Scheme is often discussed in NFL media in determining the “style” of an NFL offense. In reality, most NFL playbooks contain the same concepts and route combinations. Scheme is essentially the frequency of how often each concept is called and the tendencies of coordinators. The Bucs used some of the most effective play-action concepts in the NFL last year. With increased usage of play-action in 2021, the Bucs offense could be more diverse and dominant in 2021.

What Play-Action Concepts Do The Bucs Use?

The Bucs used a number of concepts that all aimed to achieve various outcomes vs certain coverages. This open approach to play-calling based on defensive game plans, is evidence of the Bucs diversifying after the bye week. After watching and detailing all 75 play-action passes after the bye week. I have categorized them into eight main concepts, four of which we will focus on in this article. Namely, ‘Isolated Routes’, ‘In-Breakers’, ‘Verticals and Comebacks’ and ‘Sail’.

In the table below you can see a breakdown of each of the major concepts used by the Bucs after the bye week.

Bucs Play-Action Concepts Breakdown

As you can see, all concepts except one grade positively when it comes to EPA/PA (Expected Points Added per play-action pass) and we have some impressive passer ratings when targeting such concepts. Note that the ‘Adj C %’ stands for ‘adjusted completion percentage’. Adjusted completion percentage is essentially used to look at when the ball isn’t dropped or thrown away. In other words, it measures the accuracy or sustainability of the concept.

Isolated Receiver Routes

The Bucs looked to take advantage of their unbelievable receiving talent by using play-action and isolated routes. See the image below. The Bucs come out in a ‘trips right’ formation with Mike Evans isolated on the left side of the formation. The tight formation is a typical run formation, and the Packers respond with eight men in the box, leaving Evans in single coverage.

Evans is running a ‘whip’ route, as seen in red. The play-action gives Evans extra time to get open, as well as giving Brady better pass protection and increased time to throw. There are several other examples of the Bucs doing this, especially in goal line and red zone situations. Brady threw six touchdowns on isolated route concepts off play-action after the bye week in 2020.

The Bucs second highest frequency of play-action passes came on isolated concepts, indicating the method’s importance for the 2021 season. Offensive coordinator Byron Leftwich will continue to target ideal one-on-ones in red zone and critical situations with his play-calling this year.

Isolated Route Play Action Example vs GB

In-Breaking Concepts

Now we move onto in-breaking route combinations, the most common of which is a Dagger concept. This play is pretty easily explained. It involves a dig route from the outside receiver, while the inside receiver clears out the free safety on a vertical route. This concept is lethal when attacking single-high coverages, as it puts the safety in a bind. He must respect the vertical route, which leaves the dig wide open. If he bites on the dig, Brady will throw the one-on-one vertical.

We can see below, the single-high safety is backing up to cover the vertical route. Evans has beaten his man and is preparing to break inside on the cross. Play-action is vital for this concept. Look at the space created in the middle of the field by the play fake, drawing in the Chiefs linebackers.

Even with a low completion percentage on this concept in 2020, it’s encouraging that it was so effective in terms of EPA/PA and YPA (yards per attempt). Remember, most of the Bucs opponents in the NFC South are/were mainly single-high safety teams. This concept could be used to shred teams like the Dallas Cowboys in Week 1, where new defensive coordinator Dan Quinn has traditionally relied on single-high coverages.

Dagger Concept – SB55

Verticals and Comebacks

It’s clear how Brady and Leftwich’s play-action influence aided Arians favorite pass concepts in the image below. The ‘Go’ or ‘989’ concept is an Arians’ staple. ‘Go’ includes two vertical routes on the outside and a middle-breaking route from the inside receiver. This is used as an adjustment to the Bucs infamous duo run scheme. When teams go to single high coverages and bring down an extra safety to help against the run, Go is a shot play to take advantage of that adjustment.

The issue with Go, however, is that it takes awhile for the routes to develop and get downfield. So the Bucs combined it with a play-action fake to allow Brady to have more time to throw the ball.

Note on this play how Brady uses his eyes to manipulate No.23. He looks to the middle of the field first, tricking the defense into thinking he will throw the Post. Then comes back to Antonio Brown to the bottom of the image for a touchdown.

At the end of the day, this is still a Bruce Arians offense. Vertical concepts are going to be the Bucs offensive staples during the 2021 season. Play-action and timely play calling will allow for greater efficiency on these lower percentage throws. Another reason this concept saw such a good completion percentage was the use of the Comeback route. If the receiver did not beat his man deep, he slams on the brakes and breaks back to the quarterback. This variation of the Go concept is called ‘Cab’.

Verticals Play-Action Concept vs WSH

The Sail Concept

The Sail concept was the only one to record negative expected points added per attempt, along with a terrible passer rating. It is an extremely potent concept and a staple of Kyle Shanahan’s offense, making George Kittle famous. Sail is an ideal concept to run against zone heavy defenses, as it floods the zone with four receivers breaking to one side of the field.

The Bucs had limited success on this play, although that need not be the case in 2021. See below a play against the Packers in the NFC Championship Game. Brady has Evans wide open on the middle out route, but instead throws the ball incomplete deep to Godwin. The Bucs only ran this concept off play-action four times in eight games, and two passes were dropped. Increased practice and execution of this play should lead to better production.

With the Bucs having the best receiving corps in the NFL, it is going to be hard for teams to match up against them in man coverage. The Bucs will need to lean on more zone-beater concepts in 2021. The Sail concept could be staple of the offense next year if Leftwich and co. see an increase in zone coverage.

Sail Concept vs GB