Key Player Matchup: Xavier Rhodes vs. Detroit Lions

Image courtesy of Vikings.com

A Sunday where Calvin Johnson catches just two passes seems odd, right? Kind of like a game where the Vikings fail to score an offensive touchdown or rush for more than 100 yards, no? But this is the NFL, where missed opportunities are forgotten and memories are just a thing of the past.

The Vikings’ embarrassing loss to the 49ers? Mike Zimmer’s team is moving on. Calvin Johnson’s quiet, 4-target start? An anomaly, according to his Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Joe Lombardi:

[quote_center]”So, certainly he’s going to certainly get his touches this year, and I think that was an anomaly that we had this first game.”[/quote_center]

Johnson’s lack of touches began in 2014, when he played a shortened season because of injury (13 games) and was targeted just 128 times. That total, the second-lowest of his career, came just one season after Johnson caught 82 passes for 1,492 yards and scored 12 touchdowns. Though not physically diminished, Johnson’s decline can be attributed to the presence of Detroit’s other pass catchers, most notably Golden Tate.

Last season, Tate caught 99 passes for 1,331 yards, scoring five touchdowns and quickly earning the trust of Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford. In Sunday’s game against the Chargers, Tate was targeted eight times, hauling in four catches for a pedestrian 24 yards. He’s a weapon in the slot, outside, and even in the return game, and Stafford relies on Tate once teams focus their attention on Johnson.

Fortunately for Mike Zimmer, the Vikings may not need to devote extra players to Johnson this Sunday. Why? Enter Xavier Rhodes.

Image courtesy of Vikings.com

Image courtesy of Vikings.com

For a secondary that wasn’t tested often against the 49ers, Harrison Smith, Robert Blanton, Terence Newman, and Xavier Rhodes will face a much tougher matchup in the Lions’ pass-catchers this week. In addition to Johnson and Tate, tight end Eric Ebron, rookie running back Ameer Abdullah, and veteran wide receiver Lance Moore give Matthew Stafford plenty of options in the passing game.

Given the team’s reliance on the pass — 60.4 percent of their offensive plays were passes in 2014 — it’s likely that Stafford airs it out against Minnesota this season. Last week, the Lions passed on 65.22 percent of their offensive plays, continuing an “air it out” trend in Detroit.

As Mike Wobschall pointed out on the Vikings’ official website, the Lions moved Calvin Johnson around the formation early and often against the Chargers. He lined up in the slot eight times, likely to create a favorable matchup against San Diego’s slot corners and linebackers. This alignment presents quite the dilemma for defenses — shadow Johnson with your team’s best cornerback, or double team Johnson with a nickel cornerback and bracketed safety coverage?

If you’re the Vikings, the answer is Xavier Rhodes. The team’s third-year cornerback faced a similar situation against the Lions last season, when he was asked to follow Johnson in Week 15. That game, Johnson had three catches on four targets for 49 yards, while Golden Tate hauled in seven catches for 38 yards and a touchdown. The priority has to be stopping Johnson, and Rhodes has the talent to do so. When asked about replicating that coverage this week, Rhodes expressed confidence in his abilities:

[quote_box_center]”I feel good,” Rhodes said, per ESPN’s Ben Goessling. “Not to say that’s going to happen this year. Coach more than likely is going to let us know if that’s the game plan or not. He didn’t quite tell us that’s going to be the game plan. But I’ve got to go each and every week, confident and feeling good.” [/quote_box_center]

However, that confidence doesn’t come without cause. Rhodes finished his first season under Mike Zimmer with 18 defended passes and routinely shut down opponents’ top receivers, including Mike Wallace, Eric Decker, and Alshon Jeffery. At 6’1″, 215 pounds, Rhodes has the size to match Johnson’s physicality, and with his tremendous length, the ability to compete in those ever-challenging 50/50 opportunities.

If Zimmer adopts the same strategy on Sunday, what will make Rhodes most successful in his matchup against Johnson? Let’s take a look at the film (all from Week 15).

Play No. One

Rhodes plays off against Johnson, preventing the deep shot into the end zone

Rhodes plays off against Johnson, preventing the deep shot into the end zone.

Here, Rhodes plays off Johnson with no safety help. Andrew Sendejo and Harrison Smith are playing closer to the line of scrimmage than their normal alignment, meaning Rhodes is responsible for preventing a potential touchdown shot to Johnson. Seeing as the Lions are near the red zone, Matthew Stafford could take a chance and throw the ball into the end zone, but Johnson runs an eight-yard hitch with Rhodes’s healthy cushion.

