Cleveland Browns vs Arizona Cardinals: Film Room Session

Gary Barnidge’s touchdown 

Tied at seven the Browns score and go ahead early in the second quarter. The Browns use great play design to give Gary Barnidge an opportunity in the red zone. The Browns line up in gun formation with trips to the right side. The Browns isolate Barnidge by himself on the left. This creates a one on one matchup for Barnidge on the outside. Barnidge is defended by Arizona defensive back Tony Jefferson. The Browns have a great matchup here with Barnidge who is 6’5” against a 5’11” defender.

The play is a back shoulder throw to Barnidge to take advantage of the mismatch. The idea of the back shoulder throw is to place the ball where the defender can not possibly make a play on the ball no matter how tight his coverage. The big body Barnidge does a great job of using his body to box out the small defender.

McCown throws a well placed ball to Barnidge’s outside shoulder where only he can make the play. If the play is executed well by both quarterback and receiver it is an impossible play to defend. Barnidge does a good job of high pointing the ball and securing the ball for a touchdown. The throw was slightly high but was in the radius of the 6’5” Barnidge. The Browns set up a perfect play call to give their best red zone target an opportunity to make a big play. The Browns struggled in the red zone leading up to Sunday’s game but converted three out of three times in the red zone for touchdowns in the first half. In a game with few positives, the Browns improved in the red zone department and this will need to continue for the offense to have success.