Reggie Bush vs. Greg Ellis

by Dave Halprin on Aug 21, 2006 12:55 PM CDT in Dallas Cowboys News

When I was doing the DCFanatic radio show earlier this week I mentioned that I want to see what happens if the Saints get Reggie Bush out in isolation with Greg Ellis. I've seen quite a few threads on message boards bringing up this subject, with a lot of people saying that Roy Williams would end up covering Bush in the flats or something similar.

Let me show you how the Saints could get Bush out in a flare pattern isolated against Greg Ellis. It's not hard to do.

Imagine its 2nd and 6 or something close to that. The Cowboys are lined up in their base 3-4 defense and the Saints are lined up in a traditional I-formation with the TE lined up on the right-side (Ellis' side).

In this formation DeMarcus Ware doesn't have the TE to his side, so he has a run support/pass rush read. Greg Ellis has a run support/pass coverage read. At the snap of the ball the Saints QB drops back so Ware reads pass and rushes the QB. Bradie James slides over to cover the 3rd of the field underneath that Ware just left empty. Ellis reads pass and drops into zone coverage in his 3rd of the field. The receiver to that side runs a deep out, forcing Terence Newman to cover him. The TE runs a seam pattern, forcing Roy Williams into deep coverage. The back-side receiver runs a post pattern, threatening the middle of the field deep, forcing Keith Davis to give inside help to Anthony Henry.

The Saints send the FB through the line and he settles about 5 yards deep in the middle, forcing Akin Ayodele into coverage, the middle 3rd underneath is his responsibility. The Saints flare Reggie Bush out into the flats on Ellis' side and throw him the ball. There you have it, Bush and Ellis in isolation. Here's a crude diagram to show you what this would look like.

If the Saints force a situation like this or something similar, it will be interesting to see how Ellis handles it. Of course, the down-side of this play is the Saints are sending 5 men into the pattern, so they better get the ball off quickly to make it work.

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Comments

Yikes X 2!!

two major problems with that play for us, and I think you're going to see it alot against us during the season,
1-Ellis has no chance covering Bush in the flat, Ellis cant overreact on the play, only hope is to try to keep Bush in front of him and forcing him back inside where Ellis would have help, if Bush gets to the outside, its over!

2- The seam route with Roy covering is another major problem, with Roy's inability to cover one on one and always looking to come up on a play,a double move by the tightend or a pump fake, that could be six points easily.

Roy has to play alot better in two areas of his game this year in order for this defense to have better success, man coverage and he has to do alot better job with the presnap reads, he got to be the QB of this secondary, he has to recognize the play and change the coverage call before the snap, this is where Darren Woodson has been really missed in our secondary.

by Deke on Aug 21, 2006 2:08 PM CDT reply actions

Not a problem at all!

Any team willing to run that play has to throw the football almost immediately. If Ellis sees the TE release and the RB moving in his direction, then there is no dropping into coverage. His immediate read would be to run straight at the RB moving into his direction. The play would end up being more like a running play rather than a pass, just with Reggie catching a quick pass from the QB. If Ellis charges at the RB as soon as the TE releases, then he will nail Reggie for a lose 9 of 10 times. If the QB decides to let Reggie get passed Ellis before throwing the football, WARE will get a sack 9 out 10 times.

by dboysrback on Aug 21, 2006 2:22 PM CDT reply actions

Sigh

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by Dave Halprin on Aug 21, 2006 3:06 PM CDT up reply actions

Reggie Bush. Greg Ellis. In the flat.

Not. Good.

by Tuna Helper on Aug 21, 2006 4:56 PM CDT up reply actions

Long double sigh and smacking hand on head...

by Tuna Helper on Aug 21, 2006 4:57 PM CDT up reply actions

Just smack Reggie Bush!

That play goes nowhere. It isn't a drop back play at all. Ellis would have the exact same read if he was playing DE. If the TE releases and the RB goes to the flat, then Ellis drifts to the flat with him. Reggie would have no time to use his quickness on that play at all. I've played the position. That isn't a difficult play to defend at all.

by dboysrback on Aug 22, 2006 6:37 AM CDT up reply actions

I can tell you what happens Grizz...

a huge gain or TD for Bush. Ellis nor any other LB in this league will be able to handle Bush one on one in space, it can't be done, the kid is too fast.

"They're going to leave me over here by myself and thats when I'm gonna sink my fangs into them." - Terry Glenn

by Terry on Aug 21, 2006 5:24 PM CDT reply actions

Some of you guys should be coaches!

Isn't it amazing how such an offensive minded coach couldn't figure out how to isolate Reggie on Ellis and take advantage of him with that play over and over again.

STAY TUNED!

by dboysrback on Aug 22, 2006 6:40 AM CDT reply actions