Three Examples of Joe Burrow Playing the QB Position at a High Level
From one game, all in the first quarter. Against the 49ers in their 2023 matchup.
Joe Burrow plays the quarterback position at a high level because he remains calm at all times and makes plays regardless of the circumstances. This post will go over three concepts that exhibit these traits. All these plays come from the first quarter of the Bengals’ game against the 49ers last year.
Crazy Escape
Situation: 3rd & 10 at the -31 (11:41 1Q)
This play has a little bit of it all. Out of empty and facing the first third down of the game, Burrow displayed calmness amidst chaos and the courage to throw with a man barreling down on him.
Burrow looks to the bunch concept which is probably apart of the backside read:
Being 3rd and 10, Burrow is probably looking for a route that gets past the first down marker. There’s a go route to the field, but that’s a so-called “low percentage” throw and a dig in the bunch concept. Who knows how the Bengals teach the concept, but Burrow skips the left side and makes a pre-snap decision to work the “bow” side of the concept against this MOFO Zone defensive structure.
Another interesting point to note is Burrow’s footwork. He takes a shuffle three step drop which puts him ready to throw slightly before the dig though right on time for the sit route. An inside linebacker is showing pressure, and with the offense being in five man protection, perhaps he is preparing himself to get the ball out as fast as possible which isn’t a bad idea.
However, by getting to the back of his drop so quick, I wonder if this choice prevents him from being able to potentially throw the dig on rhythm because when he looks to reset to the dig after a slight pause at the back of his drop he faces pressure and the chaos ensues. There’s a slight window for the dig, and though it would’ve been quite tight, it’s close.
Regardless, the pocket breaks down and he almost gets sacked twice. If anything, this play demonstrates the strength of Burrow. Those are big, grown men who are paid many dollars to tackle QBs, and they can’t do it.
Burrow demonstrates his ability to stay calm amidst chaos during his final escape. Keeping his eyes down the field with a mad man (Fred Warner) chasing him, he finds Tee Higgins and throws a perfect ball while getting hit and on the run.
See Man & Throw Fade (With a Good Base)
Situation: 2nd & 6 at the +6 (8:11 1Q)
In the red zone, one can expect man coverage to be high on the list of potential coverages, and a motion from the offense confirms the fact. With a fade coming out of their bunch concept, it looks like Burrow knows exactly what he wants to do pre-snap:
The defense doesn’t bring any pressure (though I’m sure it feels like there’s potential for pressure at anytime when facing the 49ers defensive line) so Burrow doesn’t need to get the ball out as fast as possible for that reason. Rather, the primary reason is the shortened field in the red zone. Burrow decides to take a three step with a small reset, beautifully lined up the right, and throw with moderate air.
As it would be, the left defensive end handles the tackle quite easily and gets to Burrow right when he’s making the throw to hit him in his ribs knocking him down.
So this play is an example of a QB understanding the situation, playing calmly but on time, maintaining a good base, and throwing with the trajectory appropriate to the situation.
Throwing with a Man in His Face
Situation: 1st & 10 at the +35 (1:18 1Q)
This last example of high level QB play showcases two important traits. First, the importance of playing on time throughout a progression. Second, the ability to throw in a “phone booth” with people in your face.
The Bengals have a curl-flat concept to the right with what looks to be a scissors concept to the left. This seemingly split field nature of the play makes it interesting to treat the post on the scissors concept as the backside concept interesting. It works perfectly though.
The defense is playing out of a MOFO Zone structure which is usually what you’d want with the curl-flat concept. Here, however, the inside linebacker does a good job pushing through to the curl to take away the concept with the down safety covering the flat. So Burrow moves on.
The reason the post route is so open is because the Bengals make use of flat control with the check-release from the RB and the inside linebacker reacts. Good play design. On to Burrow’s mechanics.
Burrow chooses to take a three step drop with a reset while looking to the curl-flat concept. He’s ready to throw that on rhythm and when it isn’t there, he resets to the backside off one reset. His second reset gets him ready to throw. This footwork is efficient and perfect teach tape for what a move on should look like going from the first read to the second. Additionally, his strong base gives him the chance to rotate through the throw and generate force despite someone in his lap.
Until next time,
Emory Wilhite