Andy Dalton vs. Pittsburgh | Wildcard Preview

Play 9: 2nd & 4. 32. 9:59 3rd.

Formation: Shotgun Empty Flex Doubles (11 Personnel)

Andy Dalton’s biggest problem is consistency and this play shows it. The Steelers are in a Cover 3 so the Bengals run a Cover 3 beater with Seam/Out combinations on both sides of the formation. To the TE side, the Steelers make an adjustment so the LB carries the TE up the seam so the FS can focus on the two WR side and so there is not as much pressure on the CB. The CB is still playing off coverage because he is still responsible for anything deep to that side. The low SS to that side is playing in between both routes waiting to make a break. The WR runs a good out route and is open and Dalton delivers, this time throwing as he is hit. But he leaves the throw short. Even with the blitz, this is a throw that has to be made and is one Dalton wishes he put a little more on to get it all the way there.

Play 10: 3rd & 4. 32. 9:53 3rd.

Formation: Shotgun Spread Y-Flex (11 Personnel)

3rd down and 4 and once again Dalton’s inconsistency and ability to read a defense comes back into play. The Steelers bring the blitz and run Cover 1 in the back with the FS coming down to the 1st down line to stop any short crossing routes. Dalton sees the off coverage on the outside and makes up his mind right there, he decides to throw the out route before the ball is even snapped. The problem is Dalton only takes a 3-step drop and for a 12 yard route, that is tough to time up. If Dalton would have had good vision he would have seen that when he releases the ball the TE (slot to the right) comes open just beyond the first down marker and with a on-time throw it would have been completed for a first down. Dalton must learn to come off his first WR and take what the defense gives him, especially on 3rd down plays.

Play 11: 1st & 10. -11. 3:43 3rd.

Formation: Singleback Dice Slot (11 Personnel)

The Steelers run a Cover 3 on this play in order to not give up the big play which the Bengals have already tried backed up in their own territory. The Bengals run a simple “all curls” concept, just looking to get yards to start off their drive. This play seems like just a simple completion but what I see is nice accuracy from Dalton. The SS probably has an idea of what’s coming from his film study so he immediately drops down to the curl zone. Dalton takes his drop and delivers the ball to his WR’s outside, away from the S dropping down. An inside throw could have led to an INT or a big hit on the WR. The play results in a gain of 8.

Play 12: 3rd & 4. -17. 2:24 3rd.

Formation: Shotgun Bunch (11 Personnel)

The Steelers show blitz up the middle causing Dalton to check his protection or play at the line. Once the ball is snapped the Steelers drop into Cover 3, and with three of the four routes being over 10 yards, it stretches the defense. To the bunch side, we see a similar “Hi-Lo” concept that we saw earlier when Dalton hit the “dig” in the open window. This time all Dalton needs is 4 yards for the 1st down. He does a good job making a quick decision and taking what the defense gives him and hits the crossing route for a 1st down and a gain of 8.

Play 13: 2nd & 8. -27. 1:15 3rd.

Formation: Shotgun Dice Slot (11 Personnel)

The Steelers switch it up, showing a Cover 2 defense on this play to limit the out routes and the curls that have been hurting them. The Bengals once again run a curl concept, this time with the TE spotting up in the middle of the field. The ILB to the field takes his drop, but he takes it too deep, showing poor vision of the field around him as the TE spots up right behind his turned back. Dalton seems to realize the defense and knows not to throw the outside curl routes due to the CB’s sitting at 7-8 yard depth waiting to jump a route. Dalton quickly drops and throws the TE spot route right before the ILB gets there for a first down. A good read and good decision by Dalton.

Play 14: 2nd & 10. -36. 0:32 3rd.

Formation: Shotgun Trey (11 Personnel)

This may be Dalton’s most impressive throw of the night. The Steelers bring the blitz once again while the Bengals keep in 5 to protect. With the ILB’s dropping straight back this makes this a very tough throw for any of the routes Dalton chooses. The TE seam will be an impossible throw in between four defenders. The backside (to the right) “dig” comes open due to the flat defender sucking up to the RB out of the backfield. The two LB’s see Dalton’s decision and begin to break on the anticipated throw. Dalton rifles the ball in between the two defenders, similar to the throw he tried to make earlier that was high and eventually intercepted. This time Dalton doesn’t miss and it results in a 1st down and a gain of 16.

Play 15: 2nd & 8. 30. 13:56 4th.

Formation: I Formation (21 Personnel)

The Bengals line up in the I-Formation, showing run. The Steelers bring the A-gap blitz and run Cover 1 Robber in the secondary. The Bengals only run two routes, both curls against man-to-man coverage. Dalton makes a good throw in the face of the blitz. Perfect timing and perfect placement results in 10 yards in a first down. Once again Dalton decided to go to his WR1 before the snap. The easier throw would have been to the other side of the field with looser coverage. But needless to say, still a good throw and a successful play.

Play 16: 1st & 10. 48. 4:00 4th.

Formation. Shotgun Dice Slot (11 Personnel)

Only a 3 point game and the Bengals driving, the Steelers bring the heat blitzing 5. In the secondary they seem to be running a Cover 1 with a few extra defenders guarding short routes underneath. To the two WR side, the Bengals run “verticals” that are shut down by the man-to-man coverage. To the single WR side, the CB is playing off coverage allowing the WR to slant in right in front of him. While the SS drops down and lets the WR run the slant right behind him. Dalton waits till the throwing window opens and then the split second the WR becomes visible to him he delivers a perfect throw while he gets hit in the knees. Unfortunately the WR fumbles the ball and ultimately costs the Bengals the chance to win the game after a gain of 17 yds. Check out the endzone angle to see the throwing window and to see Dalton throw the pass starring down the gun barrel of the blitz.

Play 17: 2nd & 10. -37. 1:56 4th.

Formation: Shotgun Dice Slot (11 Personnel)

2 minute offense here for the Bengals, even if the game is out of reach it would still be nice to see some flashes of success for the Bengals offense. The Steelers are running a Tampa 2 defense, Cover 2 with the MLB getting safety depth to protect against seam routes. Dalton picks the right read and delivers the ball on time but it is not accurate, behind the TE (see from the EZ angle). Once again showing his inconsistency. He had made this throw many times in this game already but misses it here and misses out on an 8 yard gain.

Watching this game film I have learned a few things about Andy Dalton as well as the Bengals offense. First of all with Dalton, the throws he really succeeds in are 7-10 yard curls, outs and sit downs. He is good at taking his 3-step drop and then delivering the ball on time to his WR’s. He is still very inconsistent when it comes to accuracy on routes in the 10-15 yard range, often throwing the ball high or behind his WR’s. Another struggle he has is sticking on one WR for the play and not reading the defense, especially if that WR is A.J. Green. Too often Dalton forces the ball to Green when others are open which results in mistakes because the defense is waiting on the throws to Green. If the Bengals give Dalton short routes and the defense keeps him in the game he has the ability to lead his team to the win on Sunday. As for the Bengals offense, it relies on routes in the 10-15 yard range, mainly dig routes. The Bengals should stay away from the “vertical” concepts because it is not often that Dalton hits those throws because of lack of arm strength. One thing he really succeeds on in this offense is the “Hi-Lo” concepts with a shallow drag at 3-5 yards and a 10-13 yard dig behind it. It will be interesting to see how Dalton fares this weekend against the Colts looking for his first playoff victory.