3rd down study: Justin Herbert, LA Chargers 3rd down

 

The LA Chargers were very effective on 3rd down conversions in 2021. They did it with a great 2nd year QB, Justin Herbert and a very talented group of WR including Mike Williams and Keenan Allen, an excellent Tight End in Jared Cook and a RB in Austin Ekeler. Mix in Josh Palmer and Jalen Guyton and you have some nice pieces to work with. Offensive Coordinator Joe Lombardi did an excellent job with the young QB.

Justin Herbert just did that as the Chargers threw for 5,000 yards with 38 TD's and 15 interceptions. On 3rd down, they were 3rd in the league at 45%, behind only Buffalo and Kanas City.  Ironically, they were the only team in the top 11 that didn't make the playoffs. It shows how important it is to convert 3rd downs in today's NFL.

Well let's look at some of the route concepts incorporated by the Chargers during the year. We will look at the concepts by down and distance.

This section will look at some 3rd and 4-6 situations

3rd and 4-6 Vs the Giants

They get man free coverage and a 5 man pressure. The offensive line does a nice job as they run a nice shallow cross concept with Mike Williams who beats the CB James Bradberry off the line of scrimmage and just outruns him.

3rd and 5 vs the Raiders

The Raiders go cover 2

Chargers put Ekeler in the slot to the top with Cook as the #3 WR.

They have the man beater with the slant to the bottom of the screen and the nice cover 2 beater to the top of the screen Herbert ends up hitting Ekeler for the nice reception.

On 3rd and 4 they come back to the deep over with the shallow cross. The Crosser could be open but the RB gets in his way, he throws the crossing route and the DB makes a nice play on it.  The concept is sound but the RB's poor route takes away the shallow and he could have completed the dover route but the DB makes a good play.

3rd and 4 vs The Vikings

Chargers catch the Vikings by snapping the ball quickly. 

They run a nice concept as the Vikings are playing man free with combo coverage. They have 2 rat defenders underneath in man free. The Chargers release the back underneath opposite from where he started and get the look they want. Both rat defenders take the crosser and the RB is wide open. Herbert is hit as he throws and the pass goes incomplete. Great design against man coverage

Here are 5  clips of the concepts above. The Chargers had some nice designs on 3rd an 4-6 and had solid options against both man and zone coverage with their concepts.

3rd and 3 vs the Chiefs

They anticipate man coverage(presnap read) and run mesh. Herbert understands it's man coverage based on the motion and db running with it and works the RB side. His first read, the rb is open so he hits him for the 1st down and keeps the chains moving.

3rd and 3 vs the Chiefs

The Chargers run the dagger concept, The Broncos drop the De and take away the shallow while still running their man free coverage concept. Herbert makes a great read, sees it and works the dig. Nice route and concept vs man free with DE as a rat defender.

Other Resources:

Chargers Tight Formations

https://weeklyspiral.com/2021/10/06/how-joe-lombardi-has-the-chargers-offense-attacking-the-entire-field/

Chargers Passing Game

https://touchdownwire.usatoday.com/2021/12/02/chargers-justin-herbert-joe-lombardi/

3 areas of improvement

https://www.chargers.com/news/justin-herbert-record-breaking-season-three-takeaways-2021

Vertical passing attack

https://touchdownwire.usatoday.com/2021/12/13/justin-herbert-joe-lombardi-los-angeles-chargers/

Man Free Hole Coverage at the NFL & College Level

Man Free Hole Coverage at the NFL Level

The Man free Hole or lurk concept is a very popular defense in today's NFL. It used by man teams and has a few variations which you will see often on Sunday.

The lurk or hole concept starts as as 2 man look with one safety diving to the hole to take away crossing routes rather than stay over the top as a deep half player.  Teams will often do this opposite 3x1 sets as the safety will be in position to take any deep crosser. You at times will see the safety do this to the 3x1 side with the weak safety over the top.

Another part of this package is defensive db passing their deep crosser off to the safety and then sitting and looking for other work. This is another popular part of the hole/lurk concept. It is a good concept and highly effective against those speedy slot WR running those deep crossing routes. 

2 man hole concept opposite 3x1

Bucs ran man free lurk/robber concept vs the Saints in the playoffs.

#1 passes off the wr to the safety and takes crosser to the single wr side.

Here the Bengals do it in the AFC championship game vs Chiefs

Film clips from above

Example #2 Man free with a robber/lurk concept.

The Patriots are great at calling coverages by recognizing splits and formation. Here they recognize the Jets in their stack set. The Jets run a shallow cross with the dig concept and the safety is in perfect position to take away option 1 and 2, which is the shallow cross to the dig. 

This is 3rd and 5. They play man free with the safety looking to jump crossers.

The Bills run an option route with Beasley underneath. Beasley wins the 1x1 matchup but the coverage downfield was very good. #14 Diggs was taken by the safety playing the crosser and double teamed.

Here they run it vs 3x1 vs Kittle and the 49ers.

Take away kittle as the safety is looking for him crossing. Really the game plan looked like your guy doesn't release, help on Kittle. 

It's 3rd and 2

The QB tries to force it to kittle instead of the check down vs man free lurk concept.

The coverage starts as a 2 high look with the safety helping on any deep crossing route. The single cb is on an island in man to man. 

Saints run it vs the Bucaneers 

3rd and 9

They play 2 man with a weakside lurk concept(safety to the weakside comes down and plays 2/3 weak. The Bucs design a nice play to free up the slot wr with the pick route but the weak safety comes down and makes a great play. 

Other Variations:

hole player to the 3x1 same side of formation

The Bengals on a key 4th and 3 run the safety hole concept to the 3x1 trips side. Raiders try to run #1 on a crossing route and the safety is their to pick up the wr. 

Steelers play man free lurk vs the Browns but drop the safety to the 3x1 side. 

They bait Baker into a pick 6 on 3rd and 3. They show 2 high and the safety to the side of the 3x1 comes down and robs the slant route. The lb blitz engages the rb when he blocks.

Watch the free safety on the right anticipate and get the pick!

Patriots play with 2 lurk defenders looking for crossers

3rd and 5 vs the Dolphins,

They play both dime safeties on curl/crossing routes. Notice the outside leverage by the db in underneath man and perfect positioning by the safeties. The Dolphins get the reception but the tackle should be made before the sticks.  The safeties do an excellent job playing curl and driving hard on crossing routes.  Both lurk defenders in position.

Colts 3rd and 3 vs the Raiders Offense

They drop the strong safety down to the 3x1 side to play the shallow cross routes and the free safety down to play the deep crosser. This allows the Raiders to take the 1x1 matchup. The CB makes a great play and makes the interception. 

Raiders 

Raiders play with 2 lurk defenders in essence doubling both outside wr. They do a nice job and force the incompletion on 3rd and 9.

Another example is Michigan 

Michigan is playing Penn state with the Nittany Lions coming out in empty. The #1 wr is off the ball and runs a mesh concept out of empty. THE Cb and safety exchange responsibilities on the crossing route. The Safety takes the crosser and the CB ends up playing the hole. Nice job on 3rd and 6 as they hold Penn State to a 3 yard gain.

The CB #24 makes an in call, the strong safety #20 takes #1 and the CB now becomes the hole defender.

The Safety reads it and makes a great play on the crosser up top for a 2 yard gain.

Great defense above as they stop a pivotal 3rd and 6 vs Penn State.

Here Michigan plays the concept away from 3x1

They do a great job with it as they take away the mesh concept with excellent man coverage. THE CB and FS exchange on the crosser. The CB becomes the hole defender.

More to come on the lurk concept and passing off crossers! Hope you enjoyed this post!