Oakland Raiders Film Room: Week 11 (Chargers)

Goal Line Coverage

San Diego has averaged 21.6 points per game so far this season. They scored 13 against Oakland. At home. Most of the game San Diego was kept out of the red zone by Oakland’s defense. Near the end of the second quarter, however, San Diego was knocking on the door again and threatening to score a touchdown. San Diego had first and goal on the 9 yard line and Oakland held them to a field goal. They stuffed two runs plays then flexed their coverage and pass rush muscles to force the field goal and keep the game within reach.

Credit: NFL Game Rewind

With their backs against the wall on 3rd and goal Oakland brings out their goal line nickel sub-package (2 DLs, 4 LBs, 5 DBs) and runs 2-man coverage (two deep safeties, man coverage underneath), sending LB Khalil Mack and (temp LB for this play) Benson Mayowa after Rivers. San Diego runs a basic goal line curls play from 12 personnel (1 RB, 2 TEs, 2 WRs) out of a 3×1 receiver formation. Oakland manages to get some pressure with only 4 players rushing and the linebackers and secondary stick closely with their assigned receivers, even once the scramble drill begins.

Once LB Miles Burris’s and S Charles Woodson’s double team takes TE Antonio Gates out of the play the pressure is already on Rivers. When he runs the defensive players do an excellent job of sticking with their man, especially DJ Hayden covering Keenan Allen at the bottom of the image, forcing Rivers to throw the ball into the ground. Great discipline all around on this play and solid coaching decision to put that personnel grouping on the field.