How the Arizona Cardinals Have Become the Top Offense in the NFL

The Arizona Cardinals have shredded opposing defenses up to this point in the season. The beauty of their offense is how they execute simple concepts at a higher level than the average NFL team, both in the running game and the passing game.

The running game is incredibly simple. The Cardinals want to create double teams at the point of attack, plain and simple. Their main run play is a simple dive play out of a single back formation. The video below shows an example of their dive play. Well executed double teams that climb up to the second level.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tRTqDQz0Z_s

They will also call “bounce”, which is the same as dive, except the running back will bounce the play to the outside. Bounce takes advantage of edge defenders that cheat inside to help the dive play. They will also occasionally mix in Power and Counter schemes.

Make no mistake about it, the Cardinals offense is based on creating big plays in the passing game. In the passing game, Carson Palmer has been reading defenses at a very high level. A great example of how he is embracing the concepts that head coach Bruce Arians calls is a touchdown he threw midway through the second quarter against Seattle in week 10. Before we can understand how the touchdown came to be, we must start with a play in the first quarter.

The play call is what many coaches refer to as the “flood” or “sail” concept. Almost every high school, college, and NFL teams run a version of this play. The play is designed to stretch the field vertically, with a high, medium, and low target spaced out on the sideline. This play is typically favored against teams that run cover three, which Seattle uses extensively.

Typically, the middle level is where the quarterback is looking to throw the ball, with the low level route as a check down. Palmer does a nice job of timing his throw to hit the middle level receiver before the hook/curl defender (in this case, the strong safety) has a chance to trigger down and make a play.

The Cardinals ran this play twice in the first quarter. Click the video link below for one of the plays:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VBgurb-UqSI

Many coaches will often tell the quarterback that the deep receiver is just a decoy in the “flood” concept, in order to simplify the read and make it easier for the quarterback to get the ball out on time. After Palmer completed a few of the middle level throws, the Seahawks get closer and closer to making a play on the ball. Palmer is aware of this, and it pays off big for him. The third time the Cardinals call the “flood concept” they score a touchdown.  

Palmer notices Richard Sherman, the corner to the side of the flood concept, cheating the middle out route. This opens up the deep receiver for a touchdown. The receiver is wide open, so to the untrained eye it looks like an easy read and an easy throw. The difficult part is that this receiver isn’t even supposed to be an option to throw the ball to on the play. Palmer is playing at such an elite level, that all his eligible receivers are a viable option to him. Clock the link below to watch the touchdown:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OGeSMnIR1GE

The Cardinals make good use of simple concepts in both their run game and pass game. If Carson Palmer continues playing at this elite level, the Cardinals will be a very dangerous team in the playoffs and are my pick to win the Super Bowl.

If you are interested in other concepts Bruce Arians and the Cardinals use, check out these links to previous articles I have written:

http://theofficialpetersreport.blogspot.com/2014/11/play-of-day-smash-long.html

http://theofficialpetersreport.blogspot.com/2014/12/play-of-day-shake-route.html

P.S.: My Book is now available on Amazon

Chip Kelly's 4 Vertical Adjustment

This play as taken from the 2015 week 1 matchup: Eagles at Falcons

This was the first game for Falcons new head coach, Dan Quinn. Dan came from Seattle, where they arguably play cover three more than any other team. This style of defense, consistently playing one coverage, fits into the Eagles style of play. When a defense stays in the same coverage, it becomes easier for the offense to call concepts designed to beat the specific coverage. This combined with the no huddle pace allows the quarterback to think less and just “play ball”.

The Eagles run an offense that is based more on execution than scheme. This means that they will run the same play multiple times, counting on the fact that the many repetitions gained in practice will pay off on game day. This execution is aided by the no huddle, it often does not allow a defense the time to adjust to the specific formation tendency that the offense might have.

One specific play that the Eagles featured is shown below. This play is a variation of the traditional 4 vertical concept, a staple against cover three teams.

A team that plays a lot of cover three understands that they will see 4 verticals multiple times a game, so the Eagles decide to dress it up. The adjustment sends one of the verticals out of the backfield to a run-heavy side of the formation. This adjustment allows the offense to run the same concept but confuse the defense as well as place a run defender on a speedster out of the backfield.

