The Redskins 'Cornerback Blitz' Package.
Redskins defensive co-ordinator Jim Haslett likes his blitzes. We've already seen plenty of the Cover Zero defense called at key times this year. But another blitz that has come up consistently over the course of the season is the 'Cornerback Blitz'. Most commonly used with Kevin Barnes when he's lined up on top of the slot receiver. The Redskins ran is five times against the Jets on Sunday and came up with mixed results. The first resulted in a 5 yard completion for a first down, then we had a 7 yard completion on 2nd and 10 followed by an incomplete pass on the 3rd down. Barnes unnecessary roughness penalty came on the 4th time we ran it before Sanchez completed a 10 yard pass on 3rd and 4 for a 1st down on the last time we ran it.
Let's have a look at all of them.
The basic concept for a cornerback blitz is that the corner in the slot blitzes, while a safety or a linebacker takes over his coverage responsibilities. Here we see Barnes in the red circle lined up over the slot receiver.
Now the slightly 'exotic' part of this blitz is that the Redskins keep safety Reed Doughty as over the top help rather than bring him down to cover one man. Instead they bring safety DeJon Gomes over to cover the middle of the three receivers, while linebacker London Fletcher comes across to cover the man lined up across from Barnes. This allows the Redskins to keep Doughty as over the top help in case either of those receivers are on deep routes and get a better jump than Gomes or Fletcher.
As Sanchez controls the ball from the snap, you can see Gomes and Fletcher drop back into coverage and Barnes speed ahead on the blitz.
However, the running back identifies the blitz and puts a nice block on Barnes. Sanchez gets enough time from that block to get the throw off for a completion.
That was the only one we saw in the first half, so lets skip ahead to the 3rd quarter.
Barnes is lined up over the slot receiver.
This is a much more conventional corner blitz. The safety (Doughty) is directly over the top of Barnes and takes the responsibility of the slot receiver, leaving Fletcher to take the tight end.
Now I'm guessing Mark Sanchez and the Jets saw this blitz coming. As soon as the ball is snapped, Sanchez looks to his hot read and throws over the blitzing Barnes before he can get within five yards of him. The tight end makes the catch and gets 7 yards on the play, setting up 3rd and 3.
So the Redskins send Barnes on a blitz on the very next play, just from the other side.
Once again we have Barnes lined up over the slot.
Barnes has a little tendency to slowly creep off his receiver to give him a extra step to get to the quarterback quicker. This is a dead give away for the blitz, but I don't think Sanchez saw it on this occasion. It's another slightly 'exotic' rotation of coverage. We have three safeties on the field; Gomes, Doughty and Oshiomogho Atogwe (never gets easier to spell).Gomes takes the inside man while Doughty comes across to pick up Barnes's man leaving Atogwe over the top.
Once again the back comes across to pick up Barnes, but this time can only delay him rather than maintain a block.
Barnes manages to disrupt the throw from Sanchez, not allowing him to fully step into the throw.
And the ball sails over the receivers head and out of bounds. The Redskins defense manage to get off the field on this one.
Then came the unnecessary roughness call.
On this corner blitz, they bring Doughty down and let him blitz as well. Gomes and Fletcher once again drop back to pick up the coverage.
Barnes gets a free run and lays out Sanchez. It's a tough call. I heard the whistle go early, but that was on the TV. What did you guys hear in the stadium?
We end on the final corner blitz from Barnes. It came with 6:08 left on the clock and the Redskins trying to hold onto a 16-13 lead.
We can see Gomes is in as the 3rd safety, Barnes is send on the blitz while Gomes takes the coverage of the slot receiver.
Barnes gets a free run at Sanchez, who throws a pump fake to try and delay Barnes slightly. Barnes hesitates slightly giving Sanchez time to look for another target.
Sanchez starts to move up in the pocket to avoid the diving Barnes. Barnes can only get a hand on Sanchez, which isn't enough to stop him getting the ball off to the receiver. The catch is made and the Jets get a first down from 3rd and 4.
