got the big wide receiver isolated on a little defensive back. It was no contest when Bradford threw the ball up for grabs. This formation is going to be nearly impossible to stop in the red zone, if the Birds execute the plays properly.
Shot 8 – DGB doing DGB things #Eagles pic.twitter.com/0gz2LoXOwi
— Fran Duffy (@EaglesXOs) August 28, 2016
The multiple tight end set is especially difficult to stop because the tight ends are capable pass receivers and blockers. Here’s an example of Ertz and Celek executing a double-team block against the Colts. Initially they come off on the outside linebacker, knock him off the ball, then Ertz comes off of that block and picks up the defensive back to spring Kenjon Barner for a big gain.
Shot 12 – #Eagles get a great double team at the point of attack from Ertz and Celek on a big gain from Barner pic.twitter.com/6XFtwKieTV
— Fran Duffy (@EaglesXOs) August 28, 2016
If a defense puts another linebacker in the game to help stop that outside run, Pederson will simply give Bradford the freedom to change the play at the line of scrimmage from a run to a pass, now you have Ertz one-on-one with the linebacker with no deep help. That’s a great match for the Eagles.
Best post ever!
Good Stuff G-Man
One thing to keep in mind is how inexperienced the Colts Secondary Players were for Saturday’s Game was.. Their Top 3 CB’s did not even Dress for the Game and their 4th CB (Darius Butler) was injured in the first Series.. So it’s was 3rd Stringers and lower playing all Game for themmand it showed.. Though It was nice to see the Eagles WR/TE’s running open, making catches and making nice Blocks, do note that most of those CB’s that were Playing Saturday for the Colts are not NFL Quality Players and won’t be Playing on Sunday’s in the NFL..
Only in the third video ‘mesh concept’ does the coverage ability and experience of the DBs play a factor. In the running videos it highlights how the are creating mismatches based on size….fraud man you have been provided with actual tape…. Learn something instead of instinctively spouting your ignorance… Learn the fame man
1st Video.. Missed Tackle by Colts LB (#52) makes play from a 1 Yard Play to a 6-7 Yard Gain
2nd Video.. Safety is too late in filling the void by the Blitzing CB..
Nice pickup and getting the ball out quickly by Bradford and DGB for having his head around to be ready for the Pass
pman..that’s a great read and understanding of the defense by DGB…seeing the blitz and turning into the hot read. I like the approach the Eagles coaching staff is taking with DGB. Give him a set of plays that he can master. Move him along slowly. A talent like that must be honed and cultivated. I think Tennessee may have been pushing him faster than what he was capable of processing. If he was not studying like he should have been that was on him…but I like the fact that he’s acknowledged and taken responsibility for his part in not performing up to expectations. Shows maturity. Hopefully he will continue to take this opportunity seriously and the Eagles culture can motivate and pull the best out of him.
2nd video safety had half the field deep…. If he jumped the slant it was a guaranteed TD….safety responsibility was to not get deep beat…. Watch the video fraudman, understand the scheme and responsibility….
On a Corner Blitz, a Safety is not responsible forr the deep half because th lite will negate a deep route and pass as QB will have to get rid of ball quickly.. If Blitz doesn’t get home than thats the Blitzers fault or call don’t the Safety
In this example There was no other Eagle Receiver on that side of the field for the Safety to be worrying about.. He was slow to react..
He has deep half… You give up the hot read… You just have no idea what your talking bout.
The opposite Safety to hisRight would have the Deep Responsibility
This Safety to the left covers the vacated area by the blitzing CB on his side of the field.. Now if there were 2 Receivers on that side of the Firmation, then yes, he would stay deep.. DBG is on the only receiver in a passing route on the left side of the field, no reason to give him and open pitch and catch for 10-15 Yard Gain.. The Deep help is provided bu the other Safety
Also the ILB On DGB side should have been lined up wider and more outside since they had a CB Blitz on his side…
Bottom line is Colts had 3rd String CB’s on the field for 90% of the game and their Defense played poorly all evening getting little pressure on Eagles QB making many pass plays easy pitch and catch’s which won’t happen often when playing against good Defenses .. Colts Top 3/4 CB’s didn’t even play!!
no he didn’t it was two deep– one takes one half and the other takes other half– now your just being stupid..
the safety actually did a good job by taking away the deep route, bradford a DGB read it perfectly he took what was given– you really don’t know the game– your desire to be negative to the hometeam is never clearer.
respect havea. These articles stimulate the right kind of conversation and we need more of then
dimwit the other safety was 30 yards to the other side of the field
The other Safety (#29) is lined up 6-8 Yards from him on Video #2 and clearly has the Deep Feild Responsibility as the near Safety is to Cover DGB one on one since they had CB Blitz called on his side of the Field..
