Cleveland Browns vs. St. Louis Rams: Film room session

McCown completes to Barnidge for 12, but misses Gabriel wide open

The Browns line up in a shotgun empty five wide receiver set. On the right side of the formation the receivers are in a trips set. From left to right in the trips set are Gary Barnidge, Taylor Gabriel and Andrew Hawkins.

Source: NFL Game Pass

On the snap, Barnidge runs a quick angle route into the flat. Gabriel, as the middle receiver, runs a post route, and Hawkins runs a hitch route. Josh McCown uses a three-step drop and rifles the ball to Barnidge in the flat. Barnidge turns up field and is able to gain 12 yards on the play. It was a good gain and kept the Browns drive alive.

Source: NFL Game Pass

However, McCown was set pre-snap on delivering to Barnidge who was running a short flat route. On the play Gabriel uses an inside release to shift past the cornerback and runs a post route. St. Louis was playing a zone coverage, and Gabriel was able to get in the soft spot of the zone behind the linebackers. Gabriel was wide open and a well-thrown ball would have resulted in a touchdown. McCown doesn’t work through any progressions besides seeing an open Barnidge and misses a chance for a huge play to Gabriel.

Source: NFL Game Pass

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