Fade passes in the Red Zone

Submitted by CoverZero on

Last post of 2016.  The winning FSU TD was a well-thrown fade pattern in to the end zone, to a WR who had a size and route advantage over All-American Jourdan Lewis.  It was a great play call with excellent execution by FSU.

It reminded me again, how faulty Drevno/Harbaugh/Fisch? play calls are inside the end zone.  Michigan had 2 starting WRs, both over 6-2 with excellent ball skills and leaping ability.  Where was the Fade Pass inside the Red Zone all season?  It is a high-percentage / low-risk play.  QB takes a short drop, which insulates him for taking a sack as he lets the ball go quickly.  WR has the full advantage over the DB on that type of route, especially if there is a size advantage.  Corner is in man coverage and has zero help on it.  Its a mano-e-mano, winner take all play.  The Fade is such a great play, that several variations can be run on it.  Back shoulder, stop, full corner Fade etc.

It has been very frustrating to watch Michigan try to play offense in the Red Zone vs. teams that have very good defenses.  Smith is slow with little burst, and the OL is not a good run blocking line.  To limit the playbook and take away things that may offset your weaknesses, and emphasize your strengths is crazy.

The next group of WR recruits has several guys over 6-3.  Hopefully their size advantage will be taken advantage of next year.

Happy 2017 to all of my friends, and enemies too. Go Blue.

 

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Mr. Yost

December 31st, 2016 at 6:03 PM ^

I hate fade passes. There's no read. Now I DO like the back shoulder fade. That does have a read (it's not a 1-2-3 progression read, but you have to read man coverage).

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MichiganMan14

December 31st, 2016 at 7:18 PM ^

When you have top flight athletes it's money in the bank. The NFL loves fades....we need NFL receiving talent and fades will make all the sense in the world. Doing all that "reading" means nothing when the line cannot block the edge. Plus beat corners can house "back shoulder" throws with an easy undercut.

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reshp1

December 31st, 2016 at 6:18 PM ^

It was also a spot on perfect throw that was still within an inch of being broken up. We also don't really have a guy that throws those particularly well, nor a target after Butt got hurt.

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ijohnb

December 31st, 2016 at 6:39 PM ^

we settled for 3 first half field goals last night, one of which started from their 1 yard line, and another on the first possession of the third quarter. Red zone offense was our biggest problem in the game last night. The OP has a good point.

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doggdetroit

December 31st, 2016 at 6:22 PM ^

I've made this point before, but it seems that the staff eschewed the fade in favor of the Peppers wildcat/zone read in goal to go situations this season. I think this was a mistake since Peppers (on offense) ceased being effective after Rutgers.


 

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ijohnb

December 31st, 2016 at 6:32 PM ^

personally think the Peppers package was ineffective because it was always just a one-off play. Clearly it was something they practiced, but Peppers was really never allowed a full set of downs to execute it. It always remained a gimmick as opposed to an actual set, and it was abandoned immediately if it did not pay immediate dividends. That is why it never really worked. It was never given time to evolve.

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The Fan in Fargo

December 31st, 2016 at 6:23 PM ^

Speight wouldn't have been able to make that throw anyway lastnight. Did you see his passes? Wouldn't have been able to do it against OSU either because of his collar bone. They say he's the best deep ball thrower they've seen but what good is that if you cant run the ball to set up play action or pass protect. Not to mention, I haven't saw one wideout pull away from a defender on a deep ball in many years. That pass to Jehu against Florida doesn't count either. Here's to hoping People Jones has immediate impact and is the big playmaker that they haven't truly had since Braylon. Manningham didn't dominate OSU or USC when it counted as he was proclaimed a superstar at the time. If Peoples Jones is who they say he could be like a Calvin Ridley, the offense will come along better. If he isn't, might be a long season. 

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jmblue

December 31st, 2016 at 6:28 PM ^

I had some issues with individual playcalls (why not Hill on that 1st and goal carry?) but still, I felt like there were plays there to be had that we botched.  For instance, I really liked the throwback (if that was the intended call) on 2nd and goal our first possession.  Unfortunately, Speight overthrew a wide-open Chesson.

 

 

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TIMMMAAY

December 31st, 2016 at 7:10 PM ^

I think there were at least half a dozen plays that were there, and Speight airmailed the pass, or was just off. He could have avoided at least one of the sacks as well. Was not a good game from him at all, though he did have some good moments in there.

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Drbogue

December 31st, 2016 at 6:58 PM ^

What game were you watching. I was sitting in the end zone and watched Speight throw 2 in the FSU zone - both with too much air under them.



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gbdub

December 31st, 2016 at 7:47 PM ^

The passes were airmailed because Speight was backpedaling with pressure in his face. If he were able to step into the throw, that 2nd and goal play to Chesson would have been an easy completion. Speight has demonstrated decent accuracy when he has a pocket to work with - last night he mostly never had one.

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Mick53

December 31st, 2016 at 10:00 PM ^

The route that scored over Lewis was a smash combo. For this combo the outside receiver runs a stop or a hitch depending on the terminology of your offense, and the inside receiver (the one Lewis was covering) runs what is called a corner route, not a fade, which is targeted to the back corner of the end zone when you are in goaline situations.

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nappa18

December 31st, 2016 at 6:48 PM ^

Not sure that was a true fade pass. If so, it was underthrown. I may be mistaken but I always thought a true fade was thrown between the receiver and the end line so, as goes the cliche, if the receiver doesn't catch it, nobody does. Lewis was there, just didn't get his head turned around in time.

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Michigan4Life

December 31st, 2016 at 6:49 PM ^

aren't a high percentage play. It's actually one of the lower percentage play in football. Unless your WR is Megatron or a WR who can threaten with the slant, I wouldn't bother with a fade.

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