Preseason Week 3 is a pretty sad week around the league. The vast majority of players are playing for the name on the back of their jersey, rather than the front. A lot of players will be released in the coming days, independent of how they preform in the final preseason game. With that being said, every day is a job interview in the NFL and pro scouting departments take notice.
Anthony Gould
Anthony Gould has taken some really encouraging steps as a WR this year, particularly in the past two preseason games. He has the speed and the skillset to slot in (no pun intended) as the F, should Downs miss time.
This is a concept in the Steichen system called Gillette. It’s a 2 man Sail concept, but ran at shorter depth. Instead of breaking at 12-15 yards, the Sail runner will break at 8 yards and take it to 14 yards.
But what’s really impressive is the body control on the sideline to make this catch. The ball is a bit late, but Gould helps his QB out and makes a play.
This is also a really nice job by the offense to pick up the pressure.
This is a concept called Raffle-Slants. Raffle is what is commonly is referred to as a ‘Snag’ Concept.
The goal here is to create horizontal and vertical stretches on zone defenders. The Colts pair this with Slants on the backside. That is your man-beater.
Riley Leonard ID’s man and sees that the Nickel is outside leverage, a premier look to throw the slant. Gould takes his free yards here.
Riley Leonard
Overall, Riley had a typical Rookie preseason performance. Had some good moments, and some not so good moments.
But my favorite play was the pot to Laquon Treadwell at the end of half.
Colts are running a play called Trips Rt Y-Flounder H-Sneak.
Trips Rt is the formation. That just means the Colts will be in 3×1 for formation with the X as the single WR and the Y-F-Z aligning inside out on the other side. Y-Flounder H-Sneak is the concept.
Anytime you’re in a 3×1 formation and the defense is in a 2-hi coverage, you want to read that weak safety. He has two options on the play. He can double the single WR, or he can “poach”, “trix”, etc. the #3 WR on the other side. All that means is that he will look to match and vertical routes from that WR, which means you have a 1-on-1 on the weak side.
Here, that Dover from Will Mallory gets the attention of the weak safety, so Riley knows that he has Treadwell 1-on-1 on a Post with a DB who’s outside leverage. A premier look.
Daniel Scott
The Colts are running a Cover 1 variation here where Daniel Scott is the Robber. It’s an ill-advised throw from the QB, but a very nice play from Daniel Scott.
Anytime you get these boots or naked keepers, there’s usually something in the flat, something deep, and then an over route coming from the backside.
Watch Daniel Scott read boot, let the deep sail run past him, and then get his eyes to the backside and find the over route.
For a guy who hasn’t banked too many NFL reps, that’s a really nice play.
And then obviously scoring a TD off of it never hurts.
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