Sub nickel back can disrupt Chargers' plans for tight end
Matt Bowen
7:06 PM CST, November 19, 2011
During the Bears' four-game winning streak Lovie Smith's unit has leaned heavily on the zone blitz to generate pressure on the quarterback. That is rush five, drop six into coverage and cause confusion in the protection count. Sunday, against Norv Turner's offense, the Bears can continue to apply pressure with the "nickel smoke" for sub nickel back Corey Graham and force Chargers' quarterback Philip Rivers to unload the ball.
In this diagram, the Bears have their base nickel package on the field (four defensive linemen, two linebackers, five defensive backs) versus the Chargers' Posse personnel (three wide receivers, one tight end, one running back). They want to bring pressure to take away Rivers' top target — tight end Antonio Gates.
Blitz scheme
Up front, nose tackle Anthony Adams (NT) will "gig" to the open (weak) side "A" gap, with defensive end Israel Idonije (LE) moving to the closed (strong) side "A" gap on the "long scoop." Defensive tackle Henry Melton (DT) will work to the edge of the open side and rush up the field.
Before the snap, Graham (NB) will time his "nickel smoke" blitz from a Cover-2 pre-snap alignment and rush (using contain principles), with Brian Urlacher (MLB) hitting the closed side "B" gap. With Julius Peppers (RE) dropping into coverage, the Bears will have created a five-man pressure scheme.
3-deep, 3-under shell
Both cornerbacks (Charles Tillman and Tim Jennings) will match to the vertical release of No. 1 (Z, X), with free safety Chris Conte playing the deep middle third of the field to give the Bears a look similar to Cover-3. Underneath, linebacker Lance Briggs (WLB) will drop to the middle hook ("Gut"), with Peppers and strong safety Major Wright (SS) playing a two-to-one read as seam-flat ("Bronco") defenders.
Chargers' route scheme
The Chargers will run the "tare" concept. A quick, three-level route scheme designed to target the tight end and move the sticks. The Z receiver, Vincent Jackson, will clear out the top of the defense on the 9 (fade) route. Underneath, Rivers will work the two-man combination of tight end Antonio Gates (Y) and slot receiver Patrick Crayton (W). Gates will stem his release vertically and break to the outside on the option route with Crayton working to the flat. To the open side, the X receiver breaks to the slant route — a standard in every NFL playbook in a three-by-one alignment.
Taking away Gates
The Bears expect the ball to come out quickly with both Graham and Urlacher in the blitz front. To the closed side, Wright will align at Cover-2 depth and roll to his seam-flat responsibility at the snap. With the protection of Briggs playing the middle hook to the inside, Wright can step in front of the option route. With Peppers dropping directly into the throwing lane of the slant to the open side, the Bears can force Rivers to dump the ball in the flat with pressure in his face. Then they can make the tackle and get off the field.
Special contributor Matt Bowen, who played at Glenbard West and Iowa, spent seven seasons in the NFL as a strong safety. You also can find his work at nationalfootballpost.com