Some observations of Jim O'Neil's scheme as how it was ran in CLE 2015. I watched the following games to get a gauge for what he liked to do when defending the pass: @SD, DEN, ARI, @CIN, @PIT. List of observations with the top of the list being what I feel most confident about stating, then less confident going down the list. Some of this is a repeat of what I've posted in the Jim O'Neil thread, but I wanted to put the cut ups in one place.
- Predominantly man coverage scheme; only saw zone coverage from CBs on 3rd and long situations.
- Create confusion for pass protection by crowding the line of scrimmage; also having players stand up or move around pre-snap
- Will mix between 3-4 and 4-3 fronts (
link to post in JoN thread)
- Lots of blitz packages that involve LBs, safeties; likes to show pre-snap pressure on 3rd downs
- Rooted in Cover1; will also play Quarters, Cover2
- ILBs will pattern match drag routes; CBs rarely pattern match
- mix of press and off coverage alignment; more press
- any CB lined up across from a WR with a plus split is on an island as safety help will roll away from that side of the field
- Likes to rob weak side Curl zone with safety
I'll use the @SD and ARI games to show some of these observations. Most of the plays shown are on 3rd down, which I put more weight on, and think can best characterize what a defense wants to do, or feels comfortable doing.
It's worth mentioning that in man coverage, the CBs want to use proper leverage/positioning to funnel their WRs towards the help defenders (zone defenders). So in the case of Cover1, it's towards the middle of the field. In Cover2, it's away from the middle of the field. If a WR has a plus split, then use the sideline as a help defender.
I know there is a slant some where, maybe moss gets one.
