Oakland Raiders Film Room: Week 3 (NE)

Credit: NFL Game Rewind

QB Derek Carr once again lines up in shotgun with his 11 personnel on the field (1 RB, 1 TE, 3 WRs) lined up in a 2×2 formation. New England lines up in an interesting dime look (6 DBs) with only one defensive lineman in a 3 point stance and the remaining linemen in two point stances along with the linebackers at the line of scrimmage. Oakland runs a levels crossing concept with a clearout route on the far left by WR James Jones against New England’s 2-man coverage (2 safeties splitting the deep field into two zones with man coverage underneath). The play is designed to give Carr a quick progression at the top of his three-step drop from high to low as the receivers cross his vision in succession. With the linebackers vacating the middle of the field via blitz, WR Rod Streater once again finds the empty spot in the middle and Carr hits him for the first down.

Note that although Streater manages to get past his defender after about 5 yards he still moves upfield and makes a hard cut before moving back inside. That move is what ultimately gives allows Carr the space necessary to make the throw. If he just lazily turned inside, the DB would have been in position to undercut the pass for an interception or a deflection. This is also one of the better pass blocking plays we’ve seen from Oakland all season. Zero confusion occurs as the offensive linemen pick up their assignments and RB Darren McFadden makes a good decision on picking up the edge rusher since all interior rushers are accounted for.