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Wanted to share some thoughts (and plays) from the Week 2 game prior to the rematch with TENN this week. Per usual, this will primarily focus on the passing game (thread)
Coming out of the HOU game, I know people are going to be hammering the table for more deep shots from Brissett, but if Week 2 is any indication, TENN is not a good matchup in that regard. I’m saying that to set expectations in check for Week 13.
For a large share of snaps, TENN played very deep, taking away deep shots and even deep outs/ins on the outside. Here are a few examples:
1) The safeties drop to 25 yards behind the LOS here.
2) Here, the safeties are deep, but focus on the corner at the top of the screen. He sinks with Hilton, making the check down the correct read again.
3) Here, TENN drops 8 (8!!) defenders 10+ yards behind the LOS.
TENN was counting on their front 7 to do enough to slow the run and their pass rush to get home, which they did far too effectively in Week 2. If TENN comes with a similar game plan this week, the OL simply must play better. Here are a few breakdowns in protection:
1) Brissett wants to hit Ebron on the crosser here on 3rd down, but the right side of the line doesn’t give enough time for the route.
2) Big 3rd and 8 play here, so Doyle isn’t a great option on the shallow cross. Mike blitz creates some softness in the middle of the field so Brissett wants to target Campbell deep or Cain on the deep in. He needed half a second more time.
3) 3 man rush and Casey destroys Glowinski. Brissett needed time for the Ebron/Hilton route combo to develop on the right hash. If he does, that’s 20 yards over the LB to Hilton.
So what about Brissett? Overall, he had an above average day in Week 2 (B-/C+ grade from me). As already noted, he was limited by what he had available to him much of the time, but there were some really nice plays and some issues.
In the game, I counted 4 plays he’d probably want back, but two of them would’ve only been minimal 5-8 yard gains (not like some of the 20+ yard plays he left on the field against HOU). The biggest issues were the two turnovers.
1) Like the late throw to Hilton against HOU, this throw is just a tad late and the corner makes a great play. I like the read, but would want a quicker trigger.
2) Here’s the fumble. Terrible play, but key on the coverage. TENN was sinking that top corner to take away the deep out/in all day and this time he jumped the short route. Brissett just sees it a split second too late.
That being said, Brissett did have three really nice throws I wanted to highlight.
1) 3rd and 15, Brissett hits Hilton on the deep in to beat the zone. Poor decisions from TENN in coverage, but this is a good read and rip from Brissett.
2) While Brissett lacks it on occasion, the touch on this TD to Campbell was perfection. I hope we see Brissett trust his arm and drop more of these in the bucket in December.
3) Here’s another nice touch throw on the RPO fade to Hilton. Notice how Brissett reads the single coverage and correctly takes the pass option for the TD and game winner.
So what does this mean for Week 13?
1) Unless you see replays that indicate otherwise, don’t assume Brissett is missing deep options if he isn’t pushing the ball. If TENN comes with a similar game plan, they are going to force things underneath.
1) Unless you see replays that indicate otherwise, don’t assume Brissett is missing deep options if he isn’t pushing the ball. If TENN comes with a similar game plan, they are going to force things underneath.
2) Hopefully the OL holds up a bit better than they did in Week 2. The running game wasn’t consistently good enough vs 7 man boxes and didn’t hold up well enough against 3-5 man rushes.
