Cornerback Vontae Davis is a former 2009 1st round draft pick, and in 2014 he had his breakout season. Pro Football Focus, ranked Davis second in the NFL at his position and caused me to take notice. This past weekend against Denver, one of the league’s top passing attacks, Davis shut down his side of the field. Davis defended 4 passes while only allowing 5 catches for 21 yards and receiving one of the highest playoff grades from PFF.

Vontae Davis had a fantastic season, yielding 0 TD’s and intercepting 4 passes. However, interceptions can be misleading at times due to tipped passes and bad throws. I decided to go back and check out the film to see how dominating Davis really was this past weekend. He didn’t disappoint.

Play 1: 2nd & 12. -24. 4:38 1st.

Defensive Formation: Nickel

Coverage: Cover 2

Offensive Personnel: 11 Personnel

http://i.imgur.com/q8W8TEr.jpg

The Colts are in a Cover 2 defense. Davis is guarding his flat zone to the right. The TE on Davis’s side runs a “Post” in order to split the defenders, while the opposite slot WR runs a drag route. The WR lined up across from Davis run a fade route, a Cover 2 beater due to the throwing window between the CB and the FS. In a Cover 2 defense, the CB is taught to pass off the WR to the Safety after a certain yardage, Davis does not do this on this play. He carries the WR up the sideline in order to eliminate the throwing window that I referred to earlier, a very heads up play on Davis’s part. It is a good throw but Davis does a nice job of squeezing the space between himself and the WR while the ball is in the air making it a very difficult catch.

Play 2: 1st & 10. -35. 13:19 2nd.

Defensive Formation: Nickel

Coverage: Cover 1

Offensive Personnel: 11 Personnel

http://i.imgur.com/bcfikK0.jpg

The Broncos run a “Curl-Flat” combination on both sides during this play. To the bottom of the screen, the TE goes to the flat while the WR runs a 10 yard curl. To Davis’s side, however, the combination is run a little bit different. The WR runs the curl just like the other side, while the flat route is run by the RB out of the backfield. Although the Colts are in a man-to-man defense, it appears that no one is assigned to the RB as the two LB’s drop back. I am sure Davis is aware of this as he sees the formation. As his WR is five yards into his route, Davis notices the QB already making the throw to the RB in the flat. Davis once again goes against his assignment and breaks off of his man-to-man coverage and jumps the flat route to the RB. He should blow this play up for a loss but as he is approaching the ball carrier he stops his feet and allows the RB to get outside of him before he can bring him down. While tackling in the open field, you must keep coming and cut down the space between you and the ball carrier. A good play by Davis, but it could have been a great play.

Play 3: 3rd & 2. 44. 3:01 2nd.

Defensive Formation: Nickel

Coverage: Cover 1

Offensive Personnel: 11 Personnel (Empty)

http://i.imgur.com/N8Sr4KQ.jpg

Although Davis is usually aligned on the right side of the defense, this time he has traveled to the left side due to a TE-RB combo on his natural right side. The Colts want to keep Davis on a WR, especially in man-to-man coverage. On this play you will notice that in man-to-man coverage, Davis is very physical with his hands, as are many good CB’s. The route he is defending on this play is a 5 yard comeback. The WR does a nice job getting right into Davis and using his arm to throw Davis by and make his break. Davis is beaten on this route and on the throw by his arm is extended and he grabs the WR’s jersey. The pass goes elsewhere and falls incomplete, but Davis is called for defensive holding on this play. The holding call gives the Broncos a 1st down when it should have been 4th, a mistake here by Davis.

Play 4: 1st & 10. 39. 2:55 2nd.

Defensive Formation: Nickel

Coverage: Cover 3

Offensive Personnel: 11 Personnel

http://i.imgur.com/tHe4Qav.jpg

On this play, the Broncos are essentially running a “4 Verticals” concept, and being out of a 3×1 formation the inside WR will drag across the field. The Colts are in a Cover 3, which means Davis has the deepest route on his 1/3 of the field. The WR on his side runs a vertical route, which means Davis has him almost man-to-man. The WR gets on top of Davis (a no no in Cover 3), but Davis stays in his hip pocket and forces an overthrow because he is playing trail coverage. Good, but not great coverage on this play, but Davis still caused another incompletion, something he does a lot of in this game.

Play 5: 3rd & 8. 26. 0:13 2nd.

Defensive Formation: Nickel

Coverage: Cover 1 (LB blitz)

Offensive Personnel: 10 Personnel

http://i.imgur.com/3WMVEB2.jpg

The Broncos align 3 WR’s to Davis’s side on this play. Had it been a zone coverage, he would have to be more aware of the other WR’s and their routes but due to it being a man-to-man coverage, Davis is locked onto his outside WR. The WR runs the same route as we saw on the previous play, this time Davis is pressing at the line but bails at the last second. The Colts should be looking for the deep pass here due to the time remaining (the reason Davis bails in coverage). On the last vertical route we saw Davis defend, the WR immediately got on top of his coverage. On this play Davis is on top the entire time, making the throw virtually impossible to complete. Davis almost comes up with an interception on this play in the endzone but can’t bring it in.

Play 6: 1st & 10. -45. 2:32 3rd.

Defensive Formation: Nickel

Coverage: Cover 1 (LB Robber)

Offensive Personnel: 11 Personnel

http://i.imgur.com/ZR9OQJu.jpg

To the field side the Broncos run a “Hi-Lo” concept with a deep Dig and a shallower one underneath. On Davis’s side, the Broncos run a “Double Out” combination, kind of an odd route combination but one you see from the Broncos a few times. The Colts are once again in man-to-man coverage. Almost as soon as the ball is snapped, Davis is already beaten. You’ll see Davis immediately flip his hips open towards the field giving the WR a free run. Once a CB has flipped their hips open it gives the WR all the control, which is why in press coverage a CB should stay square as long as possible. Davis bails on the coverage to not get beat deep and the WR does a nice job of pushing Davis by and creating seperation in order to gain of 10 and a 1st down. This is one of the few plays you will see Davis get completely beat.