Cleveland Browns: Week 1 Film Room session

Corey Coleman’s 58 yard reception 

On the first play to begin the third quarter the Browns line up in a single-back formation. The Browns have trips on the right side with the two receivers, Terrelle Pryor and Andrew Hawkins, and a tight end, Randall Telfer. Corey Coleman is the lone receiver on the left side. The Eagles defense is playing cover 3, meaning there is only one high safety and that the field is spilt into thirds for coverage. The left corner has a third, the safety has the middle third and the right corner has a third.

On the play, the Browns use play-action to freeze the linebackers dropping into coverage, allowing both Pryor and Hawkins to run open over the middle. Griffin feels pressure from the outside and does a good job of stepping up into the pocket. However, he is locked and loaded to throw the deep ball to Corey Coleman. Coleman is in tight coverage from Eagles corner Nolan Carroll and does not have separation. The safety reads Griffin’s throw and the opposite corner also breaks on the deep ball.

While the ball is in the air there are three defenders around Coleman. The ball should easily be intercepted or batted down by the Eagles secondary. However, the ball is under thrown the secondary is unable to locate the ball as Coleman makes an adjustment to secure the long bomb.

The result of the play is huge for the Browns but the process in which they got there was poor. The correct decision by the quarterback Griffin would be recognizing his first read Coleman deep was covered well and immediately look towards the left sideline where Pryor and Hawkins ran crossing routes wide open across the middle from right to left.