What play are you talking about that has the Safety 30 Yards away.. You Idiot…
paul… that safety has the other side of the field where the eagles have three TE… he is behind the LB who will drop coverage and give it off to the safety on that side of the field– paul– trust me, i’m a decent XO man– and you are wrong.. I know you like to diminish good things that the local teams do and instead blame the other team– it was a well drawn up play and executed.. actually I think if DGB and turd were a little more in tune the go route was open… turd just throw it with a lot of loft… the three TE sets will be utilized because of matchup problems with the athletic TE’s…
Xo’s here fraud– the far safety had deep half– he was on the offensive right hash, DGB was OUTSIDE THE OFFENSIVE RIGHT numbers…That is roughly 30 yards in a straight line– so you are giving DGB a 30 yard head start on a safety… good idea dummy–
The play side safety’s first move was to take away the go route- QB and WR saw the same thing.. hot route first down– the other saftey after all that actually made the tackle…
Its 33 yards from that hash to the sideline and you are stupid enough to believe he had that half deep-??? The simple explanation for 2 deep is split the field in half- one has deep half on one side, the other has deep half on the other… it ain’t rocket science– you even see the ball side safety’s first move was to the outside to force DGB inside where at least there is help–if the safety bites hard to the inside thats a quick six… simple.
Since the Colts had a Corner Blitz on, the Near Safety’s main responsibility was DGB, not the Deep Middle which was the Other Safeties Responsibility so this was not a COver-2 Scheme … The Near Safety has to move to cove DGB whether its a Slant, and In Route, A Curl Route or a Go Route or even a step back Bubble route once that CB Blitz’s, this near Safety has to cover DGB for who else is there to account for him on that side of the field ?
The Far Safety (30 Yards from DGB) has the Deep Centerfield so in essence this was a Cover 1 Scheme and Not a Cover 2 Scheme though it looks like it out of the pre-snap formation….
DGB deep half… Yes…. When u blitz u leave a hole, it’s a fact… He had deep half. I have run this film passed two knowledgeable guys… There is no doubt his responsibility was deep half.
Watch the Near Safety (#22 Again)
He’s is not covering the Deep Half.. He’s lined up as Playing in a Cover 2 to disguise the coverage.. What does he do the instant the Ball is snapped ? He runs to the outside in a straight line to cover the vacated outside space by the Blitzing CB.. If #22 was playing the DFeep Field first, he would have back pedaled first , but since the Call was for a CB Blitz on his side, then he in essence, is going to move to cover DGB one on one and he’s going to do it sooner and not later and wait some 20 yards down the field….
Nice post Gary, reminds me of the chip wagon a little. More of this please!
Great break down G. It’s impossible for me to see all of these formations on tv…the overhead shots are great. Appreciate this type of information. Please do more of this during the regular season as it helps me understand the concepts, x’s and o’s better.
EHL you are correct TV coverage makes it impossible to evaluate players and scheme, I’ve been calling out the phonies on here for years! The all 22 is the way to go if you want to have a discussion on players abilities or coaches coaching. I have admitted I was totally floored and ignorant to chip not allowing audibles… I’d love to rewatch some of those games in 22
Video 3 .. The mesh- crossing patterns works well versus Zone Coverage.. The Key here is the pass protection and time given to Bradford to allow the play to develop.. A nice Play for a 8 Yerd Gain and the Colts Safety was slow to react to TE Burton
Video 4 was terrible pass coverage by 3rd String Colts CB who never got his head around to locate the ball which was a tad under thrown…
Covering the short side 1 on 1 versus a 6-4″ WR you have to anticipate the fade route.. If the mallet CB can match p physically, then you better know where the ball is and make a better play on the ball while in the air… This Colt CB did neither and is 3rd String CB who isprobably out of a job after next week
He was on an island and 4-5 starting CB give up the Td…
As a CB playing man coverage, you have to see the ball inflight in order to be able to make a play , this CB never got his head around and therefore was never able to time his leap, or remain close enough to Receiver to knock thrall away to the taller reveiver.. Poor Coverage, Technique by the CB
Typical fraud…. never giving a philly team credit– i remember back when you whined about Roy Halladays perfect game and no hitter in the playoffs– the perfect game was against a weak team and the no hitter was against the reds who you said were just happy to be in the playoffs.
That catch and throw– most CBs in the league don’t make that play–
HAC jumping on the Eagles Bandwagon after their 1st Sting Offense picks apart the Colts 3rd & 4th String Secondary Players who were out of Position almost the entire game ….
No bandwagon.. Commenting on the article it’s a well designed play from a formation we will see quite a bit. Just because you have no understanding of football and you always go to the negative narrative
Video # 5 A nice Double-Team Block by the TE on the Colts CB but a very poor play by Colts LB (#44) who turns his shoulders inside and allows himself to be shielded inside instead plugging the hole and turning the play back inside which in turn created a nice Lane for Barner to run thru who wasted no time running thru…
5 blocking 4, scheme win for Eagles… 44, well outweighed by 60 lbs ol who had full head of steam… You unfortunately gave no idea
First step to the deep half, he recognizes DGB to the slant… Also , Google safety in cover 2
They were obviously geared to stop a run to the offensive right or a combo pattern to the right, hence the near side blitz
Weak side LB should have dropped to the slant…. But again the Eagles showed right so the defense flowed that way…
Lmfao Krappernick was not fighting for causes until he got a new girlfriend in October. Hahaaaaa what a fraud