Jake Haener

DSnfla said

DB is playing off coverage and sidestepping BACKWARDS. Based on this coverage the WR should have run a 15yrd stop and out, but he does not. He's looking to his right and not even looking for the ball. he does not stop. He doesn't even really look back for the ball. Had he stopped like he should have he would have had a chance to make the catch since the DB was playing off ball. Now it may have been a bit high and not really a back-shoulder throw but it would have put the WR in position to make the catch

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That’s what it means to play with a cushion, and on this play the DB never has to turn his hips to run upfield so he is able to easily break on the ball and make the pick. If the WR breaks the cushion and makes the DB turn and run, a back shoulder or comeback might work.

Also, the play looks like four verticals, so the receiver running a 15yd out isn’t even an option. He draws his defender deep and outside to either get open or to help open up the seam.

The right throw was the checkdown on this one, maybe the #3 receiver could have been a target but the Gruden method is pick a side, make a read, and check it down if neither of the two guys on that side get open. Haener obviously picked the left side so he would have picked the check down instead of looking at the #3.