For the Film Reviewers:
Bademosi gave up just two receptions on 97% snaps. Any idea if it was tight coverage or McCown not taking advantage of a matchup?
That’d be a nice find if we got a STer that can provide quality depth on the outside at CB.
This is an interesting question, and a harder one to find film on without watching a ton of all-22 that I don’t have access to (One could also look at the coverage all-22s already posted for evaluating other players. Honestly, this might be a fun project for you to take on!). Instead, I am going to look at his potential mistakes.
I agree that it seems he did well, based on the low number of targets. This Pats Pulpit article gives him a good review:
Johnson Bademosi’s role in Patriots secondary vs. Jets ‘says a lot for his preparation’
Here is a Belichick quote from the article:
“He played [73] plays on defense, 14 in the kicking game, and we really didn’t know that he was going to play until Saturday – defensively.”
“To have a big role like that, it says a lot for his preparation, and he came through for us,” Belichick added. “I thought he played well, tackled well and did a great job. He stepped in, really did a great job.”
That article mentions 4 plays targeted “at him”, while you only mentioned 2. I decided to investigate. Here is the articles description:
On third-and-5 early in the second quarter, Bademosi conceded 16 yards on a slot crosser to ex-Seattle Seahawk Jermaine Kearse. Ten minutes later on first-and-10, Kearse picked up nine more yards against a well-cushioned look from Bademosi, who was challenged again with 56 seconds to go before intermission on a comeback that gained nine before being nullified.
Bademosi’s final pass given up came versus a curl from running back Travaris Cadet on second-and-9 with 10 minutes remaining in the third quarter. It netted seven yards.
I do have access to the broadcast footage:
Here is my take:
1. This is the biggest “mistake” that Bademosi had, and it was not that bad. He started M2M with outside leverage, and was not able to catch up on the crossing route going against his starting side. The throw hit the receiver in stride and Bademosi was still able to make the tackle.
2. This appears to be cover 3 zone and Bademosi is responsible for a deep third. The slot receiver opposite Chung is running a deep route, so Bademosi takes over that responsibility. Chung begins to move toward the outside receiver running the comeback route, but it is a bit too late. More of a good read coverage read by McCown than a coverage mistake IMO.
3. This one looks like man coverage, and it looks like Bademosi's mistake: It looks like he got beat be a comeback route while he was trying not to get beat deep. I don’t mind “mistakes” like these generally, but this catch would have put them in field goal range at the end of the catch. Maybe he should have been tighter and trust the safety help in case he gets beat deep. The All-22 would help us evaluate.
4. This is a zone blitz. You can tell based on how KVN runs to spot vacated by HT’s rush. It looks like we were trying to bait a throw to the TE. Bademosi seems to be responsible for the deep zone again, so can’t blame him for that.
So it looks like your 2 number was pretty accurate. Bademosi only gave up 2 receptions in M2M coverage ( plays 1 & 3 ). Pretty good start for him.
. I don't agree with his assessment because that looks like the Sail concept they ran out of this bunch because all of them end up outside the numbers. We are in 42 big nickel, and Chung does not check on McCourty to take the vertical so he is stuck because if he sinks with Kearse, the flat gets left open. You can see him torn between staying on the flat or sinking with Kerse. Butler did not err here, IMO. The call was zone and he was in proper tech. The high safety always takes the vertical in a cover 3, if I'm not wrong?
