Beating Man Coverage in the Low Red Zone

There are all sorts of great ways to beat man coverage in the low red zone. Mesh concepts, rubs, the use of motion (See the Chiefs in Super Bowl LVII), among others. The key is often knowing where the help defenders are and how to elimate them or put them into conflict.

Today I’ll break down a great route concept that the Bills used against the Dolphins last season to score a touchdown.

This was a 3rd-and-goal from the Dolphins’ 5-yard line. Buffalo aligned in a 3x1 formation. Miami matched up in man coverage with safety Verone McKinley over the top to the 3-receiver side:

The Dolphins’ aim was to eliminate the effectiveness of any picks or rubs by having an extra defender ready to help out. Since this was the low red zone, that defender was more likely to be hanging inside than worrying about playing over the top.

The Bills happened to be prepared for this look.

First, let’s focus on the route combination between Stefon Diggs and Isaiah McKenzie on the outside. The hope was that McKenzie’s route to the outside would create a natural rub where both his and Diggs’ defenders’ would collide. Or at very least, Diggs’ man would have to fight through traffic to stay with him, creating separation for an easy touchdown inside:

The Dolphins seemed to anticipate a route combination like this. And McKinley was in position to pounce on any in-breaking route short of the goalline:

But the Bills’ route combination to that side also included tight end Dawson Knox, who would run an out-breaking route in the back of the end zone from the #3 inside slot position: