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 Friday, January 7
Johnson seeks to slow Titan rush
 
By Sean Salisbury
ESPN.com

 

<img src="hhttp://espn.go.com/i/nfl/playbook99/wkwc_buften_1.jpg" width=400 height=480 border=0>

Rob Johnson will start at quarterback for Buffalo. He is athletic and can run and throw. He throws well on the move and from the pocket. The Bills have to move Johnson around because the Titans will run and blitz with all their team speed.

The purpose of the naked play is to get play-action and flow one way and redirect the other way. It is important to get the flow of an aggressive Titan defense that chases well going to the fake and then bootleg naked the other way.

After the fake to running back Antowain Smith, Johnson will then boot right and try to break contain and stay on the move so the Titans can't run him down. Once Johnson clears contain, he will get his shoulders turned toward the line of scrimmage so he can run or throw. His first choice will be fullback Sam Gah in the flat. If he is open, he will get the ball right away. Johnson's second read is tight end Jay Riemersma crossing. If all are covered, then Johnson can tuck it and run. This is a huge play for Buffalo. The Bills must control the Titans' speed, and this is a great misdirection play to slow down the Titans.

The key to this play is Gash getting into his route by knocking off the weak-side linebacker and still getting cleanly to his flat route. The fullback has to knock the weak-side linebacker inside so Johnson can clear and then still get to his route without getting grabbed and taken off his route. His role is essential for the play to work.

It is critical that Johnson gets depth after the fake so he can see the field without pressure in his face. It is also critical that Riemersma gets to his depth so Johnson has a second option. Buffalo must make this play go to win on the road.
 


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