So that's a couple of different variations from the corner blitz package. What do you think of them? Also let me know what else you'd like to see broken down this week and maybe some potential top 5 defensive plays for tomorrow.
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Personally
I’d like to see a breakdown of the impact Cofield is having. Many people (myself included) did not envision him being able to last late into the season getting the bulk of the snaps at the Nose. Well, I say it’s late in the season now and I, for one, am ready to say I was wrong. (take note, that’s a rare occurrence)
Aside from that, I like to know if you can find ANY evidence whatsoever to even remotely suggest that Brandon Banks belongs on this team in this league.
Where do they teach you to talk like this? In some Panama City "Sailor wanna hump-hump" bar, or is it getaway day and your last shot at his whiskey? Sell crazy someplace else, we're all stocked up here.
I think last year
proves Banks can be a successful returner in the NFL.
As for Cofield. He has another 2 deflected passes this week, both of which are featuring in the top 5 defensive plays of the week tomorrow.
Follow me on Twitter: @UkRedskin1 feel free to give suggestions on what you'd like to see broken down each week.
Last year
Doesn’t mean much to me right now. I was one of those (sort of) defending Banks before the season. But he doesn’t have the skillset he had last year. He just doesn’t. I’ve also seen plenty of returners, dynamic and not so, flame out quickly in this league over the years. (Which is what makes Brian Mitchell’s career so remarkable). Brandon Banks seems to be the (extremely) abbreviated version of Dante Hall.
Where do they teach you to talk like this? In some Panama City "Sailor wanna hump-hump" bar, or is it getaway day and your last shot at his whiskey? Sell crazy someplace else, we're all stocked up here.
I think Cofield has done a solid job but I would rather us sign a large body traditional NT than another DE this summer
Let Cofield bounce between NT and DE(where I think he can be more of a difference maker). Not a knock on Cofield I just think we can get more out of him by reducing NT snaps and giving him some DE snaps. Plus a NT rotation of BigBoy to be named, Cofield, Neild and a DE rotation of Carriker, Bowen, JJ, and Cofield sounds nasty and allows for injuries a bit more IMO.
by BayAreaBullet on Dec 6, 2011 6:47 PM EST up reply actions
It does
I admit. But what I am hoping for is that Neild becomes that guy, even if it means more of a 50/50 split between him and Cofield. Signing another NT in free agency (at least one you plan on playing a lot) will muddy the waters, in my opinion. With Jenkins coming back, the DE rotation is gonna be crowded as it is. Not to mention the fact that JJ could possibly see time at the Nose himself in some packages.
Where do they teach you to talk like this? In some Panama City "Sailor wanna hump-hump" bar, or is it getaway day and your last shot at his whiskey? Sell crazy someplace else, we're all stocked up here.
Cofield has himself
admitted that he’s still learning the position on the fly. Having never played in a 3-4 scheme as a NT before and not having a real off-season to learn the position, there was always going to be growing pains. But he’s the kind of guy that will put in the work in the off-season and get the position down. He said that’s what’s going to happen and I trust that. I think he’s definitely good enough to start there consistently next year, I mean he’s leading lineman in batted passes in the NFL, shows he’s contributing something.
That being said, I’d love for Nield to step up and push Cofield to keep the job. I wouldn’t mind a cheap FA, but I don’t see us drafting one high in the first few rounds unless someone like Ta’amu falls to the 3rd round.
Follow me on Twitter: @UkRedskin1 feel free to give suggestions on what you'd like to see broken down each week.
I don't think a 4 man DE rotation is too crowded(In fact our DE rotation this year is shallow since we only had 3 quality guys to start with)
Especially since it will be rare for all 4 to be healthy and one would be splitting time. We will be signing someone at DE regardless(thats after re-signing Carriker) and I’d rather use a mid round pick on a big body or a serviceable big NT to give us more flexibility.
