Though the Pats are relying more on the running game than in recent seasons, their offense inevitably flows through Tom Brady and the passing game. Brady’s been successful in a multitude of offensive systems during his career, and this year is no different.
Meanwhile, the absence of Rob Gronkowski has left the Pats searching for a new offensive philosophy as pretty much everything changes without their all-world tight end in the lineup. So how will the Patriots try to attack a few of the Ravens more common defensive looks? I went to the film to find out.
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Cover 1
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Cover 2
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Cover 3
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Cover 4
The Ravens don’t play as much Cover-4 as they did last year, mostly because their personnel lends itself to different schemes like Cover 2 and 3. But you can be sure the Pats will be ready to attack the Ravens quarters if they need to.
This is a curl/flat combo with Danny Amendola in the near slot running the curl route. The receiver at the bottom of the screen is running a fade route while Edelman, in the slot at the top of the screen, is running a shallow cross.
With both cornerbacks and safeties bailing into deep zones, the three linebackers are left to cover the underneath zones. Josh Boyce’s flat rout is going to clear one linebacker, and Amendola is a mismatch against ILB Dannell Ellerbe, who has no chance of covering the well-executed curl route. Brady has a clear lane to throw, and the result is an easy first down.
0-Man
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Born and raised in Baltimore, Chris has been a local sports fan his whole life. His first love was the Orioles, thanks in large part to his grandfather–but ever since the Ravens arrived, football has been his passion. By day, Chris works as a Medical Writer supporting the National Institutes of Health. He now lives in Sykesville with his wife and two daughters.