In the video clip below, the cornerback to the tight end side of the formation matches the tight end vertically, as he does not recognize any other vertical threat to his side. This creates a 1 on 1 matchup: the runningback on the flat defender.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HJleqiEajho

The runningback, Darren Sproles, is a matchup nightmare for Kroy Biermann. This is a great play design that Kelly would call again just two plays later. See the video below.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nCcgPvxUo7A

This time, the cornerback stayed outside in order to help on the runningback’s vertical. The falcons also removed the flat defender from the box in order to better defend the vertical concept. This creates a clean window for quarterback Sam Bradford to hit the tight end on the inside vertical route. 

Season Preview: Kevin White and the Chicago Bears

The Chicago Bears drafted a dynamic receiver by the name of Kevin White in the 2015 NFL Draft. White is a dynamic play maker with exceptional size and speed. In college, White ran a limited number of routes. This is no criticism to his skill set, it is the nature of Dana Holgorsen’s offense at West Virginia. Holgorsen’s offense is a branch on the elegant tree that is the air raid offense. The air raid offense is much simpler than an NFL offense and does not ask receivers to run a wide range of routes. Instead, the air raid focuses on getting receivers to master a few routes in order to perfect their technique.

Dana’s version of the air raid takes this simplicity one step further. After Geno Smith left West Virginia for the NFL in 2013, Holgorsen decided to simplify his schemes. Traditionally, the air raid offense does a nice job of stretching the defense horizontally, not as much vertically. Holgorsen recognized this and made changes in his scheme in order to create more big plays for his dynamic receivers.  He began using tight ends and fullbacks (air raid using a fullback?!)  in order to focus more on the running game. The tighter formations and the focus on the running game provided more opportunities for Kevin White to make big plays down the field. Defenses started bringing a safety down into the box to help out against a more focused ground attack. This created many 1 on 1 matchups for White, a nightmare for even the best of defensive backs:

http://youtu.be/oou3vK0wEZg

https://twitter.com/b_peters12/status/624956605495386112

To help him adjust to more complicated NFL offenses, Bears offensive coordinator Adam Gase should provide White with ways to make early impacts in the month of September. This screen play used by Chip Kelly and the Eagles is our first example. This screen play is a packaged play. The Eagles are running a sweep to the left, along with a tunnel screen to the right.

The play call worked well, as the Arizona Cardinals brought a blitz. The quarterback appears to be reading the #2 defender to the side of the screen (either the safety or outside linebacker). If this defender is either in the box or is influenced by the sweep to the left, the quarterback will throw the screen to the right. The right tackle, who will perhaps be Kyle Long in the near future, slides for a few steps to his left to influence the defense, then releases to block the corner. The tight split by the receiver ensures that the defense will not press him, as the play will not work if he is pressed. See a video link below:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GOPRosKzvCM

This play will provide White with the opportunity early in games to get his hands on the ball and settle in to his first few games in the NFL. After the Bears call a few of these screen plays, White can really show off his downfield skill set. The play below is a diagram of a screen n’ go used by Oregon in the College Football Playoffs.

White is also a physical blocker who can block on the edge for other receivers such as Alshon Jeffery or Eddie Royal. This threat will create the above diagramed play to be open. In the video clip below, the receivers are wide open. In the NFL, this play will get recognized more often than not. It will, however, create the 1 on 1 matchup down the field that offensive coordinators desire.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=prGeOCXSqlA

Having a receiver with the size and speed of Kevin White causes offensive coordinators to salivate at the opportunity to draw up plays on the white board. I am excited to see what Adam Gase has in store for Bears Nation.

WTBMC #6: Backside Post

East Carolina used a typical play action scheme to create a one on one matchup for their X receiver. The defense played Cover 1, or man free. The key to the play is getting the free safety to roll with the quarterback after the play action. This allows the X receiver to get behind the defense for a big gain. Click the youtube link below to watch the clip:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WY_vBpGN4a8

Creating explosive plays

Taking advantage of aggressive safety play is one of the best ways to create explosive plays. Pattern match rules used by defenses in 2 high looks allow the offense these opportunities. 

