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Anchoring the Pass Pocket - Chalkboard Talk Posted by Steven Van Over at Tuesday, June 18, 2013
For several years now, Cowboys Nation has been hearing terms like "setting the pocket" or "anchoring the pocket", usually followed by pictures or video showing Romo running for his life or being hovered over by an apologetic looking lineman or two while he lays on the turf. Not a prescription for long term success or short term health. We all understand that aspect of the effect, but what is "setting the pocket" and what effects does being unable to do it create?
Let's start by looking at a typical play run against a 4-3 defense and look at the pre-snap chalkboard.
Romo is under center with two receivers on either side and Murray in the Marshall Faulk role, performing pick up duties on anyone that comes free. Against four man pressure this should be solid protection.
After the snap the linemen move as one, sliding their feet in a choreographed movement to setup the pocket at the proper depth for either a three, five or seven step drop, and even floating left or right in order to disguise the final location of the point of attack for the defense. Let's look at a solid pocket, post snap.
The pocket has formed and Romo has floated a bit to the right in order to give Murray the best angle to pick up pressure and to set his throwing lanes for the primaries to the right side of the field. Each player works as part of the whole with a hinge effect set by the center. The linemen learn the "feel" of their team mates and over time can keep a pocket tighter and larger. The reverse of old jeans. Let's look at the "safe zone" that is created for Romo when an anchored pocket is setup.
Romo can step up if pressure comes from the edges, he can float right or left to work his throwing lanes or move from imminent threats.He can complete a comfortable throwing motion, stepping into the throw adding zip and accuracy. The speedier edge rushers have more steps to take as the offensive tackles use the hinge effect of the pocket to either stalemate defenders, push them into the ground or wide and past the pocket. The middle is protected by three wide bodies who will shield and redirect pressure up the middle with help on the inside. Murray is there to help where needed. What about Romo's throwing lanes?
Romo has five free lanes and positive yardage zones to throw into. We are not counting the flats to either side which would raise the total to seven as Murray will release to either side if no defender comes free for him to pickup. The receivers will push the defenders over the top of their routes, creating protection for the ball as it should arrive as they make their cuts or crease the seems (see 1st image for patterns). Life is good in a well anchored pocket.
Now what happens when the worst breakdown occurs, when the center gets put on skates and pushed back into the QB or tossed aside all together? Lets look at that post snap scenario.
Here the center has been pushed back and the pocket has not been "set". Unable to anchor he is now in Romo's step up zone and avenues of escape are being quickly cut off if not already gone. The inside players now have one step LESS to take in order to get to Romo as they don't have to go around anyone. Murray is now committed to the inside as a blocker, losing Romo a valuable outlet target and Romo is vulnerable to the edge rushers. Time for Romo to complete a throw has now been reduced forcing him to deliver the ball early or try and create more time with movement. Let's look at Romo's "safe zone".
Usage of the words "safe zone" in this instance is quite misleading. Romo is cut off from floating right or left depending where the center has been pressed, squeezed into one quarter of a normal pocket, Romo must make a quick throw with little to no ability to step into the motion or "spin out" and scramble wide to offer his receivers time to get open. Hmmm, how many times did you see that attempted last year? The year before? Now let's look at the what throwing lanes Romo has available to him in this much abbreviated play.
Romo has been reduced from five lanes to three, with the lane to his left being across his body and a poor choice, often ending up being a floater. Defenders not playing press coverage can see this and are prepared to jump routes. He is unable to step up and at this point will have either dumped the ball off to Witten who had to break off his seam route as he used his physic link with Romo and sensed his danger (I'm not kidding, that's how they do it). More likely, unable to unload the ball to a hot route receiver as there was no blitz for a player to read and cause him to adjust his route, Romo most likely has to dazzle with his patented spin, shuck and jive or end up having a forced personal relationship with the turf.
Pressure up the middle is the shortest way to the QB and it also has the most wide ranging effects. Fran Tarkenton learned his scrambling skills due to necessity. His offensive line was full of "look out blockers". His linemen would actually turn and yell "look out" as they threw another ole' at a defensive player on his way to the QB. Romo's impressive escape skills were born of the same cause, lack of protection. Can Travis Frederick be the one who sets the top of the pocket? Can he work with the two veteran guards or (more hopefully) one veteran and Leary? Can Travis make the calls and become the unmovable object to any irresistible force teams may send up the middle? Early reports are that he can and will. This will give Tony more looks at five to seven throwing lanes and a safe zone that really is, just like home.
We need ten wins this year. Setting the anchor for the Cowboys pocket is the first step in getting there, and Travis Frederick, by all accounts, is the right man for the job - so far. Next step, Oxnard where we get to see him do it with pads on. Each step counts, but it won't be till the end of the first regular season game that we will really know the answer.
