Richard Sherman: The Fluke or The Future?

I'm going to breakdown all 8 interceptions by Richard Sherman from this season.

Interception 1) Week 1 vs Arizona Cardinals

ABOVE:  Richard Sherman is on the top of the screen, playing man coverage vs Larry Fitzgerald, one of the best WRs in the league.  It's Cover 1, Sherman has inside leverage.  Skelton is under center.

ABOVE:  Larry Fitzgerald gives a little shake, but he's running a vertical and must outside release.  Sherman gives him the sideline like he's supposed to do.

 

ABOVE:  Sherman gets his hands, real physical, on Fitzgerald, a must when pressing and helping your safety get over the top / pass rushers getting to the QB. 

 

ABOVE: Here is what impresses me most about this play by Sherman.  He is not only step for step with Fitzgerald, he's ahead of him and pressing him even more toward the sideline.  With Skelton at QB, he's gonna have to throw a dart to complete this pass.

 

 ABOVE:  I believe Skelton thought Fitzgerald was going to stop his fade because Sherman had the position on him and Fitzgerald thought he was running the vertical still because the Safety was far removed.  Sherman peeks (maybe a sideline call, but he peeks a lot) and makes a break on the ball.

 

ABOVE:  Sherman makes a great break and uses his great hands and body control to make the play.  Great play by Sherman, but if he peeks and Fitzgerald runs by him and Skelton delivers the vertical, that'd be a TD.

Interception 2) Week 4 vs St. Louis Rams

This was just some bad QB play by Sam Bradford

ABOVE:  Sherman is on the bottom of the screen.  Looks familiar right? The Seahawks defense is showing Cover 1.  Bradford even sends the slot WR in motion and the LBs move with him, it's a great disguise.  Browner and Sherman is kind of head up too.

  

ABOVE:  Look at the top of the screen, that's Bradford's first progression.  Browner is opened up to the field, thus showing Cover 3.  The LBs drop into their zones too.  Sherman is baiting the WR and thus the QB.

ABOVE:  Sherman flips his hips and finds the QB staring him down.  I really don't know what makes Bradford throw this ball but Sherman is a gambler and he trusts his speed / matchup, thinking he won't get beat on a fade ball or will run it down and make a play on it.

ABOVE:  Bradford throws a ball that he thinks the WR will adjust his route to, but it's week 4 and the Rams clearly (like Cardinals) aren't on the same page.  Sherman eats that up.

ABOVE:  Sherman makes the play, like he did all year.  Turnover on the fringe will lose you games.  Great disguise by the Seattle defense, and once again, Sherman gambles and it pays off.  Confidence is not lacking in this young man.


Interception 3)  Week 6 vs New England Patriots

Another bad play by the QB, in my opinion.

ABOVE: Patriots come out in an Empty set and the Seahawks show Cover 1, surprise surprise.  Sherman is lined up on Deion Branch who is in the SLOT on the bottom of the screen, between the hash and the numbers.  He's playing outside leverage which is interesting.

ABOVE:  Deion Branch isn't beating most DBs with his speed and Sherman runs step for step with him and stays on Branch's hip.  Nothing new here.

ABOVE:  White on rice.  Branch turns his head to find the ball, so does Sherman.  He's got safety help over the top, he's taking a chance.  Not sure why Tom throws this ball.  My thinking is that he doesn't expect Sherman to gamble and find the ball and thinks he can put it over him like he does with Gronk when LBs cover him.  Just my thought though.

ABOVE: Sherman makes the play, big INT as the Patriots were driving.  Again, a gamble that pays off, that's his MO.


Interception 4) Week 10 vs the New York Jets

Mark Sanchez... redzone.. yuck.

ABOVE:  Bunch Right for the Jets, I believe the Seahawks are in a cover 2.  Sherman is at the top of the screen.

ABOVE:  Kerley attacks Sherman, Keller (middle WR) runs straight up field. Sherman sits and lets everything come to him.

ABOVE:  Kerley sticks his foot in the ground and acts like he's breaking on an Out pattern but takes it up field like a Post.  Keller runs the out.  Sherman has backpedaled a bit, not letting anyone get behind him and watches the routes unfold.

ABOVE:  Sherman breaks with Kerley over the middle, Sanchez unfortunately for him is staring at the middle of the field at his first progression still.  Costly as he has Keller free for a second.

ABOVE:  Sherman hands off the WR to the Safety and for some reason Sanchez is looking at 8 Seattle defenders still while Keller sits ready to score.  Giving Sherman a chance to get back into position to defend Keller.

ABOVE:  Sanchez finally delivers the ball (I counted 3 pump fakes, no joke, and 4 seconds later) and Sherman jumps it.  Probably his easiest interception of the season.

