I'm pretty tired of the false DJax 2017 meme that comes in some various iteration of "we didn't use DJax diversely/on anything but verticals/didn't use him creatively." It was wrong when it started and every bit of perpetuation of it (including by PR staff), is really frustrating. So lets take a look at the game where we had the largest # of drop backs so we can get a nice cross-section of data on how he was used.
What should also be noted is that they run an extremely large % of Man coverage. Therefore, you should expect this game to feature LESS diverse usage than you will see in games where coverage is mixed up more.
The first bit of info will be where he lined up. The second will be the route that he ran. The third (should there be one) will be if he was involved in any relevant combos/concepts (eg a Rub, a downfield Mesh where crossing routes are coming from opposite directions and intersect or nearly so, a Spacing concept from Bunch).
Wide Left - Deep Out
Wide Left - Delay Slant under Slot Hard Outside Release Fade Rub
Wide Right - Go
Wide Right - PA ISO Deep Dig (Deep Crossing route)
Flanker Right - Short Motion to Drive (basically a route that is kind of a cross between an Arrow and a Slant)
Wide Right - 10 yard Comeback
Flanker Left - Go (clearout for a Flat route which was catch-and-run for a ton)
Wide Right - Quickout
Flanker Left - Out and Up
Wide Left - He loses so badly on the Press Jam that its impossible to tell what he was going to run
Point Man of Stacked Twins w/ Brate - Corner to Post double move.
Wide in Bunch - Spacing concept - Slant > Sit
Slot Left - Quickout
Slot from Trips Left - Hard outside Release Fade Rub for Wide's Delay Slant
(Starting No Huddle) Wide Left on Tight Twins - Arrow > Post
Wide Left - Deep Comeback
Wide Right - Stutter and Go (this is one of the ones JW airmailed where DJax toasted the CB for a TD - would have put us up 14-13)
Tight Flanker Right - Hard outside release to Deep Out
Slot Left - 12 yard Dig
(its 16-7 after Evans' Int and we're at their 46) Trips Wide Left - Smash (shallow Out > Pivot back in)
Tight Flanker Right - Shallow Cross under Brate's outside release Rub
(still 16-7 after failure to score and D Forced Fumble at midfield)
Wide Left - Bubble Screen to DJax
Tight from Trips Right - Hard inside release Look Out > Post
Wide in Bunch Left - Spacing concept running an Arrow > Sit
Wide Right - Stutter and Go
Tight Right - 8 yard Hook up
Motion from Wide Left in Bunch to Tight Left in Bunch - Spot concept (Flat, Slant > Sit, Vert - Corner) where DJax is running the rubbed Flat
Tight Flanker Right - Post > Corner off Play-Action
Wide from Trips Left - Red Zone Tight Stutter Fade
Wide Right - Hard inside release to Post and downfield Mesh with Brate Out
Wide Right from Bunch - Goal-line Spacing concept w/ Arrow > Post w/ a couple of Slant > Sits (at goal-line) underneath that to ensure window to that Post
Wide Right - 8 yard Hitch
(No Huddle begins) Wide Right - Deep Out
Flanker Right - Hard inside release to Dig
Flanker Right (basically a Bunch concept w/ TE and RB that side) - Spacing concept 9 yard Hook Up.
Motion from Trips Right to Wide Twins Left - Deep Out
Tight from Bunch Right - Flood concept (Vert - Deep Out - Flat) where DJax has the Deep Out
Wide Right - 10 yard Comeback
Wide from Trips Left - Rub Delay Slant concept w/ Hump Pivot Route
+++++++++++++++++++
The rest is just a bunch of Hail Mary Vert nonsense at the end of the game.
So then. Does that look like its "lacking diversity", "lacking creativity", "all vertical routes", "not trying to get him the ball in space underneath"?
