Key Highlights
- Bo Nix and Broncos’ offenseWhat I love about the playoffs is how hyper specific the game plans can be, especially with experienced coaching staffs.
- Third down and second-and-long (7 or more yards to go) are considered “passing downs” in the NFL, with offensive and defensive play-callers having a separate menu of plays on their call sheets for those situations. This is when you feel Bills head coach Sean McDermott come alive as a play-caller and designer.
- So while Buffalo’s run defense isn’t exactly threatening anybody right now (more on that in a bit), if the Bills can generate true dropback situations, that is when they can keep the play call more limited for Broncos head coach Sean Payton and his expansive playbook that features a bevy of screens, play action and other concepts that can move the pocket for Bo Nix. AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementOne changeup that McDermott loves to throw is to run “mirror” fronts on passing downs against more dynamic quarterbacks who will look to scramble and extend plays (like Nix).
- I’ve talked about mirror fronts before, but it’s essentially just a modern usage of a quarterback spy.
- Defenses like to use a three-man front (also known as an “odd” front) with different coverages — typically a man variation that baits the quarterback to scramble — behind it.