Yeah I’m not knocking Cofield or his effort I just think he would be more effective playing some DE in that I think he has a higher ceiling there. Same with JJ. Sure he could take some spot snaps at NT but I think that would be a huge waste. I would like to get the most out of them and see it as the difference between working to become slightly above average out of position to being dominant at their natural position.
by BayAreaBullet on Dec 6, 2011 7:39 PM EST up reply actions
Thanks for the breakdown
I didn’t like that play with Barnes, and now I have facts to back it up. As a neighbor of mine used to say, Barnes doesn’t have enough in the rear end to be effective. He’s super easy to block and lacks the strength to finish the job if he does manage to get to the QB.
Formerly KS and CS
by ThrowItDownBigManThrowItDown on Dec 6, 2011 5:40 PM EST reply actions
I didn't get that from the breakdown at all
just that he tips it off occasionally and that Haslett calls it way too much. Of course our other corners are way too small to play the slot(arguably one of the biggest areas Rogers has been missed) so he is the only one they will blitz. Seemed the biggest problem was that the Jets were prepared for it probably cuz we seem to run that play all the time observationally. 5 blitzes and he was blocked once, beat a block to get our team off the field, crushed the QB but got called for a questionable penalty, had the jets outscheme us once and then forced the QB to move up off his spot. Not sure you can expect more from any CB, especially when they clearly know he is coming.
by BayAreaBullet on Dec 6, 2011 7:03 PM EST up reply actions
As for potential breakdowns
Perhaps breakdowns of our new starting LT or TE. How much are they going to help or hurt the offense.
Formerly KS and CS
by ThrowItDownBigManThrowItDown on Dec 6, 2011 5:46 PM EST reply actions
I was gonna try
to stay away from the whole Fred Davis/Trent Williams thing if at all possible.
Follow me on Twitter: @UkRedskin1 feel free to give suggestions on what you'd like to see broken down each week.
It's possible NOW
question is, will it be possible during the next for games? Particularly after trying to keep up with New England.
Where do they teach you to talk like this? In some Panama City "Sailor wanna hump-hump" bar, or is it getaway day and your last shot at his whiskey? Sell crazy someplace else, we're all stocked up here.
Something ironic;
Williams/David will miss their first game this Sunday against a team based in a state where marijuana is decriminalized.
It is what it is
Actually D.C and Maryland both have laws on the books for medical usage.
D.C could potentially get dispensaries.
I'm Rex, founder of the Dragon Kwon Do quarterbacking system! After one week with me in my dojo, you'll be prepared to defend yourself with the strength of mediocrity, the reflexes of a sloth, and the wisdom of a Shanahan. So come down today for your free-trial lesson!
Hope Shanahan tries this stuff on Sunday.
Little known fact about great QBs; they usually do better against the blitz than against a more traditional 3-4 man pass rush.
It is what it is
More and More I think
Barnes should go back to safety. Thought he played very well at the end of last year. He is a pretty good tackler but does not have the skills to cover a WR consistently. Overall would be an upgrade to Doughty
When I was a kid, my father told me, "Never hit anyone in anger, unless you're absolutely sure you can get away with it." -Russell Ziskey
At the stadium...I didn't hear a whistle, and I was in the lower level right
by the play…and quite frankly I didn’t even see the ref run down the line as though it was a false start…until I got home, we were all wondering why the play was never blown dead if it was a false start…
Did the line judge run in waving his hands? I didn’t see that at all. I saw him watch the play? The reason I saw him was because the flag seemed late and I thought the movement wasn’t called for a moment.
Not a fan of Banks and I can honestly say that I've watched him since his redshirt year at MD on the scout team.
He’s one of the most awkward athletes you’ll ever watch. Can’t stand him in the nickel unless he’s blitzing and even then he’s not going to defeat a block. His best fit might be at FS but even then his physical strength isn’t where it needs to be.
@Callahan_9 on the twitter machine.
Vinny’s only college game film on Barnes was probably that hit on Jahvid Best.
“We need this guy!!”
"You know those balls that they put on car antennas so you can find them in the parking lot? Those should be on every car!" - Homer Simpson
Follow @HogsHaven
I think he hasn't looked good this year.
"By far the worst performers on the (R*dskins) are in the front office." – Sally Jenkins

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