ABOVE: Probably his easiest interception of the season.  Just a bad play by Sanchez.   Well defended again by Sherman but could also have been an easy TD if the QB get off his WR earlier.


Inteceptions 5 and 6)  Week 14 vs Arizona Cardinals

-Skelton threw 4 INTs, Seattle won 58-0 ... I shouldn't waste my time with this but I will.

ABOVE:  Sherman is lined up inside leverage (man coverage) but he's peeking in the backfield (zone coverage) and it's a 1 high safety look.  Browner is showing zone, cover 3, so I think it's that.  I believe Sherman baits Skelton like he did with Bradford on his earlier INT.

ABOVE:  Sherman gets his hands on Fitzgerald a little bit, but he's trying to beat Fitzgerald to a spot.  He opens up and starts running with him. Skelton gives a weak playaction fake, the weakside LB flies out to the flat (cover 3).

 

ABOVE:  Sherman peeks as Skelton throws a pass that looks like it was intended for Sherman.  Man you have Larry Fitzgerald, throw it high and to the outside! Give him a shot to make a play!  The weakside LB almost intercepts it (which is pathetic by Skelton) and Sherman finishes the play.

ABOVE:  Sherman takes it in for 6.  I really dig this disguised cover 3 defense by Seattle / Sherman.  Sherman eats up this poor QBs with it. 

BUT HE IS NOT DONE.....

2nd INT of the game...

John Skelton... for shame.

ABOVE:  Larry Fitzgerald started in the backfield but was motioned out.  Sherman is the CB on the top of the screen.  Looks like Cover 1 again, as the Safety comes down to cover Fitzgerald and Browner at the bottom is showing press but it's actually cover 3.

ABOVE:  Cardinals WRs run a Post/Wheel combination and Sherman stays over the top of the Post but stays aware that his Safety who's running down hill to defend Fitzgerald is probably taking a bad enough angle to be beat, but his responsibility is to stay under the wheel and Sherman, the deep 1/3 corner will stay over the top of it.

ABOVE:  Sherman is keeping his eyes on the QB, which is scary in man coverage but he still has the speed to not lose too much ground and trusts his FS will be in position to help (which he is).  The SS who is covering Fitzgerald is in the trail position and in the picture above, Skelton releases the ball to him

ABOVE:  Sherman sees the ball fly and attacks it.  Now if Sherman played this perfectly, he split the WRs and stayed in good position to break on either route.

ABOVE:  2nd interception of the day for Sherman... at least for Skelton's sake, it wasn't underthrown.


Interception 7)  Week 16 vs San Francisco

Kaepernick throws across his body running right to a target that is running left, just bad bad fundamentals.

ABOVE: Seattle comes out with straight man across the board with 2 high safeties who will jump the slants.  (2 man under)  Sherman is on the bottom with inside leverage but turned like it's a zone.  He'll be covering Randy Moss one on one.

ABOVE:  Moss tries to sell the fade and puts his foot in the ground and breaks to the post.  Sherman is beat but Kaepernick is rolling right.

ABOVE:  Moss separates but there is still a Safety that is in position to make a play on the ball if Kaep releases it now.  The underneath WRs are all being covered well.

ABOVE:  Kaepernick releases but Sherman already made up ground.  Kaepernick throwing against his body on the run doesn't have enough juice on the ball to deliver it safely to Moss.  Down 35-6, Kaepernick just forces it.

ABOVE:  Another Sherman-terception.
Bad play by Kaepernick, decent play by Sherman.


Interception 8) Week 17 vs St. Louis Rams

Seahawks up 7, 40 seconds left in the game, Rams ball at the 30 yard line, 4th down.

ABOVE:  The Rams need a first down here and their OC elects to go for the game winning TD which almost works out.  The Seahawks show a prevent zone with the FS 20 yards off the ball.  Sherman is at the bottom of the screen.

ABOVE:  Sherman playing inside leverage again which is a no-no in HS football but he's got 3 WRs to his side of the field and the FS is going to need help, so he splits 1 & 2.

ABOVE:  Sherman getting deep and continuing to split the 1st and 2nd WR... the #2 WR looks like he has a window for a TD here as Bradford is about to release it.  Sherman makes an incredible play here.

ABOVE:  Sherman has incredible closing speed and makes up about 8 yards in a split second.  What looked like to be a sure game winning TD, turns into a game losing INT.

ABOVE: Game over.

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Here's when what Sherman does goes wrong...

Playoff game vs ATL

Richard Sherman Defense on Roddy White
 (Click above to watch)

Sherman falls asleep against a fake rocket screen as Roddy White slow plays it and pretends to stalk block, then takes off for a Post route.  (Note 1st quarter, 9:46 left)  Sherman luckily had the speed (and short field) to get in front of it and break it up.  Could've been a TD...  Well look what ATL comes back with...

