Britt got beat on the play, pure and simple. No screen setup, just a veteran move by Johnson to get around Britt.
Britt's biggest weakness is the outside rush. Carolina knows this and is looking to take advantage of it toward the end of the game by lining up two vets outside Britt and bringing both of them as part of a five man rush (showed 6 man but pulled one out into coverage).
Britt, as he is coached, picks up the inside guy, Johnson, and leaves Davis uncovered. That is fine, take the inside guy solid and leave the outside guy for Russ to worry about. Earlier in the year, you could confuse Britt with this rush. He would try to take both, and would end up blocking neither. Now, he has fundamentally improved and takes the inside guy straight up like he should.
However, the vet has a surprise for our rookie friend.
Johnson sells a fake inside rush perfectly with a double move and Britt buys it. Johnson comes of the edge and sets the outside (left foot) for a cut to the inside. Britt reacts and positions himself perfectly to cut off this angle of attack, but Johnson has a surprise and cuts back to the outside after he gets Britt's momentum working to the inside and he gives Britt a little aikido style shove with the outside (left) arm to keep Britt off balance and propel Johnson past him. A great move by a wily vet.
You could chalk this up to Britt setting up the screen. More than once I have seen the Hawks pull that. The tell here is that instead of Britt looking for the pass so he can run downfield to block, he stumbles back to his right trying to get back into the backfield for some sort of block. Also, the other linemen stay engaged.
There is no surprise here. Britt is going to give up a play like this once in a while. He's a rookie and he has a well-know, exploitable weakness that teams are taking advantage of with vets. Johnson is in his 8th year and Davis his 10th. Any surprise they are lining those guys up over Britt?
Earlier in the season the Hawks would give Britt some support with the tight end, but in the last few games they are leaving him on an island and focusing on quick plays when the pressure comes from that side. It seems to be working nicely.
- bsd