Furman's social media account prompts me to talk some football. They are highlighting Thomas Gordon's banner day against Samford last season, but I was most interested in watching Grainger. I'm going to try and channel my inner Dan Orlovsky
First Catch - I cannot really identify Furman's personnel, but I think this is a two back set with the far receiver as a TB. Gordon in the slot. Samford puts five on the line and shows zone. I imagine Grainger knows that presnap because the boundary CB is facing inside and there's probably a CB out covering whoever the tailback is. Not sure who is covering Gordon in the slot, but probably either a S or LB.
I like the route design. I think everyone identifies cover two - TE runs an in and settles in front of the safeties. Near receiver appears to break off ten or 15 yards downfield. With good protection, Grainger knows that there is no help for the safety deep and the weak spot in the zone is toward the pylon (I cannot tell, but the safety may have bit ever so slightly on the TE settling behind the LB). There's not a safety in the SoCon that is going to run with Gordon at full gallop. Touchdown.
Second Catch - I like this one. Samford shows man coverage. I may be wrong, but presnap it appears to me that Grainger looks out at Gordon as if to say "you see what I see?"
Safety is the help over the top in cover 2, so Grainger knows that he can't overthrow this ball or it'll be into double coverage liable to be picked. Not sure how they coach it, but sure looks like Grainger takes a three step drop and just throws it to the front corner of the end zone - my guess is that is the target. Gordon knows the ball is coming and where it's coming - he's just got to beat the man, which he does.
Interesting route combination, too. Furman looks to be in a "max protect" scheme - the TE and both backs stay in to block. Only two receivers go out. I cannot really tell, but it almost looks like the near receiver is running the same route to the same spot on the other side of the field. Probably something Furman knew Samford would do on film.
Third Catch - Similar spot on the field, but 1st and 20. MLB turns his back and runs to "centerfield" indicating cover three. Grainger will know that the MLB has the deep third and the safeties will split the remainder.
Furman runs a pretty standard route combination against this look - the TE pushes up the seam and the WR runs into the zone behind the CB and in front of the S. The S is forced to either sit back against the streaking TE or attack the underneath receiver.
It's a nice throw by Grainger. The CB started well off the ball and dropped deep. The safety is coming over the top. There's not much of a window and Gordon looks like he has to throttle down, but Grainger drops it in right where he can catch it.
Samford isn't the gold standard for defense, but all three of these touchdowns were well diagnosed by the offense.
First Catch - I cannot really identify Furman's personnel, but I think this is a two back set with the far receiver as a TB. Gordon in the slot. Samford puts five on the line and shows zone. I imagine Grainger knows that presnap because the boundary CB is facing inside and there's probably a CB out covering whoever the tailback is. Not sure who is covering Gordon in the slot, but probably either a S or LB.
I like the route design. I think everyone identifies cover two - TE runs an in and settles in front of the safeties. Near receiver appears to break off ten or 15 yards downfield. With good protection, Grainger knows that there is no help for the safety deep and the weak spot in the zone is toward the pylon (I cannot tell, but the safety may have bit ever so slightly on the TE settling behind the LB). There's not a safety in the SoCon that is going to run with Gordon at full gallop. Touchdown.
Second Catch - I like this one. Samford shows man coverage. I may be wrong, but presnap it appears to me that Grainger looks out at Gordon as if to say "you see what I see?"
Safety is the help over the top in cover 2, so Grainger knows that he can't overthrow this ball or it'll be into double coverage liable to be picked. Not sure how they coach it, but sure looks like Grainger takes a three step drop and just throws it to the front corner of the end zone - my guess is that is the target. Gordon knows the ball is coming and where it's coming - he's just got to beat the man, which he does.
Interesting route combination, too. Furman looks to be in a "max protect" scheme - the TE and both backs stay in to block. Only two receivers go out. I cannot really tell, but it almost looks like the near receiver is running the same route to the same spot on the other side of the field. Probably something Furman knew Samford would do on film.
Third Catch - Similar spot on the field, but 1st and 20. MLB turns his back and runs to "centerfield" indicating cover three. Grainger will know that the MLB has the deep third and the safeties will split the remainder.
Furman runs a pretty standard route combination against this look - the TE pushes up the seam and the WR runs into the zone behind the CB and in front of the S. The S is forced to either sit back against the streaking TE or attack the underneath receiver.
It's a nice throw by Grainger. The CB started well off the ball and dropped deep. The safety is coming over the top. There's not much of a window and Gordon looks like he has to throttle down, but Grainger drops it in right where he can catch it.
Samford isn't the gold standard for defense, but all three of these touchdowns were well diagnosed by the offense.