As you can see below, Rhodes is immediately in Johnson’s face after the catch. But what allows him to be so aggressive? Rhodes displays excellent footwork on this play, reading Johnson’s hips and chopping his feet as soon as the ball his thrown. By establishing his balance and setting his feet, Rhodes gives himself an opportunity to drive the hitch, which he does perfectly here. In addition to his footwork, Rhodes has long arms (33 ¾”) and uses his length to wrap up Johnson, eliminating any chance for a breakaway touchdown.

Rhodes vs. Johnson 2

With excellent footwork and discipline, Rhodes is able to drive on Johnson’s hitch and make a tackle on first contact.

Play No. Two

Rhodes vs. Johnson 3

Lined up in press coverage, Rhodes is tasked with playing man coverage on Johnson, which the Lions exploit using a natural rub.

Here, Rhodes is line up in press-man with safety help behind him. Coming out of Florida State, Rhodes was described as a press corner who “consistently gets contact or jam when pressing and remains balanced without overextending,” and that shows up in his game film from 2014. On this particular example, Rhodes doesn’t jam, allowing Johnson a free release into the middle of the defense. This is fine, as Rhodes’s coverage help inside includes Gerald Hodges and Anthony Barr, who are responsible for anything underneath.

However, Hodges opens to his left, running into Rhodes and creating a natural pick, as you can see below. This allows Johnson to run free through the Vikings defense for an easy pitch-and-catch, leading to a 23-yard completion on what should have been a minimal gain. On Sunday, the Lions may take advantage of such matchups, running pick routes and rub routes with Golden Tate and Johnson lined up on the same side of the formation. While not necessarily the culprit in this example, Rhodes will need to be on alert for plays like this in the Vikings’ Week 2 game.

Rhodes vs. Johnson 4

Gerald Hodges and Xavier Rhodes run into one another, freeing up Johnson across the middle for his longest catch of the day.

Play No. Three (and a Bonus Play!)

Rhodes vs. Johnson 5

Rhodes using his length and size to get his hands on Johnson early, disrupting the route and forcing Stafford into an incompletion down the right sideline.

As mentioned above, Rhodes’s greatest trait is his ability to match the physicality of other receivers. More than that, he routinely outmuscles smaller receivers and fights through blocks to make plays against the run. Though that wasn’t on display against the 49ers, he made it a point to disrupt Calvin Johnson’s routes last season.

Rhodes lines up in press, and at the snap, locks his hands into the chest of Johnson. Although Johnson fights through the jam — as he does with most receivers — Rhodes flips his hips and run stride-for-stride with Detroit’s best receiver. Thanks to a ferocious pass rush and the ability of Rhodes to play in Johnson’s hip pocket, Matthew Stafford is forced to throw the ball away.

Image courtesy of NFL Game Pass

Image courtesy of NFL Game Pass

The redeemable qualities of Xavier Rhodes are on full display in the play above. He lines up in off-coverage, but combines his footwork, trademark physicality, length, and speed to match Calvin Johnson stride-for-stride down the field. Johnson runs a streak down the left sideline, using a head fake to throw Rhodes off and create separation inside. Rhodes, however, doesn’t fall for the veteran move, closing any sort of cushion and finding the outside hip pocket of Johnson. His placement eliminates the threat of a throw downfield, and again, Stafford is forced to get rid of the football underneath.

Will Mike Zimmer shadow Rhodes on Sunday? We won’t know until kickoff, but the matchup was a fun battle to watch last season. There are however, decisions to be made. If Rhodes does follow Johnson, Captain Munnerlyn would likely match up with Golden Tate or Lance Moore in the slot. My biggest concern comes with Terence Newman, who may not have the speed to keep up with a dangerous Tate underneath (if, of course, he is schemed to cover Tate.) And, confining Rhodes to one player may open the door for Trae Waynes to take his first NFL snap on defense.

Whatever the case may be, Rhodes is excited for the potential challenge, and fans should be too.

[quote_center]”When you see a lot of receivers, they have one thing about them that’s unique, that stands out,” Rhodes said. “With Calvin, you’ve got the height, the size, the physicality. You have to play all out.”[/quote_center]

 

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