Breaking down Nasir Adderley’s interception in Chargers’ win over Titans

Nasir Adderley made a big play in the Chargers’ win over the Titans.

[sendtonews_embed video_id=”jn4rWE5huo-2431637-7498″]

With the score between the Los Angeles Chargers and Tennessee Titans locked at seven points apiece in the third quarter, Chargers safety Nasir Adderley flew across the field for a momentum-changing interception that quenched the Titans’ progress on their second play of the drive.

On second-and-11, the Titans lined up in 12 personnel with quarterback Ryan Tannehill operating from the shotgun. 

Left outside receiver Chris Conley settled down on a stop route. Tight end Austin Hooper and slot wideout Nick Westbrook-Ikhene executed a Drive concept, a pattern that gave Tannehill two dig routes at different levels of the field to throw to. The second tight end on the play, Chigoziem Okonkwo, was added to the play as an extra wrinkle from his place in the backfield and ran a short out to the flat.

Tannehill keyed in on the one-on-one matchup on the right side of the formation between Racey McMath and Michael Davis in press coverage. Davis was tasked with bump-and-run technique on the play and fought to keep outside leverage as he carried McMath up the seam. McMath was able to get even with Davis, wiping away the contact and stacking the 6-foot-2 cornerback on his corner route. 

The Chargers had rotated into a Cover 6 skate coverage, which required safety Alohi Gilman to fill the void vacated by Davis on the left side. 

Tannehill saw Gilman come downhill and decided to take the shot to McMath, who had gained the upper hand on Davis. This decision operated under the assumption Adderley would not be able to close the distance to challenge the route. Adderley was playing the strong safety position on the opposite hash.

Adderley naturally saw the development and flipped his hips to help Davis. Tannehill’s throw was decent, tossed well over the head of Davis to allow McMath to elevate and get his hands on the ball. However, Adderley had appeared at top speed behind McMath to pluck the ball away from McMath’s fingertips and secure a pivotal interception for his team.

McMath was also flagged for offensive pass interference on his separation from Davis.

Unfortunately for the Chargers, no points resulted from the impressive effort by the former second-round pick out of Delaware. Quarterback Justin Herbert was intercepted by Kevin Byard five plays later on a pass intended for Mike Williams.

Nevertheless, Adderley’s instincts and effort were another sign of the Chargers’ secondary continuing to be the defense’s chief strength with the playoff picture still in sight.