Sometimes a touchdown scored on Thursday night is built Monday in the film room. The NFL is a copycat league. If something works for one team, you can be sure that when other organizations see that on film they will emulate that design. Particularly when it comes to game-planning for a future opponent.
Jacksonville Jaguars rookie cornerback C.J. Henderson was on the wrong end of one such instance of this fact on Thursday night.
Jacksonville’s first of two first-round picks – and the ninth-overall selection – has enjoyed an up-and-down start to his NFL career. Henderson entered Monday night with an interception and four passes defended to his credit, but he had also given up some receptions and a touchdown through his first two professional contests.
One of those receptions came on this throw from quarterback Ryan Tannehill to Tennessee Titans tight end Anthony Firsker:
Let’s unpack this play a little bit. The Titans face a 3rd and 6 just outside the red zone, on the Jaguars’ 26-yard line. They align with Tannehill in the shotgun and three receivers to the right. Firsker is the middle receiver in this trips alignment. Henderson aligns outside the boundary receiver, and will be the outside-third defender in this Cover 3 coverage:
Here is the route concept:
This route design is going to test the rookie in coverage. Tennessee runs a flood concept, with Adam Humphries releasing to the flat while the boundary receiver runs a post route. Firsker’s route, the out pattern, is highlighted in yellow. Henderson is responsible for the outside third of the field, and will initially cover the vertical release from Corey Davis on that post route. However, he will need to pass that off to the free safety in the middle of the field and work back to the route from Firsker. If he is late to do so, the tight end will be open on the outside.
Which is what happens:
Henderson comes off the post route a step or so late, and Tannehill targets the tight end. The throw is slightly being Firsker causing the TE to adjust, and Henderson rallies to make the tackle.
But the seed is planted for Chan Gailey sometime on Monday afternoon as he prepares the gameplan for the Miami Dolphins.
Fast forward to Thursday night. The Dolphins have a 14-7 lead in the 2nd quarter and face a 1st an 10 on the Jacksonville 15-yard line. This is the route concept they dial up:
Look familiar? Except for the route from the running back being a swing route, this is almost the exact same design as the throw from Tannehill to Firsker. Now, they couldn’t be hoping to catch Jacksonville in Cover 3, thereby seeing if Henderson will be slow again to come off the post, could they?
Well:
As pointed out by Troy Aikman during the broadcast, the Jaguars indeed drop into Cover 3 on this play, putting Henderson in the same exact position he was under a week ago against the Titans. Ryan Fitzpatrick knows exactly where to look, which is that out route from tight end Mike Gesicki:
Again, Henderson peels off the post route a second too late, and that is all that Fitzpatrick needs to find his TE for the touchdown.
This is a difficult route concept for any cornerback to handle, as it will stress you in this coverage scheme. If you are a second too late to come off the post route, the out pattern is going to be there. Conversely, if you come off the post route too soon, the free safety will not be able to get there in time. Henderson will learn the timing on this concept as he gains experience, but it is a difficult one to master.
On the flip side, you have to give a tremendous amount of credit to Gailey – and his staff of scouts – for identifying this route design and getting it into the gameplan. If the NFL is indeed a copycat league, you better have the people on your staff to take advantage of those moments.