It's worth taking a look at; touches on the topics of several of the threads within this forum following the Colts game.
http://www.nfl.com/news/story?id=09000d5d81312fbd&template=with-video-with-comments&confirm=true
Anatomy of a Play: Manning, Colts make it look too easy
By Greg Smith | NFL.com
Peyton Manning plays like he's a machine, like he is the actual Terminator. Indestructible. Indefatigable. Impossible to stop. He has a 117.7 passer rating through three games and the Colts have three victories.
Our Anatomy of a Play this week focuses on one of Manning's three touchdown passes against his latest victim, the Arizona Cardinals.
The Colts had an uncharacteristic first quarter last Sunday night, with three punts and an interception. Manning got the Colts on track in the second quarter, though, driving Indianapolis 75 yards from the Colts' 5-yard line to the Cardinals' 20.
The 20-yard line is a spot on the field that Manning loves taking shots into the end zone, especially on first-and-10.
Arizona's defense should have known something was up, since wide receiver Reggie Wayne was aligned to the right on the inside of a trips formation. Wayne is almost always aligned on the left and has lined up on the right side only six times this season.
Speedster Pierre Garcon was the outside receiver on the right and tight end Dallas Clark was the middle receiver.
The Cardinals played a soft, Cover-3 defense, where the corners and middle safety are responsible for the deep thirds of the field. The Colts called a play to attack the deep third defender to the trips side, cornerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie.
Garcon ran a deep post, attacking Rodgers-Cromartie quickly up the field for 15 yards, before breaking inside. Wayne ran a corner route, attacking vertically up the seam for 13 yards, before making a speed cut to the outside.
Both routes entered Rodgers-Cromartie's zone, but at different levels. Garcon essentially lifted him, while Wayne came in underneath him. It didn't take more than a second for Manning to know that Rodgers-Cromartie was bailing to cover Garcon and that with the right throw, Wayne couldn't be covered.
When Manning began his delivery, Garcon was still running vertically and Wayne was just making his cut. The timing with which Manning threw the ball made it impossible for Rodgers-Cromartie to make a play, based on his coverage assignment. He simply could not leave Garcon, while being attacked vertically with speed and the ball being thrown in his direction. Rodgers-Cromartie did nothing wrong. The Colts just did everything right.
The pass was a bit out in front of Wayne, but his ability to make a one-handed catch and get in the end zone was outstanding.
After watching his quarterback destroy yet another opponent's spirit with systematic timing and precise passing, Colts coach Jim Caldwell spoke poignantly.
"We have to constantly make certain we don't take it for granted ... he amazes us every time he does it. But he does it so often that if you don't watch yourself, you can think it is commonplace, but it certainly is not."
http://www.nfl.com/news/story?id=09000d5d81312fbd&template=with-video-with-comments&confirm=true
Anatomy of a Play: Manning, Colts make it look too easy
By Greg Smith | NFL.com
Peyton Manning plays like he's a machine, like he is the actual Terminator. Indestructible. Indefatigable. Impossible to stop. He has a 117.7 passer rating through three games and the Colts have three victories.
Our Anatomy of a Play this week focuses on one of Manning's three touchdown passes against his latest victim, the Arizona Cardinals.
The Colts had an uncharacteristic first quarter last Sunday night, with three punts and an interception. Manning got the Colts on track in the second quarter, though, driving Indianapolis 75 yards from the Colts' 5-yard line to the Cardinals' 20.
The 20-yard line is a spot on the field that Manning loves taking shots into the end zone, especially on first-and-10.
Arizona's defense should have known something was up, since wide receiver Reggie Wayne was aligned to the right on the inside of a trips formation. Wayne is almost always aligned on the left and has lined up on the right side only six times this season.
Speedster Pierre Garcon was the outside receiver on the right and tight end Dallas Clark was the middle receiver.
The Cardinals played a soft, Cover-3 defense, where the corners and middle safety are responsible for the deep thirds of the field. The Colts called a play to attack the deep third defender to the trips side, cornerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie.
Garcon ran a deep post, attacking Rodgers-Cromartie quickly up the field for 15 yards, before breaking inside. Wayne ran a corner route, attacking vertically up the seam for 13 yards, before making a speed cut to the outside.
Both routes entered Rodgers-Cromartie's zone, but at different levels. Garcon essentially lifted him, while Wayne came in underneath him. It didn't take more than a second for Manning to know that Rodgers-Cromartie was bailing to cover Garcon and that with the right throw, Wayne couldn't be covered.
When Manning began his delivery, Garcon was still running vertically and Wayne was just making his cut. The timing with which Manning threw the ball made it impossible for Rodgers-Cromartie to make a play, based on his coverage assignment. He simply could not leave Garcon, while being attacked vertically with speed and the ball being thrown in his direction. Rodgers-Cromartie did nothing wrong. The Colts just did everything right.
The pass was a bit out in front of Wayne, but his ability to make a one-handed catch and get in the end zone was outstanding.
After watching his quarterback destroy yet another opponent's spirit with systematic timing and precise passing, Colts coach Jim Caldwell spoke poignantly.
"We have to constantly make certain we don't take it for granted ... he amazes us every time he does it. But he does it so often that if you don't watch yourself, you can think it is commonplace, but it certainly is not."
