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.
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.
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.
