Third Down Thursday (NFL Week 4, 2023)

This week's article features converting on 3rd & Short/Medium by using formations and motions to get to familiar concepts in addition to a match coverage beater from a bunch formation.

So far in this series, we have analyzed drop back passing concepts. This week, we are adding some of my favorite quick game concepts, Stick, from 2x2 and 3x1.

Packers

This is a great route combination that has answers vs. most coverages: Stick Omaha. The Packers ran it on 3rd & 1 with the Lions in Cover 1. The Cornerback bails early and the Nickel widens with the Flat route, which suggests to me that the defenders thought they would be getting an outside vertical stretch concept from the offense.

Because it was 3rd & 1, the Lions had to be ready for a run. They ran a stunt to funnel any run to the interior where the Inside Linebacker was run blitzing. He read pass, but he couldn’t drop to his Hook zone before the ball was delivered to the X for the first down.

49ers

Another Stick variation by the 49ers on 3rd & 4, this time from a Trips Open formation. This concept is called “Disk” for “Double Stick” as the two interior receivers are running Stick routes while the outside receivers run Gos.

While I really like this concept against zone match coverages, the Cardinals were in Cover 1. Both Stick routes do come open at different points throughout the play, but Purdy liked his matchup on the back-side with Brandon Aiyuk and delivers a great ball. In Cover 1, the corner is supposed to stay on top and inside of the receiver at that spot on the field (divider rules), so Purdy puts the ball behind and outside of Aiyuk, who makes a fantastic play to come back and get it.

Rams

Another week, another great Bunch concept from Sean McVay. This time, to beat Cover 9 with a “Strap” check vs. 3x1 (Fangio’s version of Saban’s “Skate"“). The Weak Safety is going to roll down to cut the first crosser while the Strong Safety rolls back to the middle of the field. The other 3 defenders over the bunch take the first receiver that enters their zone after the routes distribute.

Atwell (F) runs a Low Cross to occupy the Inside Linebacker and the Weak Safety, Nacua runs a Short Corner to occupy the Cornerback, leaving Higbee (Y) to be covered by the Nickel playing outside leverage on an in-breaking route.

Paid subscribers will get access to my favorite concept of the week, an Arrow concept the Dolphins ran for a touchdown, and a cutup of all of the third down attempts from the Fun Bunch in Week 4 of the 2023 NFL season.