In the film clip below, Michigan State uses a dig route by the tight end to trigger the safety down. The outside receiver runs a skinny post route, designed to get behind a safety in a 2 high look. Connor Cook correctly recognizes the coverage and makes a perfect throw. 

http://youtu.be/q56wtezwOqg

WTBMC #5: Back Shoulder Fade

Against press man coverage, a back shoulder fade route can take advantage of a defender's trail technique. The defender can not adjust to the under-thrown ball, as he is not looking at the quarterback. This play requires a good amount of practice time, but can be run at all levels of the game (NFL, College, High school).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pcBJMyXDGKY

WTBMC #4: Out and Go

The Steelers used a double move against a version of man coverage on third and short. The double move is an out and go route from a bunch alignment. The defense will typically trigger on any routes at the sticks on third down, this makes a double move a great call. The link to the video is below.

http://youtu.be/rda-p0sU1BY

WTBMC #3: Jailbreak Screen

The Steelers used a jailbreak screen against a man look from the Cleveland Browns. There are a couple of subtle differences in this play from most jailbreak screens. The ball is thrown to the slot receiver instead of the outside receiver. The slot will sell the bubble in his first few steps. This fake will put the defender in a trail position for the jailbreak screen. A releasing offensive lineman will also block this defender. The video can be seen by clicking the link below.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gg8ubsF2Zvo

Ways to Beat Man Coverage #2

This play is great for short yardage. The inside receiver in a trips set will "return" motion to running a flat route. The two outside receivers will run slant routes at varying depths to pick the man on the flat route.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oBWpvrI6M38

Ways to beat man coverage "WTBMC"

"WTBMC" will be a series of film clips on how to beat man coverage. The first clip in the series is of the Patriots against the Broncos in 2014. The Patriots run a pick-wheel route to the running back out of the backfield. Enjoy!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z9AMbDbjmqw&feature=youtu.be

Play of the Day: Detroit Lions' "Chair" Route

I saw this play during the Lions-Cowboys playoff game during the 2014 season. This play takes advantage of a lose man coverage. The play is shown below:

The route combination benefits from max protection. The quarterback will need an extra few seconds for the chair route to develop. The outside receiver will run a skinny post route. This route will draw the attention of the single high safety, especially when it is run by Calvin Johnson. The chair route is run by the slot. The next figure was taken right after the slot made his out cut:

 The large cushion given by the man guarding the slot allows the slot to cross his face. This is what makes the play successful. If the slot was guarded in a press look, he would have little to no space to cross the defender’s face. This “chair” technique can be a good adjustment for a team that runs a lot of wheel-post combinations that see off coverage on the slot. Defenses like to play off coverage against a wheel, as it gives them a better chance of not letting the wheel get behind them.

The next figure shows the slot making his double move, crossing the defender’s face.

The final figure shows where the ball was caught.

If you run a lot of wheel-post, this adjustment can take advantage of what the defense thinks is a conservative coverage. Never settle, always look for a way to attack!

Curl Flat Variations Part 2: Adjusting Routes to Attack Cover Two

This article expands on my previous article, Part 1. The link is provided below.

http://theofficialpetersreport.blogspot.com/2015/03/curl-flat-variations-part-1-maximize.html

This article will focus on adjusting the play to better attack two high defenses and man coverage where corners are in a trail technique, such as man under two deep. The adjustment consists of the receivers that are running the curl route to read the corner back (will be referred to as CB to alleviate confusion with the corner route). If the CB trails or drops off to the flat, the receiver has the option of running a corner route at a depth of 10-12 yards. This adjustment turns the play into the traditional smash concept, a high-low read on the CB. This small route adjustment creates a play that contains two of the more popular passing concepts in the country. Putting the two concepts into the same play minimizes verbiage and teaching time.

With this adjustment, the quarterback will now read the CB instead of the outside linebackers. If the CB is trailing the receiver or jumps the flat route, the quarterback throws the corner route. If the CB plays off and keeps everything in front of him, the quarterback looks for the open window to the curl route. If the window is tight, that means he has the flat route as a check down.

An important coaching point when installing this concept is establishing the main objective of the option route. If the defender is in a position where he can play both the curl and the corner, which route should the receiver run? The answer can vary based on your quarterback’s preference to which route he likes better, or which route requires more anticipation. Typically a curl route requires more anticipation, as the quarterback can see the corner cut and still make the throw. If he waited for the curl to break before he threw, it is often times too late.

