Chicago Bears Week 7 Film Session: Clay TD, Wake sack fumble

Oct 19, 2014; Chicago, IL, USA; Miami Dolphins tight end Charles Clay (42) scores a touchdown in the first quarter of their game against the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field. Mandatory Credit: Matt Marton-USA TODAY Sports

Welcome to the Chicago Bears Week 7 Film Session, where we break down a couple of crucial plays from the Bears’ 27-14 loss to the Dolphins.

After a quick three and out on their first possession, the Dolphins went on a 8 play 81 yard drive to open the scoring. It was capped by a 13 yard touchdown pass from Tannehill to a wide open Clay. Let’s take a look at how the play unfolded.

Charles Clay 13 yard TD catch

Game situation: 1^st down and 10 at the Bears 13 yard line (1^st Quarter 6:56 left)

Personnel: 11 (1 RB, 1 TE, 3 WRs)

Defense: Cover 3

Offensive scheme: Post-Corner

The Dolphins space the field in a 2×2 set with Tannehill in the shotgun and Miller offset to his right. Tannehill will target the left side of the field and his two receivers, Wallace and Clay. Wallace stems his route up the field before bending to the middle of the field and the Post route. Clay releases from the line of scrimmage and cuts to the corner at about the Bears 5 yard line. It looks like the Bears defense drops into a Cover 3 shell on the play as each defender is responsible for their allotted zones.

However, there are a couple breakdowns in coverage as Fuller stays with Wallace on the Post route and does not release him to the middle 1/3 defender, Vereen. McClellin is lined up over Clay to start the play, but does not get a jam on the receiver, giving Clay a free release. It also doesn’t help that McClellin slips and falls as he progresses to his Curl-Flat responsibility.

With Fuller now removed from his deep 1/3 responsibility and McClellin not underneath the Corner route, Tannehill easily targets Clay for the touchdown.