For several years now, Cowboys Nation has been hearing terms like "setting the pocket" or "anchoring the pocket", usually followed by pictures or video showing Romo running for his life or being hovered over by an apologetic looking lineman or two while he lays on the turf. Not a prescription for long term success or short term health. We all understand that aspect of the effect, but what is "setting the pocket" and what effects does being unable to do it create?
Let's start by looking at a typical play run against a 4-3 defense and look at the pre-snap chalkboard.
Romo is under center with two receivers on either side and Murray in the Marshall Faulk role, performing pick up duties on anyone that comes free. Against four man pressure this should be solid protection.
After the snap the linemen move as one, sliding their feet in a choreographed movement to setup the pocket at the proper depth for either a three, five or seven step drop, and even floating left or right in order to disguise the final location of the point of attack for the defense. Let's look at a solid pocket, post snap.
The pocket has formed and Romo has floated a bit to the right in order to give Murray the best angle to pick up pressure and to set his throwing lanes for the primaries to the right side of the field. Each player works as part of the whole with a hinge effect set by the center. The linemen learn the "feel" of their team mates and over time can keep a pocket tighter and larger. The reverse of old jeans. Let's look at the "safe zone" that is created for Romo when an anchored pocket is setup.
Romo can step up if pressure comes from the edges, he can float right or left to work his throwing lanes or move from imminent threats.He can complete a comfortable throwing motion, stepping into the throw adding zip and accuracy. The speedier edge rushers have more steps to take as the offensive tackles use the hinge effect of the pocket to either stalemate defenders, push them into the ground or wide and past the pocket. The middle is protected by three wide bodies who will shield and redirect pressure up the middle with help on the inside. Murray is there to help where needed. What about Romo's throwing lanes?
Romo has five free lanes and positive yardage zones to throw into. We are not counting the flats to either side which would raise the total to seven as Murray will release to either side if no defender comes free for him to pickup. The receivers will push the defenders over the top of their routes, creating protection for the ball as it should arrive as they make their cuts or crease the seems (see 1st image for patterns). Life is good in a well anchored pocket.
Now what happens when the worst breakdown occurs, when the center gets put on skates and pushed back into the QB or tossed aside all together? Lets look at that post snap scenario.
Here the center has been pushed back and the pocket has not been "set". Unable to anchor he is now in Romo's step up zone and avenues of escape are being quickly cut off if not already gone. The inside players now have one step LESS to take in order to get to Romo as they don't have to go around anyone. Murray is now committed to the inside as a blocker, losing Romo a valuable outlet target and Romo is vulnerable to the edge rushers. Time for Romo to complete a throw has now been reduced forcing him to deliver the ball early or try and create more time with movement. Let's look at Romo's "safe zone".
Usage of the words "safe zone" in this instance is quite misleading. Romo is cut off from floating right or left depending where the center has been pressed, squeezed into one quarter of a normal pocket, Romo must make a quick throw with little to no ability to step into the motion or "spin out" and scramble wide to offer his receivers time to get open. Hmmm, how many times did you see that attempted last year? The year before? Now let's look at the what throwing lanes Romo has available to him in this much abbreviated play.
Romo has been reduced from five lanes to three, with the lane to his left being across his body and a poor choice, often ending up being a floater. Defenders not playing press coverage can see this and are prepared to jump routes. He is unable to step up and at this point will have either dumped the ball off to Witten who had to break off his seam route as he used his physic link with Romo and sensed his danger (I'm not kidding, that's how they do it). More likely, unable to unload the ball to a hot route receiver as there was no blitz for a player to read and cause him to adjust his route, Romo most likely has to dazzle with his patented spin, shuck and jive or end up having a forced personal relationship with the turf.
Pressure up the middle is the shortest way to the QB and it also has the most wide ranging effects. Fran Tarkenton learned his scrambling skills due to necessity. His offensive line was full of "look out blockers". His linemen would actually turn and yell "look out" as they threw another ole' at a defensive player on his way to the QB. Romo's impressive escape skills were born of the same cause, lack of protection. Can Travis Frederick be the one who sets the top of the pocket? Can he work with the two veteran guards or (more hopefully) one veteran and Leary? Can Travis make the calls and become the unmovable object to any irresistible force teams may send up the middle? Early reports are that he can and will. This will give Tony more looks at five to seven throwing lanes and a safe zone that really is, just like home.
We need ten wins this year. Setting the anchor for the Cowboys pocket is the first step in getting there, and Travis Frederick, by all accounts, is the right man for the job - so far. Next step, Oxnard where we get to see him do it with pads on. Each step counts, but it won't be till the end of the first regular season game that we will really know the answer.