Below are a series of screen captures of the New Orleans Saints using this concept. I am not sure if they teach it as an option route, but for our purposes it gets the job done. The first figure shows the formation, the same as described in the previous article along with the play diagrammed.

Credit: NFL.com

In the next figure, you can see the CB at the bottom pass off the vertical release to react to the flat route. 

 

 Credit: NFL.com

 In the final figure, the receiver breaks to the corner. Good route technique against a two high defense requires the corner route to flatten away from the safety.

 Credit: NFL.com

Making small adjustments to your base plays can give your players a better chance to succeed against a wider range of coverages. Combining concepts is also a good way to minimize verbiage and allow the players to practice less plays more frequently, all while having answers to what the defense does.

Curl Flat Variations Part 1: Maximize Protection While Attacking the Whole Field

The concept, at its core, involves reading a flat defender, typically an outside linebacker. This becomes dangerous when inside linebackers follow your quarterback’s eyes to the side of the field he is throwing to. The best way to prevent this is to have a “box route”. A box route is a route that hitches between 5-10 yards infront of the center. This route is crucial to the full development of the read.

Curl-flat is known as a ball control type of play. It is not known for its ability to create explosive plays. The curl is the deepest route, and most of the time typically breaks from 8-10 yards at the high school level. Too often the timing of the play is thrown off by poor receiver splits, route technique, and pressure on the quarterback. Too often the receiver running the curl either drifts inside too much or too little.

An adjustment that I have seen throughout the NFL the past few seasons alleviates these problems. The play is run from a pseudo-2x2 bunch formation. #1 reduces their splits to that of a slot receiver, and the slots become H-backs. The H-backs are typically running backs or tight ends. By attaching the slots to the end of the line of scrimmage and the ability to use three running backs/tight ends, this play applies not only to spread teams, but wing-T and flexbone triple option schemes as well. Below is a screen capture of Marc Trestman, the head coach for the Chicago Bears, utilizing this formation against the Detroit Lions.

 Credit: NFL.com

The outside receivers will run the curl routes. When pressed, they will attack the outside hip of the corner until he turns his hips, then they will slip inside to get on the same vertical line that they began on. The outside stem typically only lasts for the first 3 yards. If they are not pressed, they will run in a straight line. The depth of the curl will be set at 13-15 yards, depending on how comfortable you are with your quarterback’s arm strength. The receiver will not “curl”, instead he will hitch and drive back to the quarterback for a step or two. This allows the quarterback to throw to a spot and anticipate where the route will be. The design of the route does not allow for interpretation, so the receiver will not have to "find the open window" as he is already in the window. This timing is what will create big plays. The corner will not have as much time to react and the receiver will have more room for yards after the catch.

The H-backs will chip or “nudge” the defensive end before running a flat route. This gives the quarterback more time to throw as well as synchronizes the timing with the break of the curl route. The curl route will break right behind the back of the H-back, optimizing the timing with the quarterback. The running back next to the quarterback will nudge on the inside and run the box route at 5 yards over the center, acting as a check down if the inside linebackers vacate to the curls. If one of the inside linebackers blitz, the running back is responsible for blocking them. If the defense blitzes one of the inside linebackers, there is no need for the box route anymore, as there is either one or zero players that can undercut the two curl routes.

The next screen capture shows the stems of the curl routes about to break as the H-backs are releasing after helping out the offensive tackle. The running back next to the quarterback, Matt Forte, recognizes the 6 man pressure as the middle linebacker blitzes. Forte blocks him instead of releasing to his route and allows the quarterback, Jay Cutler, time to set up for the longer developing curl patterns. Jay reads the outside linebacker and sees that his hips have turned to run with the flat route, opening up the window for the curl.

 Credit: NFL.com

The final screen capture shows Alshon Jeffery high pointing the football as the separation between him and the corner is about 3 yards. This separation is due to the timing of the play, as Jay Cutler threw the ball right behind the vacating outside linebacker following Martellus Bennett to the flat route.

Credit: NFL.com

 The curl-flat concept has been in football for a long time, but a couple of tweaks to the classic version of the play can create more efficiency along with big play potential. This version can be utilized in any offensive system and requires less teaching than the original version of the play.