Another great tactical battle between 2 of the great football minds in the NFL.
Lets look at Bill Belichick vs Andy Reid in the week 4 battle between them.
One thing we learned is how valuable Cam Newton is to the offense. Without him and his veteran presence and ability to make plays the Pats are very limited. They struggle due to a lack production at tight end and on the outside. The pats are one dimensional so if you can stop their running game and get them into a passing mode, teams have a great shot vs them.
But back to the matchup.
Belichick's game plan
1. Double Hill when he is inside with the pass of the crosser concept and play him in single coverage when he is outside.
2. Collision the underneath routes and disrupt the condensed sets to the boundary.
Understand that the first read in many of the condensed sets is to the back with pick routes to the boundary. That is always Mahomes first read. They essentially tried to collision the back and #1 wr as much as possible when they condensed to the boundary. They took that away.
3. Orbit and jet motion- d lineman staying home and expecting screen with all the fluff motion.
Here is the collision concept
You really see the emphasis of the patriots defense to not allow the first read. They collision both the back and Kelce in the #1 wr slot to the boundary. The Chiefs love to run mesh/pick routes for the back in this set. Patriots do a great job defending it. Also, you see the man single coverage with Hill. Good route design up top as the free safety has a long way to run.
Clip #3 1st and 10
Watch the text book man free coverage on the clip below, Great positioning, No separation, just a great job across the board and this should be an easy interception. Kelce releases so far inside to avoid the jam by the defensive end it messes up the timing of the route.
They blitz engage the back but the right ilb has Helaire. Really a 4 man rush.
Video clip
Now Andy Reid comes out next play and dictates coverage by putting Helaire out on the perimeter and motioning him back in. Cover 1 so he runs the crossing route. Again the Pats collision Kelce with a def lineman.
Andy Reid runs Hill on the crossing route but look how shallow it is. The depth of the route makes the safety question whether he should jump it or not. Really puts the safety in limbo. Hill usually runs much deeper crossing routes. The safety underneath is expecting help on the crosser.
The last part of this play shows how they collision Kelce with #90, rush 3 and bracket #11 Robinson.
***Andy Reid adjustment***
Earlier in the game, they put Helaire outside and they bring him back in motion, this time instead of resetting him they fake the jet and throw him the ball. Creative play design by Reid as the db thinks he's going to reset almost and doesn't keep running with him. remember its man free with match concepts, meaning your guy is your guy!
The next clip is on the goal line.
The Pats bring a 6 man pressure with cover 0 from lets just call it a bear look. In the NFL most teams play a 3 technique in bear if no tight end and a 4i to the tight end side. Im calling 50 a dt for argument purposes. 21 and 90 have peel rules, 32 and 30 blitz as Belichick knows they love to free release the back down here. Also, if your going to bring pressure bring it up the gut because Mahomes has happy feet when pressure comes inside!! The pressure forces him to throw quick and he misses a wide open Kelce.
438 left in the first quarter , Chiefs ball on their 2 yard line!
the Pats have the Chiefs pinned deep. Im very surprised by the call here by Coach Belichick. Based on the backs alignment, what are you going to get, its either stretch on the 2 yard line or he's going to release. The Patriots play 4 to that side and let the chiefs breath. This is an easy 12 yard completion and read for Mahomes. Not surprised they didn't go man free, but surprised they don't play cover 2 to the boundary, only based on alignment and field position.
1st and 10 on the Chiefs 23 yard line. SAME SERIES
THE PATS GO COVER 3 VS A CONDENSED #1 AND WIDE RB. MAYBE NOT! I DON'T KNOW BUT SURE THERE WAS A CONVERSATION ABOUT THE CHECK.
The next time they run the set and play zone they do go to a cover 2 look. Disguise somewhat like they are going three to it but go cover 2.
What are you going to get from that #1 wr side. Post corner and a choice route by the back.
or #1 running a slant/hitch/mesh type route with the back to the flat.
