Matt Bowen; "Sucker" Route Give Hanie Multiple Options..........

'Sucker' route gives Hanie options

Standard element of Martz playbook works off of Raiders defenders' leverage

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Matt Bowen Scouting the Bears 7:53 p.m. CST, November 26, 2011


With Jay Cutler out of the lineup Sunday in Oakland, the Bears might adapt their play-calling and design a game plan around Matt Forte. However, the passing concepts and targets won't change for backup quarterback Caleb Hanie. The Bears will use inside breaking schemes to challenge the leverage of the Raiders' defensive backs.

In this diagram, the Bears have their Posse personnel (three wide receivers, one tight end, one running back) in a three-by-one alignment with Earl Bennett in the slot. The Raiders counter with their base nickel package (four linemen, two linebackers, five backs) playing Cover-1 (man-free). The Bears will run the "Sucker" route and work the deep dig route to Johnny Knox.

'Sucker' route

The Sucker route is a classic Mike Martz scheme designed to test Cover-1, Cover-4 (quarters) and Cover-2 (two-deep) formations. To the open (weak) side, Roy Williams (X) will stem his release inside and vertically up the field on the 7 cut (corner route) with running back Matt Forte (R) working the option route off of the linebacker's (W) leverage. To the closed (strong) side, tight end Kellen Davis (Y) will clear out on the inside vertical seam with Bennett (W) running the underneath curl. To complete the route, Johnny Knox (Z) will run the deep dig back to the middle of the field as the primary target to move the sticks.

Beating Cover-1

NFL defensive backs are coached to play with leverage in Cover-1. Align with an outside shade (outside shoulder of the receiver) and funnel the release, stem and route back to the safety help. Knox will stem his route vertically up the field to test the cushion of cornerback Stanford Routt (LC), create separation and break the dig route back to the middle. With Davis clearing out and occupying free safety Michael Huff on the seam route, Knox has room to work back to the quarterback with Routt playing from a trail position.

Hanie's route progression

Knox is the primary target in the Sucker concept; however, Hanie will have to go through his progressions if Knox is covered. Bennett is his second read on the curl to the closed side, with Forte his third and final read to the open side on the option route. If the linebacker plays the initial release with an inside shade, Forte (aligned in a "chowed" position) will break the route to the outside, creating a flat-7 combo to the open side. It's a safe, efficient throw for Hanie in a matchup Forte can win.

'Hi-Lo' concept

Break down this route, and it is nothing more than a "Hi-Lo" concept — a standard in Martz's playbook. The Bears will run variations of the Hi-Lo with underneath crossers, multiple formations, pre-snap motion and added window dressing. However, the concept is the same: a second-level read (dig) with an underneath option (curl). More importantly, it is a familiar route concept for Hanie to run in his first start.

Special contributor Matt Bowen, who played at Glenbard West and Iowa, spent seven seasons in the NFL as a strong safety. You also can find his work at nationalfootballpost.com

Kind of an important route tree for Hanie to have at his disposal for 3rd and long calls.

He's got two recievers out in 8-10 yards patters either to his right, left flat or breaking across the middle and a deep receiver running a 15-18 yard dig route in the deep middle if the short routes are covered and the FS covers over the top. If the FS comes up to cover the dig route he has the TE one on one with the SS in the right seam heading for glory.

This example kind of demonstrates the complexity of Martz's system since the QB has three options to pick up his first down and still has two receivers running deep with one one one coverage on each. Classic Martz with 5 guys to progress through depending of how much time he gets.

If Webb can take his man wide he has Forte with only a LB matched one one one with a whole lot of running room once he gets past him and if the corner come up then RWill should be able to break off his route and be open on a hitch 15 yards downfield. There's a lot going on here for Hanie to read but it puts huge pressure on the Raiders ability to cover.

I think against their strong pass rush we should use screen plays early and often. I think it would open things up

Yep, screens and draws or delays straight at them inside the tackles. Quite a few teams we've played have been lining their DE up real wide in the 9 position and we need to take advantage of then by running inside them. When they blow up field we should have a gap on one side of the other. When the do that they have to bring a Safety up to cover that open gap or shift a LB into it so once we can bust through that first level Forte should have some space.

The Raiders have given up a ton of longer runs this year (20+ yards) so maybe we can take advatage of that. Need a big day out of Forte on the ground and through the air.

I enjoy Bowen's columns. More writers should incorporate diagrams and pass-skeletons.

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Originally Posted by short faced bear

I enjoy Bowen's columns. More writers should incorporate diagrams and pass-skeletons.

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He does do a nice job and he's a pretty sharp guy. I enjoy reading his stuff more than the talking heads who have never played the game. He does a column like this just about every week.