People might call this play “Levels,” but I’ve settled on “Under” as the 5 yard short in (under route) is the primary constant. The Buffalo Bills ran this play 9 times against the Baltimore Ravens in there Week One matchup with every eligible receiving a target and catch.
Hitting the Dig
2nd & 11 at the +15 (11:23 1Q)
Offensive Concept: 11p 3x1 Under
Defensive Structure: Even Open Zone
Breakdown: Against open zone, this play puts the inside hook defender in conflict because he must either get depth to cover the dig or get width to cover the first under.
The detail I’d like to focus on the two windows that make this play successful: the window between the safeties and the window between the linebackers.
Josh Allen creates the safety window with his eyes while the linebacker window is created by play design.
Allen looks the backside safety off to the left, and if he hadn’t, then the backside safety would’ve had a chance to follow the eyes to the dig and make a play. Instead, the backside safety is a second late.
The option route by the running back out of the backfield then creates the window between the Mike and Will linebackers by drawing the Will outside. The Mike is the key defender read so he is caught in conflict between the first under and the dig.
Hitting the Running Back
2nd & 10 at the +36 (10:03 3Q)
Offensive Concept: 11p 3x1 Under
Defensive Structure: Closed Zone
Breakdown: Because Allen works to the backside of the concept we might be seeing a glimpse into how they read this play against different defensive structures. Allen appears to peak at safeties while they rotate to what looks like a 3 Weak Buzz coverage though the down safety doesn’t get too far down. It’s interesting he goes to this side because the defense can get a double on the running back with the hook and flat defender. Additionally, the spacing between the solo wide receivers’s curl and the running back’s route don’t provide much room to take the solo.
But now we must look at the viability of the concept to the three man side if we’re going to critique the decision. The concept makes a change here with the tight end now on a corner route instead of the dig. This might be a read by the tight end or a different tag.
Hitting the Solo
2nd & 6 at the -20 (00:22 3Q)
Offensive Concept: 11p 3x1 Under
Defensive Structure: Even Open Zone
Breakdown: This result is a little skewed since the completion to the solo came out of structure. So it’s not an example of hitting one of the eligibles “by design” or as an example of the play having a solo answer to something the defense did to take away the frontside. However, it’s a completion and that’s worth something since the solo route proves to be capable of being an outlet.
But the more interesting analysis is in why the frontside under concept wasn’t available.
After the motion, Allen appears to get into this play. The Ravens didn’t move on the motion and already had the nickel over to the side the Bills eventually set their trips to. The Ravens played Quarter/Quarter/Half with the Half to the trips side. With there being only three underneath defenders the offense should still be in good shape to read the hook defender (who ends up carrying three vertical thus creating a void for the first under). I can only imagine that the inside leverage of the nickel on the first under route spooked him because the Mike’s depth in his carry of the number three is a clear read to throw the first under.
Hitting the First Under
2nd & 1 at the -37 (11:13 4Q)
Offensive Concept: 11p 3x1 Under
Defensive Structure: Even Open Zone
Breakdown: Just like the last play, the Ravens are running Quarter/Quarter/Half. Unlike the last play the Mike doesn’t carry the number three receiver vertically to the heavens, but instead simply gets depth. Josh sees it clearly this time and bangs the first under. It’s important to note that the nickel has much more depth here and is not a threat inside of the first under. So it’s certainly a much more clear read than the last one.
Hitting the Second Under
3rd & 10 at the +18 (04:48 4Q)
Offensive Concept: 11p 3x1 Under
Defensive Structure: Even Closed Man
Breakdown: We finally get a Cover 1 variation with a hole player. No matter, Josh Allen is comfortable reading this play. It also helps that the cornerback over the number one receiver is about 7 yards off the ball and 11 yards from the receiver.
You’d love to see the receiver really sell the go route here, but he doesn’t and the play still works. I do think this outside under route has flexibility in how far he goes inside because on other clips you’ll see him run just what looks like a hitch. On this play, the receiver slows a little or is slowed down a little by Allen’s ball placement. No matter who caused it, but I’d have to imagine against man coverage this is not the way they want to run the route. Instead of slowing down and “settling,” I know I’d much rather prefer a runaway. Regardless, bad defense helps.