Coverage Breakdown: Bradley Roby vs. JuJu Smith-Schuster – 97 yard TD

In this video we take a look at the breakdown in technique and coverage in JuJu Smith Schuster’s 97 yard touchdown for the Steelers against the Broncos on 12/2/18.

Key point in this video is the technique by Bradley Roby.  From what I can gather in the video,  it’s Cover 1 so Roby is expecting help in the post from the free safety.  As such,  Roby’s technique was not in good form.  He moved too hard outside on Smith’s exit at the snap.  Smith-Schuster gave a lazy outside move to which Roby overreacted,  got off balance and ended up too far outside.  Schuster then took a straight path up the field while Bradley,  who was off balance,  ended up in trail mode.  From there,  it was an easy throw from Ben Rothliesberger.

What should have happened was Roby aligning slightly shaded outside.  On the snap,  take one outside step and wait.  If the WR tries to step on your toes, you get hands on him.  If your technique is to peddle out (which I am not in favor of) then peddle back, not more outside.  Either way,  prevent Schuster from staying on his line and getting vertical up the field.  If the WR continues to attack your outside shoulder then you allow him to get outside of you, then you pin him into the sideline with your technique.  This means you either get hands on him and ride him out there or if he’s too far outside for you to touch him,  get your inside foot in the ground, flip your hips and get vertical up the field.  You will lose the help of your free safety but you gain the sidelines as a defender.  Pin the WR into the sidelines and force the QB to fit the ball into a tight space between you, the WR and the sidelines.

As you will see on the film,  the FS is aligned on the far hash offering more help to the side of Steelers’ top WR Antonio Brown.  I don’t know if this was discussed beforehand.  If not, it definitely should have been.

If it was discussed before hand then two things.  a)  The FS has to do a better job of disguising his intent.  He can either line up on the other hash and on the snap, high tail it to the other hash to offer the help on Brown or b) if Roby knows that his FS will be on and stay on the other hash,  convert your technique from Cover 1 technique to Cover 0 technique where you make any and all effort to deny an inside release by Schuster to force him to the sidelines.

What’s crazy is that Roby should have been playing the technique that the corner lined up on Antonio Brown was playing and the corner on Antonio Brown should have been playing the technique that Bradley Roby was “attempting’ to play.  It was a mess all around.

Enjoy the video and the audio.

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alleyesdbcamp

Owner at All Eyes DB Camp

Chad Wilson is the founder of All Eyes DB Camp and a former standout defensive back for the Miami Hurricanes. After an elite collegiate career, Wilson spent a season with the Seattle Seahawks before transitioning into coaching. A 3-time Florida state champion defensive coordinator, he has spent over 20 years developing the "All Eyes" blueprint that has produced NFL All-Pros and stars like Xavien Howard, Patrick Surtain II, Tyson Campbell, Minkah Fitzpatrick and more. His coaching system is proven at the highest levels—his own sons, Quincy and Marco Wilson, both excelled as starters in the SEC before being drafted into the NFL.

Chad is the author of "101 DB Tips"—The Ultimate DB Reference Guide. You can find more information on the manual and how to order your copy in the sidebar and footer of this page.

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