Inside the Mornhinweg Playbook: Geno Smith to Holmes for 38: Week 11

Nov 17, 2013; Orchard Park, NY, USA; New York Jets wide receiver

(10) catches a pass as Buffalo Bills free safety

(23) pursues during the second half at Ralph Wilson Stadium. Bills beat the Jets 37-14. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Hoffman-USA TODAY Sports

This week, we begin the second half of the season, as we continue looking “Inside the Mornhinweg Playbook”. Each week, we have been going back to a play on offense, breaking down how and why it was successful, and therefore, why we want to see more of it in 2014.

How was it designed? How was the play executed? We look at all of it right here.

This week, we are looking at a hookup between Geno Smith and Santonio Holmes in the matchup to the north against the Buffalo Bills. Let’s get started.

Geno Smith is lined up in the shotgun, with Bilal Powell in the backfield next to him to his right. Stephen Hill and Santonio Holmes are lined up outside to the left, with Holmes just off of the line of scrimmage to create separation.

As indicated, Geno is going to run a play-action fake to Bilal Powell. Holmes runs a double move, as indicated, starting to the post and then breaking to the outside, running a corner route. Let’s see how this goes as we move forward.

We stop it right here, and the good routes are starting to unfold. In the circle farther down the field we have Stephen Hill, running a deep post. Look at the two nearby defenders, and notice where there eyes are. See how they are watching Hill? There is no way they can swing around to help on coverage of Santonio Holmes? Not possible, leaving Holmes one on one against his defender as he runs the medium post before he breaks it off to a corner route.

Let’s go ahead.

This is the great design of this play coming front and center. Deep is Stephen Hill running his post pattern. Notice that he is drawing two defenders along with him. That leaves Holmes all alone as he breaks his pattern off into a corner route.

Now Geno Smith makes a great throw, that hits Santonio Holmes in stride…..

Thirty eight yards later, it’s first down for Santonio Holmes and the New York Jets.

This was a case of another well-designed play by Marty Mornhinweg, backed up by an excellent throw by Geno Smith. It’s throws like that one that show us that Geno Smith can get this job done.