Watch Like an Analyst: The Deep End

How do teams use varied depth to beat opposition defenses?

Focus: Depth

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What is depth?

Depth refers to how far backwards a player stands relative to the passer. A player stood a long way behind the passer is referred too as 'deep' whereas a player stood level with the passer is referred too as 'flat'.

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You might ask why you would ever stand deep? After all, why stand further away from the opposition line than you really have too?

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Watch how Mike Brown is almost 25yds deep here. That gives him space to kick or pass without opposition pressure. It also forces the defenders to rush 25yds without losing their defensive structure. Something Saints aren't able to do in this example.

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It makes logical sense that the easiest way to beat the defense is to be closer to them. Watch how the first phase here features a very flat pass from Marcus Smith. The skill level is high, because a slow pass risks an interception.

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Then see how Marcus Smith drops into a deeper position for the second phase when he has decided that he wants to pin London Irish into the corner with the kick.
Quins have used the benefits of playing deep and flat in these two phases.

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Here Quins combine depths. Smith is stood quite deep at first receiver. He then has a runner flat and another deeper. The flat runner acts as a shield for the deeper runner to hide behind. The flat runner also draws in defenders allowing the deeper runner to slide into a gap.

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To break defenses down almost all attacks resort to combining attackers at different depths. Usually that is a deep first receiver with a combination of deep and flat attackers off that player.
The deep first attacker has time to pick out their next pass.

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Of course, just because you're a deep first receiver doesn't mean you have unlimited time. Defenses are used to predictable patterns. Here Quins have a deep first receiver with a wide flat option.

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That might be something prop Lewis Boyce is familiar with from his time at Quins. He picks this pass and heads under the posts.

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Playing flat and playing deep have their positives and negatives. Doing just one is predictable and reduces your attacking options. It is for this reason that virtually all professional attacks combine depths for their attackers.

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It is crucial to avoid predictability though. It is easy for analysts to identify patterns. The analyst identifies it, the defender learns it, and the attacker can find themselves looking a bit silly.

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When you watch your next match, look out for how attackers combine their depth and see if you can spot what combination of depths is most effective.

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