2. Manning versus blitz or Cover 2: When you prepare to play Indianapolis, the first order of business is to determine how to attack Manning, and doing so can be problematic. Early in his career, Manning struggled at times versus good Cover 2 schemes such as the New England Patriots’ because they gave him false reads and closed off zones by dropping defenders into coverage. Now, he is so prepared and spends so much time in film study that he can find holes in every zone defense, especially because a lot of zone schemes don’t bring a blitz package.
Manning is great at holding the middle linebacker with a play fake and then tossing a perfect seam route, often to Dallas Clark, between the safeties. Or he can loft the ball over the corner and underneath the safety, exposing the other hole in the Cover 2. If he expects man-to-man coverage, Manning simply reads his matchups and finds the one he likes, even if it’s his fourth or fifth option. If he reads the blitz, he often shortens his drop to three steps and throws a lot of slant routes.
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