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THREAD: 7 short yardage and goal line plays from the Chiefs offense
You probably don't run 100 different formations, but every coach can take something from Andy Reid's offense.
There's nothing more frustrating than defending a team who will call anything on 4th and 1.
You probably don't run 100 different formations, but every coach can take something from Andy Reid's offense.
There's nothing more frustrating than defending a team who will call anything on 4th and 1.
A couple of things to watch:
1. Personnel - Take note of who KC usually has to the point of attack, and vice versa on run schemes.
2. Simplicity - Even with all the bells and whistles, often times KC ends up just running straight ahead in these spots.
1. Personnel - Take note of who KC usually has to the point of attack, and vice versa on run schemes.
2. Simplicity - Even with all the bells and whistles, often times KC ends up just running straight ahead in these spots.
1. Shovel Option
If a defense has you out-leveraged in these compressed looks, you'd better have a way to run inside.
Tennessee actually doesn't do a bad job of defending it, but Travis Kelce is so big that by the time he catches it all he has to do is fall forward for the TD.
If a defense has you out-leveraged in these compressed looks, you'd better have a way to run inside.
Tennessee actually doesn't do a bad job of defending it, but Travis Kelce is so big that by the time he catches it all he has to do is fall forward for the TD.
This is a recurring theme in this offense.
No matter how fancy things look from the outside, everything is predicated on maximizing the strengths of the players.
There are few coaches better at putting offensive guys in a position to succeed than Andy Reid.
No matter how fancy things look from the outside, everything is predicated on maximizing the strengths of the players.
There are few coaches better at putting offensive guys in a position to succeed than Andy Reid.
2. Single Wing Direct Snap
You knew this one was coming.
The direct snap to Damien Williams picks up the first down and nearly the touchdown.
Notice that TE #81 Blake Bell is lined up at the POA where he's blocking down, while is Travis Kelce #87 is lined up opposite.
You knew this one was coming.
The direct snap to Damien Williams picks up the first down and nearly the touchdown.
Notice that TE #81 Blake Bell is lined up at the POA where he's blocking down, while is Travis Kelce #87 is lined up opposite.
As we go through some of these plays, that will become a theme.
KC puts the best guy in the best spot to get the job done, which can be a *slight* key for defenses.
Bell's alignment can *sometimes* be a key for defenses, which is one reason why KC runs so many shifts.
KC puts the best guy in the best spot to get the job done, which can be a *slight* key for defenses.
Bell's alignment can *sometimes* be a key for defenses, which is one reason why KC runs so many shifts.
3. TE Trade Shift w/ FB "Jab"
KC is actually lined up with "Base/21" personnel here. With Bell starting out in the backfield and the FB #42 on the line, the run strength of the formation is to the defense's right.
Then Mahomes signals for a shift and all that changes.
KC is actually lined up with "Base/21" personnel here. With Bell starting out in the backfield and the FB #42 on the line, the run strength of the formation is to the defense's right.
Then Mahomes signals for a shift and all that changes.
Because of pre-snap movements like this, the defense can't rely on initial alignments to set their front.
That's a big deal, because it makes it a lot tougher to put your best run defenders and block destroyers to the side where KC is most likely to run.
That's a big deal, because it makes it a lot tougher to put your best run defenders and block destroyers to the side where KC is most likely to run.
There are 3 main ways Kansas City protects their personnel tendencies:
1. Go up-tempo so the defense can't pay attention to the little things.
2. Use motions and shifts to obscure what they're doing.
3. Line up the same personnel groups in wildly different formations.
1. Go up-tempo so the defense can't pay attention to the little things.
2. Use motions and shifts to obscure what they're doing.
3. Line up the same personnel groups in wildly different formations.
By the way, if you like learning about this offense, @TaylorKolste put out a great book that you should definitely pick up.
He goes through the 2018 season and picks apart the scheme in a very detailed way.
You can get it at the link below:
https://amzn.to/322Ugvg
He goes through the 2018 season and picks apart the scheme in a very detailed way.
You can get it at the link below:
https://amzn.to/322Ugvg
4. Travis Kelce Direct Snap
Here's another clip from the Super Bowl, following up on the 3rd item from the previous tweet.
KC has their traditional 11 personnel on the field for this play, but now all of a sudden they give SF a diamond look on a short yardage play.
Here's another clip from the Super Bowl, following up on the 3rd item from the previous tweet.
KC has their traditional 11 personnel on the field for this play, but now all of a sudden they give SF a diamond look on a short yardage play.
In an earlier tweet, we saw where Travis Kelce's size allowed him to fall forward for a TD, and this is the thinking here.
It's an extremely short yardage situation,and Kelce doesn't need to get much or pitch it. Once he pulls it, he turns the corner and gets the first down.
It's an extremely short yardage situation,and Kelce doesn't need to get much or pitch it. Once he pulls it, he turns the corner and gets the first down.
This goes back to one of the first things we talked about: For all of the bells and whistles in this offense, a lot of times it's just finding a new and creative way to run vertical for a yard or two.
5. Compressed TB Wheel Rub
I've mentioned before how flipping the back from one side to the other can create headaches for a defense.
Here it gives the RB a head start on the defender, and the compressed look squeezes the defense inside and creates a natural rub.
I've mentioned before how flipping the back from one side to the other can create headaches for a defense.
Here it gives the RB a head start on the defender, and the compressed look squeezes the defense inside and creates a natural rub.
KC flips the back around a lot in the run game so this didn't set off any huge alarm bells.
This is another reason why it pays to be so multiple in short yardage situations, because now that defender is thinking about a million different possibilities pre-snap.
This is another reason why it pays to be so multiple in short yardage situations, because now that defender is thinking about a million different possibilities pre-snap.
6. Zone Read RPO Quick Flat Screen
This is a lesson in taking the easy win instead of over-complicating things.
Unless the defense looks like they're blindly sending all 11 to stop the run, you're probably good to just hand it off here.
This is a lesson in taking the easy win instead of over-complicating things.
Unless the defense looks like they're blindly sending all 11 to stop the run, you're probably good to just hand it off here.
When offenses run motions and shifts in these situations, they want to get a good look at how the defense lines up and plays it, as well as matchups.
If a DB had poor leverage or didn't adjust properly, KC can come back to that same look later.
It's not just about box numbers.
If a DB had poor leverage or didn't adjust properly, KC can come back to that same look later.
It's not just about box numbers.
7. Zone Read Stick RPO
Like a lot of other plays this is all about pre-snap leverage, and if the defense doesn't have much of an edge here, Mahomes can flip it out to the TE/Wing side running a stick concept.
Like a lot of other plays this is all about pre-snap leverage, and if the defense doesn't have much of an edge here, Mahomes can flip it out to the TE/Wing side running a stick concept.
Those routes also create space for the run on the read side and the back picks up the first down.
A lot of zone read and option teams will "arc" release the TE and H-Back to that side, but Andy Reid takes it one step further and has those guys run pass routes.
A lot of zone read and option teams will "arc" release the TE and H-Back to that side, but Andy Reid takes it one step further and has those guys run pass routes.
I'll keep posting different clips over the next couple of days, but these are the themes and ideas that I felt a lot of coaches could take something from.
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