It's hard for me to describe the joy I feel when I see Andre Johnson break off a long catch for a touchdown. The run-heavy nature of the Houston Texans and the various quarterback limitations he's worked with over his career have often limited his big play potential. However, on Sunday night, the team featured Johnson early, often and deep, and it's my absolute pleasure to review it here for you folks alongside Still D.R.E. by Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg [NSFW]. Sing along if you know the words.
[Snoop]
Still Snoop Dogg and D-R-E (Guess who's back)
Still, still doing that s***, huh Dre?
[Dr. Dre]
Oh for sure, check me out
It's still Dre Day, A.K. n****
Before I chrome the lot, can't keep it home a lot
'cause when I frequent the spots that I'm known to rock
You hear the bass from the trunk when I'm on the block
Ladies, they pay homage, but haters say Dre fell off
How n**** My last album was "The Chronic"
They want to know if he still got it
They say rap's changed, they want to know how I feel about it
First quarter, first drive. The Houston Texans have this play scripted as the third play of the game, clearly hoping to make a statement early on. In their 21 personnel, they bring tight end Garrett Graham in motion from the split end position to Case Keenum's left. This helps Keenum read the Colts in zone coverage.
At the snap, Keenum fakes the give to Ben Tate for the bread-and-butter zone stretch to the left. DeAndre Hopkins runs a post route to the middle of the field while Graham slides along behind the offensive line to give Keenum a short range target.
I noticed a little wrinkle on this play that I hadn't seen before on these play-action roll outs. Highlighted in orange is fullback Greg Jones' route after the fake. If the Colts had been in man coverage, this route would likely be wide open.
Andre's route is on the bottom of the screen: the very deadly "out and up" or "chair" route against cornerback Vontae Davis.
[Dr. Dre]
Dr. Dre is the name, I'm ahead of my game
Still, puffing my leafs, still with the beats
Still not loving police (Uh huh)
Still rock my khakis with a cuff and a crease
Still got love for the streets, repping 213
Still the beat bangs, still doing my thang
Since I left, ain't too much changed, still
As the play develops, the linebackers that were sucked into the play fake scramble to find someone to cover. The safeties and cornerbacks break on the routes to the areas I marked above. Andre was asked about the play afterwards:
"We run a lot of comebacks, so my biggest thing was to make him believe that I was running that comeback route. A lot of times DBs tell you they know. When you come off really fast and fighting while you are running, they know you are eventually going to stop. I just tried to do everything I could to make him believe that I was running the comeback route and he bit all over it and I was wide open."
And did he ever bite!
[Dr. Dre]
Still taking my time to perfect the beat
And I still got love for the streets, it's the D-R-E
Andre's dedication to precise route-running pays big dividends here as he completely fools Davis on the double move. Huge credit to Keenum for staying patient on the route and making the throw deep for the 62-yard touchdown.
[Dr. Dre]
Since the last time you heard from me I lost some friends
Well, hell, me and Snoop, we dipping again
Kept my ear to the streets, signed Eminem
He's triple platinum, doing 50 a week
First quarter, third drive. In Pistol formation, 12 personnel, the Texans once again use play action to create a huge play downfield. Starting at the top of the screen, Hopkins runs a deep out route and rookie Ryan Griffin runs a post/drag route across the field while Andre Johnson runs a deep post.
[Dr. Dre]
Still, I stay close to the heat
And even when I was close to defeat, I rose to my feet
My life is like a soundtrack I wrote to the beat
Treat my rap like Cali weed, I smoke till I sleep
Wake up in the A.M., compose a beat
I bring the fire till you're soaking in your seat
For reference, I highlighted the Colts in their Cover 3 defense. Andre runs his route, engaging safety Antoine Bethea in the middle of the field. Keenum rolls out and soon has a defender running him down, but he stays cool and makes the throw, trusting Johnson to make the catch.
[Dr. Dre]
It's not a fluke, it's been tried, I'm the troop
It's "Turn Out the Lights" from the World Class Wreckin' Cru
I'm still at it, After-mathematic
In the home of drivebys and ak-matics
Swap meets, sticky green, and bad traffic
I dip through then I get skin, D-R-E
Bethea was actually in pretty good coverage on the play, but Andre's superior physicality and ball skills allow him to get behind the safety for the catch in the end zone. If you look at the replay at this point, you'll see Andre hesitate and then accelerate again. He explained why:
"I wasn’t surprised that it got to me, I was surprised he threw it," Johnson said. "Normally, when we are in that situation, the quarterback wouldn’t throw the ball but I think Case just throws it differently, like ‘I like my guy better than that guy.’ He just gave me a chance and I was able to go get it."
This play and Andre's quote clearly illustrates the cavernous difference in play styles between Keenum and Matt Schaub. Keenum's energy and fearlessness has energized the offense. While his zealousness will likely land him in trouble a few times in the future, you can bet Andre will keep rewarding him with catches like these.
[Dr. Dre]
Still taking my time to perfect the beat
And I still got love for the streets, it's the D-R-E
First quarter, second drive. Lastly, we'll take a look at another play-action pass against the Colts' Cover 3 defense. Andre is lined up behind Keenum and is motioned out to the left. Again, this allows Keenum to read the defense; if they had been in man coverage, a cornerback likely would have followed him to the outside. Instead, a safety moves down while the cornerback shifts closer to the sideline out of respect.
[Dr. Dre]
It ain't nothing but more hot s***
Another classic CD for y'all to vibe with
Whether you're cooling on a corner with your fly b****
Laid back in the shack, play this track
I'm representing for the gangsters all across the world
(Still hitting them corners in them low low's girl)
I'll break your neck, damn near put your face in your lap
N***** try to be the king but the ace is back
Another play-action fake, and the linebackers and the safety close to Andre bite hard. I've highlighted this play more to talk about Gary Kubiak's offensive schemes. Clearly, they can still work! Clearly, the offensive line can sell the play-action well enough to fool a defense! These past few weeks, there was much talk about whether Kubiak had been "figured out," and it's becoming exceedingly obvious that he hasn't.
[Dr. Dre]
Dr. Dre be the name still running the game
Still got it wrapped like a mummy
Still ain't tripping, love to see young blacks get money
Spend time out the hood, take they moms out the hood
Hit my boys off with jobs, no more living hard
Barbeques every day, driving fancy cars
Still gonna get mine regardless
Keenum has all the room in the world to hit Andre down the middle. Plays like these are grand theft yardage.
That'll do it for me in this edition of Unnecessary Film Study. Really, it's only unnecessary because we all know Andre Johnson is one of the best wide receivers in the game despite his "advanced age," but it sure is fun taking a close look. Hope you enjoyed it as much as I did. As always, let me hear what you think down in the comments. Happy Wednesday.
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