I thought the best way to look at what the Pats did was to take a look at the Buffalo game. The second half of this game descended into what was a mess of a Matt Barkley game but I think the blue print for that game will be a similar one in the Ravens game. It started from the first snap and essentially ran until Allen got hurt.

Collins was almost exclusively a spy on Allen, but it did change from time to time and they were always spying him or rushing 5. There were very few plays where that wasn’t the case and when it wasn’t that was in zone. Ironically, in zone was the biggest play that Allen got loose for a scramble.

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The Pats played in a Base of Cover 1, single high, press man coverage. They do some funky things with the safeties and move them around a lot. But this is an example of a RPO where the Bills attack it properly. They read the spy, they move the whole play running to the right side and throw back to the left side.

This is an example of what was about 8-10 snaps of cover 0. The Pats would show Cover 0 and drop into a zone. The defenses weren’t overly complicated but there were definitely times where they’d vary looks. It wasn’t often and it was usually in long down situations. Here’s a Cover 0, rush 7 play.

Now if you’re thinking what I was thinking at this spot on the tape, you’re wondering if Lamar can get outside of this blitz. And I think this the most deceptive part of the Pats defense. They don’t actually rush 7. It’s more like  a contain and spy. 53 has beat his man, and he drops. And on the other side they are dropping the LB as well. Now if the Pats don’t win inside here there is an opportunity, but Allen just misses his throw deep when he backpedals for this throw. I’m not so sure Lamar can’t beat this defense even in a contain to either side though either.

This play they showed Cover 2 and switched to a single high. But again, the Pats seem determined to make Allen beat him with his arm. They’ve got two guys on the spy both guys are pulling back here. I actually think there is a chance that Lamar gets more running opportunities against the zone. But I’ll get to that in a bit.

This was one of my favorite plays from earlier, the crosser on the RPO that got the man open. This is a similar formation. The LB in red is ultimately a spy. But he knows that Allen is just going to take off and run. He’s watching specifically for the crosser and then he moves with Allen. Just smart, discipline responsive football. If I’m the Ravens, that tells me when I run a successful play, they next time I show that look, do something to the opposite side or the inverse of the success because the Pats will quickly move to take it away.

This I think is the difference and the part that’s going to keep Belicheck up at night. Allen is a great running QB. On this play they rush 4 and they spy 1. There is a hole here. Now on this play, 53 catches up to Allen and gets him on an ankle tackle. But if you’re Belicheck do you really think this will stop Lamar? That looks like a 10-yard+ gain to me.

Ultimately the Pats game plan is full of Cover 0. And it’s about seeing who is coming open. Do you see the TD on this play? Loft the ball over the spy hit your crosser, drop it under him. Imagine Marquise Brown on this play.

This one also stood out to me. This is a QB design run. The Pats know this play is coming somehow or just call the perfect defense. If this is a way the Pats defense 5-wide, the Ravens can exploit this. If the safeties are supposed to pick up the slot guys on the seams there are windows here. But look, the slot guys are keyed on the QB, not the rub or the guy running the routes. I think this might just be a read and react and they are coached to watch for the design run. I wonder if the Ravens can build in a Lamar PA pass. Like Lamar pretends to run and then goes upright looks to throw. It’s like PA from 5 wide. The guy on the right seam would be wide open on a play like that though. Kind of like the Tebow jump pass.

On film there were definitely plays where the Pats just signaled Cover 2. This is one below but this goes to something I’ve been saying all season. You need to be obvious sometimes, so you can be deceptive others. I feel like the Ravens are always trying to be too creative all the time so teams don’t get duped. But look where the safeties eyes are. The Pats as a team, seem to have dedicated certain guys to the QB and the Safeties were instructed to play the pass. Trust your teammates. On this play, Allen gets a huge gain because of it. And I think we’re going to see a few of those from Lamar this weekend.

The Pats like Cover 2 for their base defense. Allen over throws this but Lamar would be well to do to look at this tape. The deep safety is watching Allen’s eyes the whole time, he thinks he’s going to dump it to the TE and he’s hunting for that INT. They’ve got two verticals deep over the top, Zay Jones who is on the outside beats his man there but the slot guy is open, too. If the Ravens want to attack the Cover 2 in those situations, I think it’s got to be vertically. That’s going to stretch the defense, create angles for Lamar on the scramble and squeeze the safeties to make the right decisions.

The Pats like Cover 2 for their base defense. Allen over throws this but Lamar would be well to do to look at this tape. The deep safety is watching Allen’s eyes the whole time, he thinks he’s going to dump it to the TE and he’s hunting for that INT. They’ve got two verticals deep over the top, Zay Jones who is on the outside beats his man there but the slot guy is open, too. If the Ravens want to attack the Cover 2 in those situations, I think it’s got to be vertically. That’s going to stretch the defense, create angles for Lamar on the scramble and squeeze the safeties to make the right decisions.

Jordan Kough
Jordan Kough

Ravens Analyst

Jordan Kough is a graduate of University of Maryland, Baltimore County. He’s a long standing Ravens and Orioles fan of many years. He grew up just north of Baltimore and likes the statistical analysis of games as much as watching games themselves.

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