Wowie zowie. That's some pretty evenly split Tampa-2 action
right there. But here's something interesting: Nick Harper has a 37% stop rate
against #1 WR, but a 57% stop rate against #2 WR. Jason David has a 56% stop
rate against #1 WR, but a 38% stop rate against #2 WR. A look at which
receivers counted as #1 or #2 backs up something we learned from the 2005
charting data: David generally plays things closer, so he stops more plays but
gives up larger gains when he gets beat. The receivers who had success against
Harper were mainly possession-style guys: Reggie Williams, Andre Johnson, Eric
Moulds. (Terrell Owens was an exception, he got Harper deep a couple of times.)
The receivers who had success against David were mainly speed guys: Javon
Walker, Lee Evans, Terry Glenn, Drew Bennett. (Yes, Drew Bennett is a speed
guy. He's "deceptively" speedy, as we all know.)
I guess Reche Caldwell is the #1 WR and the speed guy for
the Patriots, so the Patriots may want to have Caldwell on David's side and
Jabar Gaffney on Harper's side.
vs. Other WR
25-N.Harper 24%
Uncovered/Hole in Zone 20%
42-J.David 16%
58-G.Brackett 10%
28-M.Jackson 6%
59-C.June 6%
Other 18%
The Colts have passes to "Other WR" come up as
Uncovered or Hole in Zone twice as often as their Tampa-2 brethren up north in Illinois. I would have
to check, but I would guess that the Colts are the only team where the nickel
back doesn't even come up as covering "Other WR" on at least 5% of
passes. Then again, Kelvin Hayden isn't always the nickel back -- the Colts
also use safety Marlin Jackson as nickel back, especially in likely run
situations.
vs. TE
58-G.Brackett 23%
25-N.Harper 14%
Uncovered/Hole in Zone 14%
59-C.June 9%
42-J.David 6%
28-M.Jackson 6%
41-A.Bethea 5%
20-M.Doss 5%
51-G.Gardner 5%
Other 13%
The other difference between the Chicago Tampa-2 and the
Indy Tampa-2: Gary Brackett is in that middle zone defending the tight end seam
routes more often than Brian Urlacher is.
New England Patriots
vs. #1 WR
22-A.Samuel 25%
27-E.Hobbs 25%
30-C.Scott 14%
54-T.Bruschi 6%
80-T.Brown 5%
Uncovered/Hole in Zone 4%
Other 21%
That Troy Brown number is basically all against Green Bay; the Pats will only
use Brown as a slot cornerback -- he knows that position best thanks to his
role in the offense -- so the Packers lined Donald Driver up in the slot to
take advantage.
vs. #2 WR
22-A.Samuel 27%
30-C.Scott 17%
27-E.Hobbs 16%
26-E.Wilson 9%
25-A.Hawkins 7%
32-H.Poteat 5%
Uncovered/Hole in Zone 5%
Other 14%
Hank Poteat keeps two apartments: one on Long
Island, one in Foxboro.
vs. Other WR
22-A.Samuel 28%
30-C.Scott 20%
27-E.Hobbs 17%
37-R.Harrison 6%
36-J.Sanders 5%
Uncovered/Hole in Zone 4%
Other 20%
Yes, that's correct. We have Asante Samuel listed as the
most common defender against all three types of wide receivers. Hint to Peyton
Manning: When Ellis Hobbs or Chad Scott is on Marvin Harrison, throw it to him.
(I don't think Peyton needs my hints, actually.)
vs. TE
50-M.Vrabel 20%
Uncovered/Hole in Zone 18%
54-T.Bruschi 14%
37-R.Harrison 11%
27-E.Hobbs 7%
55-J.Seau 6%
Other 24%
This probably has no bearing on Dallas Clark. Let's be honest,
if Dallas Clark is a tight end, I'm a turnip. But Mike Vrabel has definitely
lost something in pass coverage this season, so Ben Utecht could take advantage
of that.
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