Detroit Lions Shallow Concept
This breakdown is taken directly from The 2022 Detroit Lions Complete Offensive Manual.
The Lions have increased their usage of Shallow in 2023, and have had great success with it.
Shallow is a pure progression 7-step (5 from gun) concept. The Lions have run Shallow more than most teams I have studied. The key to their success with it lies in the coaching details.
Although the Lions run shallow with many different adjacent routes, the concept is a consistent progression read:
1. Alert/Rail/Wheel/Swing/Post
2. Shallow
3. Search/Dig
4. Check Down/Jerk
The Lions use many different reads as the first in the progression. In general, this route is on the opposite side of the field the Shallow starts on.
In the 2x2 versions, the Lions like to use a Post as the Alert/first in the progression. This Post is a great way to attack quarters coverages down the field. It’s a great way to run the Shallow concept, as quarters can often match the concept. This gives the quarterback a way out.
In 3x1, the Lions like to use a Rail or a Wheel. These routes are good against man, and can expand zone coverage to create more room for the Shallow and Search.
The Shallow route, the second read in the progression, is a great answer to man coverage. The route allows the receiver to run away from coverage. Against zone, the receiver has the ability to sit the route down on the opposite hash. This will help alleviate some of the challenges the concept faces against zone coverages.
The Search route is the 10 yard sit down route over the ball. If the Mike chases/walls off the Shallow, the Search will replace him.
Why it Worked: In week 1, Goff hits the shallow as it sets up on the opposite hash. The apex defender stays wide after the vertical release of the search route.
In the 2nd clip in week 4, Goff hits Reynolds on the Wheel route. Goff hits his back shoulder, and Reynolds is able to make the play 1 on 1. Seattle plays a single high match coverage on the play.
The third clip in week 4 shows Goff hitting the Shallow route. Seattle plays a two high match coverage. On the weak side of a 3x1, the cornerback and Will stick to the Rail and Search on their side, with the safety zoning off into a robber role. The Mike passes the shallow off, and the safety has too much ground to cover after he reads his side of the field. The next image shows the play.
The second clip in week 5 shows Goff hitting the Rail route against man coverage.
The first clip in week 9 shows Goff hitting the Shallow route against man coverage.
Why it Didn’t Work: The last clip in week 9 shows the Packers defense passing off the concept in a zone match coverage.
The 14-minute cutup below shows all of the Lions Shallow clips in 2022:
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