Earlier this week I wrote about the Colts passing game against the Packers. A bit of a high-level look with numbers, then dug into a 30 yard pass to Adonai Mitchell. Since I’m only really looking at one play in that post, a lot of really fun stuff gets tossed to the side. Being a lover of fun offensive plays, that makes me sad, so I wanted to bring up a couple more plays I really liked.
After all, regardless of the result of the game, I believe that Shane Steichen is a good offensive mind and there is a lot of talent on this offense, so there are bound to be plays in each game that are fun and cool, and yet get glossed over.
We’re not getting to a ton of plays today (mainly because time is in short supply), but we’re going to take a look at two that I really liked. So let’s get to it.
Play 1
This is a play that basically mirrors the first play I ever wrote up for this site: a post-snap RPO. This is slightly different, but not overly so. It’s a concept I love and will find every excuse to write about, which is how we find ourselves here.
Let’s revisit the idea slightly. There are two types of RPOs: pre-snap read and post-snap read. A pre-snap read is typically a behind-the-line-of-scrimmage route and the decision to either throw the ball or hand off the ball is based on the numbers to the receiving side. If the offense has more receivers to a side of the field than the defense has defenders, the QB will throw it. If they don’t have an advantage, the QB will hand the ball off.
A post-snap RPO has the QB reading a defender (typically called a “conflict defender”). This is a more vertically attacking route. The QB will fake the handoff and read a second-level defender (usually a linebacker or slot corner). If that player stays back in coverage, that means there’s one less defender to play against the run, so the QB will hand the ball off. If the defender attacks the line of scrimmage to play the run, that means there is a void in coverage so the QB will pull the ball and throw.
This play is a post-snap read.
The Colts are running Duo (basically a power, inside zone based run), with a glance/hitch from the left slot. Ashton Dulin [16] is the receiver and Keisean Nixon [25] is the conflict defender.
At the snap, Anthony Richardson [4] puts the ball into the belly of Jonathan Taylor [28] and reads Nixon.
Nixon fires down immediately at the line, making this an easy decision for Richardson. Dulin – being uncovered at the line – looks back for the ball immediately, and hitches up into the space voided by Nixon.
Easy pitch-and-catch for Richardson and Dulin.
Play 2
This is not exactly the same thing, as it’s simply a play action and not an RPO, but the idea is the same. The Colts are looking to get a second-level defender to bite on the threat of a run, then attack the space behind them.
On this play, they’re attacking Isaiah McDuffie [58] with Mo Alie-Cox [81].
The Colts are selling a power run to the right, with Taylor crossing the face of Richardson on the playfake and Quenton Nelson [56] pulling to the right. Alie-Cox releases vertically off the line, which would be consistent with a run to that side, as he would be looking to block McDuffie.
All that action sells the run, triggering McDuffie down to the line. Alie-Cox simply runs right past McDuffie to a wide-open middle and Richardson finds him for a gain of 22.
A lovely bit of misdirection that pays off with a big gain.
Album listened to: Starflyer 59 – Lust For Gold