Kansas City Misdirection - AFC Championship 2021

    One way Kansas City puts the elite speed and quickness of Tyreek Hill to use is with pre-snap motions (orbit and jet). They use speed and movement pre-snap to either out leverage the defense with speed, or force the defense to put eyes in the wrong places and create hesitation or false steps. The outcome is to create conflict for a defense in multiple directions, causing the defense to play slower or be out of position.

This writeup outlines 10 misdirections from the AFC championship.

• 7 of 10 misdirections feature Tyreek Hill.
• 4 of 10 are aiming to get ball to Travis Kelce.

ORBIT SERIES

1st&10, 3:45 1st Quarter

Near slot (#10) to the 3WR side goes in across-return-orbit motion. 

This is followed by a play-action with eyes to the overhang defender (#24) to the bottom of screen. Note this is not an RPO.

This concept has three main outcomes:

    A) Freeze the overhang and make him slow to fit the run (if RPO/for future calls).

    B) Force the overhang to push with the orbit, and open the window for the crosser behind him. 

    C) Get the orbit runner outside of the overhang, and throw the ball to him in space.

With the overhang (#24) so far inside immediately after the PA, the ball going to the orbit swing in space is a great option. By design however, it looks like this specific snap the idea is to wait for the overhang to drift outside with the swing, and put the ball directly in the window between the Mike and the overhang.

4&1, 1:33 1st Quarter

One variant of the many of the must-have KC conversion plays with sprint outs or boots to the right side flat.

Slot (#10) to the field goes in across-return-orbit motion, and stops in a pistol alignment. 

The PA fake goes to the field, and QB spins out on the naked boot to drop ball in the flat to the offset back releasing. This motion and action mainly affects the inside backers, who both step hard for the run fake. That said, it is unlikely they have any impact in the pass to the flat here. 

The key to this plays success is #13 to the boundary. He has a good release, which collisions the DB working to the flat, and creates an opportunity for the offset back to out leverage him quickly in the short yardage situation. 

1&G(6), 10:10 2nd Quarter

Same look as from first clip. Near slot to the 3WR side goes in across-return-orbit motion. 

This time the design is taking advantage of the Mike backer (#49) aligned over the LT/LG.

#49 is playing top-down reading run/pass before committing, making sure he does not open a window for a possible immediate touchdown route behind him by driving on the PA so close to the endzone.

This puts him at an angle to get fully walled off by the doubleteam of the RT/RG working up to him, and puts the safety in a one-on-one with the HB coming downhill with momentum in the hole 6yds off the LOS. 

JET SERIES

2&1, 5:45 1st Quarter

Empty FIB, Tyreek Hill comes in jet motion from the trey slot.

When a defense aligns 2-high, it eliminates much of the need to shift the secondary on motions. That is what we see here. 

At the snap Buffalo is aligned 3-over-2 to both sides of the field, with jet in the backfield. 

Note that by not shifting the backend, Buffalo stays sound to the quick screen, but gives a bad look in the case of a jet give. 

Stress is on the overhang to the field eying the jet to beat his block, and on the safety here who is working to stay over the #2 WR and would likely be the free hitter to the jet runner.

2&2, 15:00 2nd Quarter

Same formation FIB as the prio jet clip. Defense also plays it from the same alignment (less depth on goal line) and with minimal adjustment to motion.

Kansas City goes to their G skip shovel. They leave the playside DE unblocked again while LT works to the backside overhang, and the skip-pulling RG works to the Mike.

1&10, 12:37 3rd Quarter

Outside man (#10) in the close bunch motions across the formation, and comes back in jet motion.

Ball is snapped and the defense is presented with two looks:

    1. To the boundary, they are getting an outside zone look with the OL and HB actions.

    2. To the field, and where the ball goes, is the jet sweep.

Both of the playside DL are passed up by RT and RG. RG is freed up to the 3rd level since LG gets to the Will, while RT works to wall the Mike from the jet. 

Note the Mike working hard at an angle to avoid getting walled completely. This comes up in the next clip.

TE #87 arcs around the PSDE to the Ni/Sam, while #1 WR is taking the CB wherever the CB wants to go. With CB attempting to set edge, he is widened further and space for the runner to get upfield is created. 

1&G(1), 3:34 3rd Quarter

This play is built off of the prior clip. Same formation and motions.

This time, the QB and HB both step away from the jet, with what begins to look like one of the many sprint-out calls KC likes to run.

From the backside, the LG skip pulls to the frontside C gap while the frontside blockers are working down the line. PSDE is unblocked again which leaves space for TE #87 to take the shovel and work vertical for enough yards to score. 

Note this time, the Mike (#49) steps hard with the jet action and takes himself out of the play, to avoid getting walled for a touchdown. Looks like the RT was meant to work up to the Mike but saw him vacate the area so grabbed Will.

3&5, 7:41 4th Quarter

2x2, the off man stacked to the field goes in jet motion. The secondary communicates to push the coverage with the jet. 

The coverage to the new 3x1 set puts boundary safety #21 in man on TE #87 it appears. #21 is on skates with the motion and quick coverage adjustment, and so #87 leaks across the field open for a score. 

Note to the backline #10 coming uncovered after quickly beating his man across the field, and #13 coming from the single coming open on the deep mesh rub at the opposite hash. 

OTHER MISDIRECTIONS

1&10, 12:26 2nd Quarter

This is a very similar to a play Tampa Bay ran in their Wildcard matchup earlier in this playoff. 