ABOVE: Seahawks come out in a cover 3 shell with Browner rolled up.  Sherman on the bottom of the screen.

ABOVE:  The rocket screen on the top has the Safety fly up and Browner start to drop back.  Sherman again isn't really moving, just watching the play develop while Roddy White is chugging down the field.

ABOVE:  Roddy White starts to run by him, and the FS already started to go over the top to cover the Rocket-Go, leaving the entire middle of the field open.  Matt Ryan delivers a hell of a ball here.

ABOVE:  Sherman was beat and in poor position, I honestly think he tried to trip up Roddy White but Sherman goes down regardless and Roddy White scores on a great throw and lack of discipline by the DB Sherman.

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So what did we learn today?
-Sherman is a gambler
-Sherman has incredible speed and hands
-Sherman is confident as hell.
-I think Sherman can continue his success (maybe won't rack up as many INTs but he did have 6 of his 8 INTs versus NFC West teams) but teams will be careful when challenging him.

Mario Williams 3 Sack game vs Colts

Mario Williams had himself a day vs the Colts, specifically Winston Justice (RT) on week 12 of the 2012 season.  Three sacks which I'll walk you through now.

FIRST SACK: 1st Quarter / 0:47 / 3rd and 10.

ABOVE: Mario Williams is lined up to the left on your screen.  He's in a 9-technique, lined up outside the TE.  The DT to his right is in a 2i, shaded to the right of the RG.  The other DT is in a 3-technique, and the right DE is in a 9-technique.  Situationally, it's 3rd and 10, pass pass pass all day. The 9-technique gets these quick edge rushers on an island with the Tackles. 

ABOVE:  The TE releases for a route and Mario heads upfield.  The RT, Winston Justice, vertical sets at a 45 degree angle, kick slides.  The RG and Center are focused on the 2i DT.

ABOVE:  So far, the RT Winston Justice is in a good position, squared up, between Mario and the QB.  This is where Mario takes over.  Mario puts all his weight on his right foot, making an outside move, still about 2 yards away.  (Notice how much of an island Mario is on with the RT)

ABOVE:  Winston bites.  Winston turns his shoulders to the outside and Mario, 1 yard away now, plants hard with his left foot and attacks the inside of Justice.  That RG needs a miracle to get to the gap now.

ABOVE:  Mario uses the swim move to finish the assault on Winston Justice.  It's all in Luck's hands now.  He's gotta make throw.

 

ABOVE:  Luck steps up in the pocket, cocks his arm, but has no one up or doesn't feel confident enough to step into a throw.

ABOVE:  Anddddd Boom goes the dynamite.  Luck tried to use his legs to scramble but Mario was just too much.


SECOND SACK:  3rd Quarter / 1:57 / 3rd and 5.

ABOVE:  Mario in the 9 technique again, outside the TE.  Empty Backfield for the Colts.  3rd and 5, no RB, pass pass pass. 

 

ABOVE:  The TE releases again and Mario heads straight up field, not at an angle to the QB.  Winston Justice (RT) is out on Mario quicker, at a flatter angle, almost daring him to try and go outside and around him. 

ABOVE:  Mario takes a hard angle towards the QB, Winston Justice is still protecting the inside even though it looks like Mario has a pretty easy path outside.  This is the adjustment made by Justice, which is solid so far. NOTE:  Luck has such a clean pocket now, he has to get rid of the ball.

ABOVE:  Luck, relying on his legs like a young QB will do, tries to take off.  Mario plants his left foot, bull rushes the RT Winston, and closes the gap.

ABOVE:  Luck isn't use to Mario's speed.  Down goes Andrew.


THIRD SACK:  4th Quarter / 10:04 / 3rd and 2.

ABOVE:  Mario is on your right side now.  Still in a 9 technique, it's 3rd and 2 now though, not quite 100% pass situation.  You can't see but Luck is calling a WR in motion. 

ABOVE:  WR in motion gets to the RT, ball is snapped, OL slides left like the play will be a jet sweep.  The TE stays still, doesn't block anyone, doesn't fire out.

ABOVE:  Play action!  The RB comes across and will run to the flats, the TE is running just a hitch.  Mario's eyes are huge.  He's unblocked coming full speed at Luck.

ABOVE:  Mario breaks a fundamental rule right here by leaving his feet, but he successfully blocks any attempt for Luck to throw the ball to the RB for a first down.  Luck's only option now is to run for the first down, which it looks like he'll be able to do.

 ABOVE:  Wrong, Mario is a freak athlete and chases down a decent scrambler in Luck.  That's his 3rd sack, all on 3rd downs.  Those are big plays in football games, getting the defense off the field and ending drives.