Do you have a different video of the play? Apparently we're not seeing the same thing.
Yes, I do, and I know exactly where each player was throughout the play.
When OBJ starts his move on about the 25 yard line, Sheppard's at about the 27 running and Ellis is starting his cut at around the 35. Frazier's at the 10 backpedaling and Awuzie is at the 25 side-pedaling. Keep in mind, at this point, Sheppard is running forward while Awuzie is side-pedaling and not committed either to him or Ellis.
When OBJ is at about the 12 is when Manning lets go of the ball. At that point, Frazier is at the about the 7 (5 yards away) directly in front of him still backpedaling and Shepard is at about the 17 (10 yards away) and moving to his right. Awuzie and Ellis are not in the frame. Manning threw the ball to the middle of the field and Frazier never did catch up to a guy who started closer to him by 5 yards than Sheppard when Manning released the ball.
So what makes you think that 1) Manning can't throw Sheppard open away from Frazier (especially if he flinches or pumps to the post) when he threw Beckham open away from Frazier when Frazier was 5 yards closer to Beckham or 2) A guy who was side pedaling when we last saw him and is not close enough to be in the frame is going to recover and defend Sheppard who was running forward .....especially when Manning demonstrated on the same play he can throw guys open. Unless Manning under-throws the ball or puts too much air under it, he can put that ball out in front of Sheppard's inside shoulder or straight over his head and let him run under it.
1) I didn't say Frazier would get there before the ball. I said Frazier would get there before Sheppard caught it and made it "untouched into the end zone."
2) Awuzie was already focusing on Sheppard before the ball was thrown. He was already turned and running straight toward where the ball would have to be thrown, while Sheppard was running at an angle.
Here's the moment the ball is released --
As you can see, Awuzie has already turned and is running underneath Sheppard's route to the corner. And Frazier is in a position where he could easily get to the goal line before Sheppard walks in untouched.
Like I said, it would require a perfect throw over Awuzie, and then somehow Frazier would have to not cover the short distance he has to the corner. Both of those are unlikely.
For that situation in the game, the coverage against that play was pretty much exactly how you draw it up, including the coverage by Jaylon Smith and Jeff Heath.
