Last week, we looked at Jay Gruden's play-calling on 1st and 10. If you missed those breakdowns, you can find them HERE and HERE. Today, we are you going to look at his play-calling on 2nd and short.
Location: Bengals 37
Down and Distance: 2nd and 3
Personnel: 21
Play Type: Pass
This is about as easy as it gets yet it's so effective. It's 2nd and short, Gruden comes out with run personnel and lines up in a run formation yet it's a pass. It's a pass play with a simple read that can get a quarterback into a rhythm early. If it's zone coverage, you hit one of the hitch routes in the open zone. If it's man coverage, you hit one of the speed outs.
The Ravens are in a zone coverage and Andy Dalton hits A.J. Green. The play results in a 7 yard gain.
Location: Ravens 29
Down and Distance: 2nd and 3
Personnel: 21
Play Type: Run
This is a just 22 dive. Andy Dalton actually checks to the run play when he sees he has six defenders in the box and six blockers for BenJarvis Green-Ellis.
The hole never opens up, Green-Ellis stutters in the backfield and Courntey Upshaw is able to bring him down. The play results in a gain of 3.
Location: Ravens 26
Down and Distance: 2nd and 3
Personnel: 11
Play Type: Pass
I've watched a lot of Jay Gruden film so I thought we'd see a lot of corner routes. After going to Training Camp, I'm POSITIVE we'll see a lot of corner routes. Here is Jay Gruden's favorite concept: SMASH. SMASH is simply a corner route with the hitch underneath it. It's an easy read for the QB. The hitch is designed to pull the CB's attention forward so that the corner route can sneak in behind it for a long completion near the sideline. If it's cover 2 zone, you hit the corner route. If it's cover 3, you hit the hitch, if it's man coverage, you look at the corner route again.
The Ravens ran a Cover 1 man and the corner route produced the most separation but it still wasn't ideal separation. Dalton tries to tuck it but gets sacked. The play results in a loss of 4.
Location: Bengals 49
Down and Distance: 2nd and 1
Personnel: 11
Play Type: Pass
Here is a counter of the typical SMASH concept. Instead of the underneath route being a hitch, it's a short in-route. This can also draw the outside CB in if it's man or zone and cause a pick play with the corner route.
The in-route comes open but the ball is tipped at the line of scrimmage by a blitzer. The play results in an incomplete pass.
Raw Numbers
- Out of 87 total plays and 34 1st downs, only 4 plays ended up in 2nd and short.
- Out of those 4 plays, 3 were passes and 1 was a run
- Out of those 4 plays, two used 21 personnel and two used 11 personnel.
Still Coming
- 2nd and medium
- 2nd and long
- 3rd and short
- 3rd and medium
- 3rd and long
- 4th and short
- 4th and long