11-08-2021, 10:01 AM
(11-08-2021, 12:50 AM)Fan_in_Kettering Wrote: The area of an NFL end zone is 533.3 square yards. Given five defensive backs this means each must cover 106.7 square yards which is approximately a 30’ x 30’ space in zone coverage.
Every five yards from the goal line adds 266.7 square yards to cover for those five defensive backs.
That means in the Red Zone the defensive backs must cover an area of 533.3 square yards of the end zone + 4(266.7 square yards) = 1600.1 square yards. Now in zone coverage each of those five defensive backs must cover 320 square yards which is approximately a 54’ x 54’ space.
The smaller the area the easier it is for the secondary to cover receivers. Near the goal line receivers have less area to accelerate and maneuver which shrinks the available branches on each route tree. The defense can sit on routes all day and break up passes like we saw Cleveland do today.
The Bengals need to resurrect the 2009 “jumbo package” near the goal line and relearn to run that ball right at the defense for six points.
Since 2010, NFL teams have a touchdown percentage of 39% when throwing the ball and an interception percentage of 1.9% within the five yard line. Crazily enough, you have a higher chance of fumbling than throwing an interception down in the five. Since 2010, the interception percentage is 1.9% and the fumble percentage is a little over 2%. The touchdown percentages for rushing are pretty much the same.
