Stevie Johnson's second touch down of the Bengals game was a great throw and catch play, but also one that most teams do not run or attempt down in the red zone. I have now seen this pass thrown perfectly by Fitzpatrick twice this season that I can remember where he put it into small windows of space between defenders and right into the hands of his receiver. The pass route is a back corner flag route where the WR releases straight off the line and cuts toward the back corner of the end zone. What is unique about the route is that Fitzy throws it to the inside of the WR instead of the outside. Typically flag routes passes are thrown to the outer shoulder to get the ball up and over the defenders reach. What is great about this route (and very risky) is that Fitzy will just gun the ball to the spot and let the WR make a play regardless of the defender. It catches the defender off guard b/c they initially are looking inside for the post route or slant route and when the WR angles the other way, the defender is either slow to adjust or off balance from the move the WR puts on him, then the ball is right there on the WR. In the play to Johnson, Leon Hall does not get burned too much one-on-one... he was smoked on this play:
The other play that I have seen was one to Roscoe Parrish in the Bears game. This time it was against zone coverage. The highlights show how Fitzy just fires it before Parrish is even looking.
http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-game-highlights/09000d5d81beb18f/Parrish-14-yard-TD
It is a great great pattern and throw both for TD's in the red zone that I hope to see more of in the future!


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