TE #87 motions over to a Y-off alignment creating a close bunch to the field, and goes on a slice path on snap, giving a split-zone or GY counter look to the backers on his side (#49, #24).

This action, along with the LG pull, pulls backers further into the box. The QB and HB work a play-action.

Meanwhile to the backside, the single WR begins his end-around on snap and receives the QB pitch.

    TE #87 spins out of his slice steps and works back to the playside.

    LT, C, RT all manage to work through the box to help seal for the end around.

    

All together, these actions leave the backers to the frontside too far inside, getting walled. It leaves only the CB to the outside trying to contain, and a single high safety keeping the play in front and slowing it down for pursuit. All against two linemen and a TE working to the 3rd level. 

1&10, 12:12 2nd Quarter

HB pushes out pre-snap creating a 4x1, forcing Mike (#49) to widen with him.

The #3 WR to the trio (#13) curls up in the window between the widened Mike and the Will to the inside.

Romeo Crennel Pass Defense: Part 2 - Covering Empty

Romeo Crennel in 2010 was bringing essentially two calls against empty, with adjustments for sub packages. One being a Tampa 2 variant, and the other being a cover 0 man blitz. 

STRETCH (FLEX)

This is Coach Crennel's Tampa 2 call vs empty. Stretch is called with base personnel. Flex is the call for sub 3-4 personnel. 

Alignment notes: Mike (low hole) can align as 9tech vs an attached TE, or hipped off the OT vs a detached receiver.

Coverage

• Flat (CB) - outside the numbers, covering all outs and comebacks. Carry WR to the seam before releasing. Keep eye on #2 breaking out. 
• Hook (Ni, Jack) - Covering outside the hashes, and not going beyond the numbers. Take 1st in-breaker, and deliver to the Rat (low hole). 
• Low Hole/Rat (Mike) - This is the extra coverage gained when rushing 3 instead of 4. Typically opens to the #3 receiver side. Jam any crossers, read QB, depth is around 8-12 yds. 
• Post (Will) - Opens to most dangerous side determined by game plan / personnel. Closes the post to any vertical routes (between hashes).

There are no explicit rules on how to deal with a 4th or the rare 5th vertical with the only three assigned deep players (safeties and will).

• Some coverages would have CBs take #1 vertical if #2 is not OUT in the first ~5yds. 
• May be playing to have Safeties and Post defender midpoint over top of all verticals and defend them that way.

RAIN (FALCON)

Rain

Falcon

Rain (Falcon) is a check vs empty, man coverage across the board with a 6man pressure. 

Front

• Defensive line slides to the formation strength (TE here, or 3 WR side), and the backside backer (Jack) becomes the DE on the backside. The front is aligned EVEN. 
• Depending on offensive line slide, either Mike or Will may drop into coverage (if they get a slide TO).
• Vs attached TE, the frontside DE takes the point and the Sam (Ni) will come down and press the TE inside. If TE blocks out onto the DE, DE will man him and Sam (Ni) will blitz. 

Coverage

• Coverage matchups will be determined by game plan or base rules. 
• The coverage is man/man and locked on all motions. If motion ends in the backfield, the defender will match box location. 

In part 3, we are outlining some base man coverage calls, as well as some of Romeo Crennel's core man coverage principles. 

Romeo Crennel Pass Defense: Part 1 - Terms & Definitions

This is based on the 2010 KC Chiefs defensive playbook, which can be found online. 

This is part 1 of a (??) part series. In this first part, we are outlining the core terms of Coach Crennel's coverages during his time at Kansas City in 2010. This is to establish concrete definitions to some of the base terms before getting into the coverages themselves.

After the first few parts of this series going over coverages and rules, we will look at the 2020 Texans film and see how concept have carried over to Romeo Crennel's current team. 

ZONE DESCRIPTIONS

UNDERNEATH AND SHORT ZONES

1. Flat - 12 to 15yds, midpoint 3yds outside numbers
2. Curl - 15yds, midpoint on numbers
3. Slot - 15yds, midpoint 3yds inside numbers
4. Hook - 12 to 15yds, midpoint 2yds outside hash
5. No Cover - Behind LOS, up to 5yds beyond LOS
6. Reroute Level - 5 to 12yds, where receivers must be rerouted or patterns matched

Other Terms

• "Hold the Curl" - Tells curl defender to hang in curl zone as long as needed to prevent a pass.
• "2nd Man Thru" - Refers to second receiver running through an outside zone (curl or flat). Defender responsible for that zone will play the 2nd man all the way. 

INTERMEDIATE ZONES

1. Fade - from sideline +4yds inside, 15-25yds depth
2. Seam - from inside of numbers +3yds, 15-25yds depth
3. Middle Read - Basically between hashes, 17-25yds depth (cover 2)

Other Terms

• "Hold the Seam" - Tells seam defender to hang in the seam as long as needed to prevent a pass.
• "Carry the Fade" - Tells cornerback to sink with the receiver through the fade area.

DEEP ZONES (thirds and halves)

1. Deep 1/3 Zone - Covers 1/3 of field, from 15yds to end line.
2. Deep 1/3 Midpoints - 9yds from sideline, and the middle of the field.
3. Deep 1/2 Zone - 1/2 of field, from 17yds to the end line.
4. Deep 1/2 Midpoint - 17yds, 3yds from inside numbers and extending to the end line.

In part 2, we will look at coverage calls vs Empty sets.