Chalk Talk: Breaking Down Devin Harper’s Pick-6

The Cowboy defense performed well once again in its 55-13 win over South Alabama last Saturday, holding the Jaguars to 78 rushing yards and 3-for-17 on third down. The Cowboys also scored a defensive touchdown on their only forced turnover of the night, with OSU linebacker Devin Harper taking an interception for a score in the third quarter. In this Chalk Talk, we’ll break down Harper’s first career pick, and how the play call set him up for the easy turnover.

Here’s a clip of the play, although two players are cut out of the frame on the wide side of the field:

The Cowboys show pressed coverage to the trips side but send both inside corners along with four rushers. Harper, who’s showing blitz at the line, backs up after the snap to cover the middle of the field. The boundary corner (A.J. Green) plays man on the away side and Malcolm Rodriguez covers the deep middle third of the field, with Kenneth Edison-McGruder and the out-of-frame corner playing zone to the wide side of the field.

USA quarterback Evan Orth sees a blitz and assumes his “hot” receiver, i.e. the primary receiver in blitz situations, is uncovered. Harper backs up at the perfect time and Orth throws right to him, ending in a 24-yard interception to the house.

This was an excellent example of how defensive coordinator Jim Knowles uses deception and pressure in his coverages, specifically in third-down packages. Knowles and his defense have yet to face equal competition, but his unit’s past two performances have been encouraging for what could come later in the season.