Every great coordinator has a bag of plays and concepts that they use throughout the game to create opportunities. Whether it’s a run play to set up a play action later, or a route concept designed to get yards in crucial situations, these bread and butter plays are important in making an offense run like a well-oiled machine.
Throughout the week 1 match-up against the Indianapolis Colts, the Lions offense created opportunities and points with a route concept commonly referred to as Dusty. For the uninitiated, listen to Jon Gruden go into depth on this concept during his QB Camp series, and yes this is the one with Johnny Manziel.
Dusty stands for double under, where in a 3 wide receiver set, the two outside receivers run quick 5 yard underneath in routes. the most inside receiver shoots vertical with either a corner or seam route. The idea of this is to attack zone coverage and hit one of the two underneath routes. This is a concept that Peyton Manning made a living off of in the 2013 Denver offense and it’s no surprise that Jim Bob Cooter is using it here in Detroit three years later.
The key to the Dusty concept is the pre-snap match-up. It is important not to force the ball here, and at times even run a concept on the back side of the play that you can attack if the defense over-commits to the strong side of the play.
The Lions ran the Dusty concept 3 times this weekend versus the Colts, and as a result gained a first down, got into field goal position, and even scored a touchdown. So let’s take a look at the three plays:
Play 1: Q1 8:14 2nd and 6
Pre-snap: Stafford sees a two-high coverage look, but the safety on the left side is playing down to cover a receiver since the nickel corner is blitzing. Stafford notices the pressure is coming and points it out.
Post-Snap: The safety covering for the nickel blitz follows Ebron on the seam route and Stafford finds Boldin wide open. The Swing route by Ameer draws the linebacker out of the middle of the field, and Boldin is wide open to make a big gain. Unfortunately, some of the gain is negated by a holding call on Tate, but nonetheless, first down Lions.
Play 2: Q2 12:55 2nd and 10
Pre-snap: Lions show 5 wide here but Riddick is motioned into backfield to run the same swing as Ameer did. The defense shows a two-high coverage with no intentions to bring pressure.
Post-Snap: Coverage shifts to cover 1 and all 3 receivers on the left side are now in 1 on 1 man coverage. Stafford has a clean pocket and finds Andre Roberts on the in route for an 8 yard gain, putting the Lions into Field Goal Range.
Play 3: Q3 2:20 2nd and 4
Pre-Snap: 5 wide look again, but this time, Ameer stays wide. With a 2-on-2 scenario on the back side of this play, Stafford chooses this combo as opposed to the dusty combo he attacked the previous two times. Here Ameer and Marvin Jones are lined up to the left with Jones facing press coverage and an over top corner covering Ameer.
Post Snap: The two run what looks like a rub route combo with Jones shooting vertical and Ameer running the slant. The over top DB sees this and tries to get in front of the slant, similar to Malcom Butler’s Super Bowl interception, and falls right into the Lions trap. Ameer’s route is a double move as he cuts flat back to the outside of the field. With Jones and the two DBs running into each other, Stafford finds Ameer for the wide open score.
See the play here.
The thing that stands out is how efficient Stafford is. From sniffing out a blitz to getting the ball out quickly and accurately, Stafford looks as sharp as he as ever been and it is refreshing to see an offense reflect their quarterback. The pocket is clean and these receivers are so talented after the catch.
The Dusty concept is a simple concept but with good decision making and yards-after-catch ability, is it a concept that can cater to the Lions’ strengths and create opportunities.
Let me know how you felt about this playbook breakdown on twitter: @FinleytheHuman.