Breaking down the key plays from New Orleans Saints vs Indianapolis Colts
Play 2
The Colts are again in their nickel package (5 defensive backs).
The Colts have a similar pre-snap look to the previous play but in this case, they don’t use any safety rotations and end up using what seems like red 2. Red 2 is pretty much a pattern/route matching version of cover 2 that is used in the red zone.
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However, like most two-high coverages (cover 2 and 4 for example), the middle of the field is open. Tre’Quan Smith runs a near-identical route to the one he ran in the previous play. As the middle of the field is open, Smith exploits a lot of empty space.
The key read on the play is the hook zone defender, which is the underneath area between the hashes- I.e the underneath middle zone of the field. Jared cook runs a curl route about 7 yards deep that attacks the hook zone.
This creates a hi-lo on the hook zone defender as if he drops back to take away Tre’Qaun Smith the saints will have an easy gain to Cook underneath, and if he covers Cook, Trequan will be wide open over the top.
I don’t think this was Anthony Walker’s fault as I think his designated responsibility is to cover any receiver in the hook zone of the field, not to drop back.
I think this play is again great play design and calling from Payton as he again attacked the weaknesses in the Colts coverage, resulting in another pretty easy throw and catch for Brees and Smith.