With Cornerbacks Ladarius Webb return to the lineup and Jimmy Smith’s exceptional coverage skills, the Buccaneers targeted the Ravens Safeties in their week 6 game plan. According to Pro Football Focus, QBs have a rating of 137.5, 42.1 and 138.4 when throwing into coverage by Darian Stewart, Terrence Brooks and Matt Elam. Note: Terrence Brooks has been thrown at 5 times while allowing 1 reception. Let’s take a look at how the Buccaneers tried to target the Ravens Safeties and where were they successful and where they were not.

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Ravens Pass Rush Masked Secondary Play

Situation: 1st Quarter with 10:52 remaining, 3rd and 10 on the Tampa Bay 35 yard line

After giving up a Touchdown on the Ravens’ opening drive, the Buccaneers looked to tie up the score on their opening drive. The Ravens give a cover 3 look during the Pre-Snap read by Mike Glennon. The Buccaneers attack this by using a Hawk Concept on their passing play. This concept works well when the defense is in man coverage or in cover 3. The Hawk Concept is a combination route by two receivers. The outside receiver stretches the field vertically taking the cornerback with him. The slot receiver will run an out route. The idea is that the receiver running the vertical route will take the CB with him and will force the Safety to help out on deep coverage. This leaves the slot receiver open as he runs to the sideline.

The Ravens pass rushers overload the weak side of the defense where 3 defenders rush towards two pass defenders. This results in a pass rusher with an unobstructed path to the QB. Buccaneers QB Mike Glennon is forced to throw the ball early. Jimmy Smith is able to see the ball thrown by the Quarterback, leave his assigned Receiver, and get an interception.

Situation: 1st Quarter with 8:03 remaining, 3rd and 11 on the Tampa Bay 19 yard line

On a passing down with 3rd and long, the Buccaneers attack the middle of the field using the Hi-Lo passing concepts. The Hi-Lo is a vertical passing attack with a high and low read by the Quarterback. The Hi-Lo concept is run out of a stack alignment such as a Bunch Formation. By running out of a stack alignment, offenses can get a “pick” in man coverage. The FS is taken out of the play by the vertical route run by the outside WR on the weak side. If the FS drops down into the middle of the field, the QB can target the WR who has one on one coverage with the CB.

The Ravens rush 5 defenders and they are able to force QB Mike Glennon to make a hurried throw. Glennon’s throw is inaccurate and could have been easily intercepted, but S Darian Stewart drops the ball. If Glennon would have had time to throw, the middle of the field would have been open as Stewart was playing too deep and CB Ladarius Webb was in trail man coverage.  

Safeties Exposed for Big Gains by Buccaneers Offense

When the pass rush is picked up by the offensive line, the Ravens Safeties continue to be exposed by the opposing teams’ offense.

Situation: 1st Quarter with 12:10 remaining, 3rd and 10 on the Tampa Bay 20 yard line

On a passing down of 3rd and long, the Ravens line up in a 2 Man Coverage formation. In this formation, the Cornerbacks and Linebackers will play in man coverage with help at the top provided by two Safeties. The Buccaneers offense attempt to isolate Ravens FS Terrence Brooks using a Mesh Passing Concept. The offense floods the underneath coverage with three receivers forcing the Linebackers to remain underneath in coverage. In order to take away the other Safety, Darian Stewart, the Buccaneers run a vertical route by the outside receiver. This forces Stewart to help out on coverage. The Buccaneers attack the weakness of the defense by throwing to the deep middle of the field. The Cornerback will play underneath in an attempt to sit on the route knowing that Safety help is up top.

As the Receiver breaks toward the middle of the field, Brooks is slow to react to the play. It is the FS responsibility for driving down to the receiver making the inside cut. The result is a 31 yard gain by WR Mike Evans.

Situation: 3rd Quarter with 13:59 remaining, 1st and 10 on the Tampa Bay 35 yard line

Down 38-0, the Buccaneers rely on their deep passing attack to score points in an attempt to make a comeback against the Ravens. The Ravens align in a Cover 1 formation with a single high safety, Matt Elam. The Buccaneers attack Matt Elam by sending two Receivers (WR and TE) in the middle of the field. The Wide Receiver runs a post route attempting to draw the attention of Elam. The TE runs a Seam Read route where he gets vertical going over the LB and then under the Safety.

Elam sits in deep coverage too long and is slow to react to the TE Seferian-Jenkins who has gotten behind Daryl Smith and underneath Elam. This results in a 30 yard gain.

Conclusion

The Ravens are very close to being considered as contenders, but need improved play from their Safeties. With a true Free Safety Will Hill returning to the lineup this week, it will be interesting to see if the Ravens secondary improves. Will Hill allows Matt Elam to move back to his normal SS position. Earlier this summer, I broke down Will Hill’s abilities as a Free safety here.