Lions film study: Terrion Arnold looked like a lockdown corner against Justin Jefferson and the Vikings
The Detroit Lions had their biggest win of the year on Sunday against the Vikings and there was a lot to take away from this game. One of the biggest things was the play of first-round pick Terrion Arnold. He looked spectacular on Sunday. When the stats came out it showed that he was only […]
The Detroit Lions had their biggest win of the year on Sunday against the Vikings and there was a lot to take away from this game. One of the biggest things was the play of first-round pick Terrion Arnold. He looked spectacular on Sunday.
When the stats came out it showed that he was only targeted three times despite covering Justin Jefferson for a lot of the game. Usually when you don't hear a guys name a lot or he has a small target share, it means he was doing his job pretty well.
I decided to take a deeper look at the film and what I saw was pretty good. Here's some examples of how Arnold could be a lockdown guy some day.
Clip 1: Adjusting on the fly
In the last film study I did on Arnold, one of the concerns I had was that he could get lost on these fast cuts. He doesn't do that here. He flips his hips and runs with Jefferson and takes him out of the play on the sideline.
Clip 2: Pushing to the sideline
He does it again here. Jefferson tries to cut and Arnold sticks and guides him toward the sideline where he can't make the catch in bounds even though he clearly thought he did. This is good awareness of where you are on the field and using that sideline to your advantage.
Clip 3: The little stuff counts too
Jefferson tries to bully Arnold here, but he just sticks with him. Jefferson tries to get something on the comeback and Arnold just stands right next to him and forces Darnold to go elsewhere. It's not going to make Sportscenter's top 10, but it means something.
Clip 4: Forcing the scramble
Ultimately the Lions get hurt on this play, but it's not through the air. Arnold is stride for stride with Addison here and you can see Darnold's head looking at Addison and wanting to go there, but just seeing that he can't. That's just good one on one stuff there.
Clip 5: Smothering Jefferson
This is great coverage by Arnold. Just sticks to Jefferson like glue and prevents him from being able to see where the ball is without face guarding or doing anything illegal. You can see that Arnold reacts at the end like he was flagged, but the flag was actually on the Vikings here.
Clip 6: Forcing the plan b
Top of your screen here. This play happens really fast. I would watch it twice. The first time you can focus on Arnold , but the next time you have to focus on Darnold. He's looking in Arnold's direction initially and doesn't see what he wants and has to take the plays bail out throw with an underneath pass to Jefferson.
I like the play design from the Vikings here. You either get the shot you want or you get a layup to the best receiver in the game and hope he can do something with it.
Clip 7: Lockdown
This might be my favorite clip because you can see Darnold staring at Jefferson hoping that he'll shake Arnold just enough to get the throw to him. He never does and Darnold has to go with the short pass to Mundt.
Clip 8: Stride for stride again
This is another play where the Lions still give up a first down, but they don't give up the huge play and that's because Jefferson is off the map with Arnold on him here. Darnold has to go to the plan b again. It's not on Arnold that plan b worked.
Clip 9: Ok, maybe this one is my favorite
I think if this is in the first quarter, Darnold probably makes a throw here, but it's late and he's seen Arnold be in the way all day and he can clearly see that Arnold can at least have a really good chance of jumping whatever Darnold tries to do here, so he scrambles instead.
That right there is what happens when you're a good corner. Quarterbacks are a lot less likely to try things when they see you sitting there.
Clip 10: Coverage sack
I'm not sure Darnold ever looked in anyone else's direction here. He wanted to throw to Addison and it just wasn't happening. He eventually had to get out of the pocket and he wound up taking a sack. Beautiful coverage.