the eagles run it and get the rb some help with a pick route from the wr running the shallow. The rb is wide open and Wentz hits him for an easy touchdown.
In the 2nd example the back is covered so he works the 2nd read the crosser to the side of the back.
Easy touchdown above as the db can't get thru all the traffic.
Here's a variation where they motion the back into the mesh route concept.
The Rams version out of empty. They remove the back and give Beckham a ton of space to work with.
Read:
1. Beckham to the sit route.
2. Empty rb motion tells Stafford it's man coverage.
Good luck trying to cover OBJ with the mesh concept working the mof.
Here's the concept vs zone
You will see the sit route hit more vs zone coverage. The read progression stays the same as discussed above.
vs Cover 3 the eagles vs the Giants.
The giants 2 underneath lb's run with the crossing routes and it opens up the sit route over the middle.
Great route concept and easy catch and throw.
vs cover 3
vs zone pressure Cardinals vs the 49ers
route concept variation #1 (back opposite)
a variation is when you send the back opposite and set the mesh to the other side. The read is still the rb to the crosser to the side of the back. The Chiefs run this on the goalline for an easy walk in touchdown.
The Bucs are in a variation with cover 4 with possibly the safety looking to jump the crosser.
Route concept #2 back running the crossing route out of empty
Here is some film to go with the mesh concept.
Here is another variation as Arizona State does it vs Stanford and motions to trips to run it. They start in 2 back with the right half back motioning out behind the los. It looks like man free coverage with 2 rat lb underneath playing hook zones. They are trying to help.
The 2 wr do a nice job picking #18 and the rat defender doesn't help on 82 coming across. The qb hits him for a nice completion and 25 yard gain.
Nice play design by Arizona State.
Vs Arizona,
They come out in empty and the lb goes out with the rb which tells Arizona State it's man coverage.
They motion him back in and put him on the other side. The Rb has leverage on the lb covering him right now. The Mike in mesh has to cover the back to the flat, with tons of traffic as the 2 wr are coming inside making it very difficult to get to the rb.
As you can see the RB is open right now. 1st read throw him the ball. A nice 25 yard gain on the play.
Here you can see the pick and also, the crossing wr is coming open as well but the first read is there so you have to take it.
The best part of the concept above is the motion aspect from empty to 3x1 strong. It really gave them excellent leverage on the mesh route and created the advantage to the rb in the pass game.
Empty Mesh concept
The Chargers were one of the best at running mesh out of empty with Phillip Rivers.
Another variation you see of mesh is running it out of empty formation.
When will teams use it?
When they get a mismatch with the RB vs a LB is one example. When you know you are getting man coverage, take advantage with RB vs LB in coverage. The Chargers did it with Ekeler quite a bit.
Here's another example.
Chargers go empty and get the matchup inside with Williams at wr against Quincy Wilson, nickel DB. They like the matchup on the inside as the LB walking out on the rb to the 4 wr side tells them it's man. Mesh is a nice concept vs man when you get the matchup you want.
Deep Mesh Concept
Patriots go man free and Jackson expects help on the deep crosser. Great route design running the mesh route deep at 10-12 yards against the Patriots who like to pass things off in man.
Here are 3 film examples of mesh out of empty
Rutgers runs Mesh against Michigan in 2019.
Excellent concept vs Man coverage. Tough to defend.
Rutgers liked the matchup of their RB Raheem Blackshear vs Michigan LB. They executed nicely for an excellent gain.
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