Inside The Cardinal: Defensive Dominance - Printable Version

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Inside The Cardinal: Defensive Dominance - stupac2 - 09-06-2016

The following is an e-mail from Stanford Athletics that I thought might interest the rest of the board:

Kansas State employed passing plays on Friday night with a pair of wide receivers lined up together, who ran crossing ‘pick’ routes to try and create a traffic jam for the Cardinal defensive backs in man-to-man coverage. After it worked once for a Kansas State completion, the Stanford coaches made a sideline adjustment.


Our response was to put the pair of Stanford defensive backs onto ‘levels’ –  one up at the line of scrimmage in press coverage and the other off seven yards.  When Kansas State tried to run another pick route against us later in the game, junior CB Alameen Murphy (press) and sophomore CB Quenton Meeks (off) recognized the spacing of the receivers and lined up in their new coverage. Pay close attention to the top of the video below.



When the pair of Wildcat receivers crossed their routes to try and pick Meeks, the Stanford sophomore was able to easily glide over the top and stay in coverage on #4. Kansas State’s quarterback expected to find an open target for his pass, and instead Meeks was there in perfect position to grab the interception.


The play took place near the Kansas State sideline, far from shouting distance of Stanford defensive backs coach Duane Akina. The key was Meeks and Murphy recognizing the formation on their own and lining up in the right coverage. Finally Quenton Meeks finished by making the play on the ball, an emphasis with our defense this year to create more takeaways.

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Re: Inside The Cardinal: Defensive Dominance - fullmetal - 09-06-2016

If KSU hadn't gotten greedy, they could have picked up the first down with a curl route at the 30 yd line...

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Re: Inside The Cardinal: Defensive Dominance - BostonCard - 09-06-2016

Maybe, but Meeks was backpeddling the whole way.  Would have been fairly easy to run up had the receiver curled.

BC

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Re: Inside The Cardinal: Defensive Dominance - fullmetal - 09-07-2016

I don't really see that at all.  Where Murphy and his man are between Meeks and the other receiver--that's a lot of space, and I don't think either DB is looking at the QB.  Not saying Stanford would have given up a big play, but KSU first down could have easily been had.  Closest defender to the location I'm thinking of would have been the OLB at that point.  But that's the defense--don't give up the go routes (correct), and give the offense a chance to make a mistake (which they did)...and when they do, make 'em pay (check!).

Meeks will be a joy to watch these next few years.  I've mentioned this before, but his dad spent 21 years in the league as a coach (was DC for the Colts' Super Bowl run).  And Meeks gets to learn from Akina.  There's a lot of potential here.

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Re: Inside The Cardinal: Defensive Dominance - Hulk01 - 09-07-2016

I also like that Meeks will be here to teach the corners and nickel backs coming in behind him. 

Same with Irwin and the receivers; he's such a student of his craft.

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