NO SECRET TO WHAT THE CHIEFS DO. DOE REID RUN THE POST CORNER WITH KELCE FOR THAT REASON? ANTICIPATING ZONE AND A BETTER ZONE BEATER.
THE E AND T STUNT CAUSES ISSUES AND MAHOMES HAS TO THROW IT AWAY!
THe 2nd quarter..
Andy Reid the MAD SCIENTIST
The Chiefs run the following play...
Clip #1 in
week 1, when they ran orbit motion they hit Kelce on the screen pass vs the Texans. They are trying to sucker the patriots into thinking this is a tight end screen and trying to hit hill or the crosser over the top.
Clip #2
Now look at how Andy Reid sets up the next play. They ran this in week 1 and they run the orbit motion and throw to Kelce on it. This week they fake to Kelce and are trying to hit Hill to the crosser, thinking with the orbit the
Ok now you really need to see how far back teams will go.
In week 1 see the clip, then watch week 4 and using Kelce as a decoy. Patriots sniff it out!
931 left 1st quarter. 1st and 10
Andy Reid dictates and gets man coverage just by motioning Kelce. That tells him its man so he runs Jet sweep, a good play vs 2 man/man coverage. Good 5 yard gain.
3rd and 4 (turning point of the game)
This is a 3 man pressure and should have been a pick 6 for the patriots.
This is a great scheme by Belichick. When you watch the film, watch what Tyreek Hill does to avoid the contact by #90, Calhoun. Calhoun does a great job even though he doesn't lay a hand on Hill disrupting the route with his presence. That causes Mahomes to hold the ball and creates the sack.
Also, watch the great spacing by the db's and secondary of the Patriots so they don't allow picks to occur.
Half Time
3rd quarter Chiefs
Situation: The Chiefs get a 3rd and 5 they are up 6-3 at this point
Reid is in 12 personnel and motions Kelce back and he is in 3x1 as the #3 wr. They are trying to run a rub for the rb but Kelce doesn't take a good enough angle to cut off the safety as Philips #21 does a good job getting off the screen. The Pats are still looking for crossers with #90 but the Chiefs decide not to run it as they stretch it with the wheel by #2. Great coverage no where to go with the ball.
Again, the Patriots stay with what's working!
1st and 10 352 in the 3rd.
Chiefs ball on their own 15 yard line.
Pats go cover 3 with a 4 hands down look.
Kelce single side runs a deep out and Hill runs his #3 crossing route and they hit him for 20. This is the same coverage they got hit on earlier in the game on 1st down when they had the Chiefs pinned deep. Hill does a good job settling down as the safety is way too deep. Once #3 runs the stick his eyes should go right to Hill. Kelce isn't running by anyone and he's the one receiver. Surprised by the cushion he's giving.
2nd and 10 chiefs ball same series on their own 38.
They align Kelce wide and then move him into the 2 position condensed. He gets a little pick from Hill but just runs a deep out and ends up breaking a tackle for a 45 yard gain. They went 2 man hole so the safety was looking for the crosser this time and left the safety 1 on 1 with Kelce.
Big play in the game
#3
#4 They line up in bunch ,pats are in cover 2 and they run a nice little toss play under center. Get good blocks at the point with #1 and #2 wr on the olb. Seal the edge and arc the te to the cb.
Good scheme by Coach Reid-One of the few run plays I put on here because it wasn't about the Chiefs running the ball this game. But this was a big 11 yard gain down in the red zone.
After 2 key stops they run a reverse on 3rd and 6 and score.
They were stopped and had to resort to a trick play! good play call but I aint showing it! Takes away from what Belichick did on the goal line to keep them out of the endzone!
End of 3rd quarter
13-3
When I resume after the Patriots score it's a 13-10 game. On this drive they take advantage of 2 big penalties by the Patriots which is uncharacteristic.
The Chiefs try to run the ball on the first 2 downs up 13-10.
1st and 10 -25
They come out in 12 personnel and run zone. The Patriots are in an under front and do a nice job clogging every gap and holding the chiefs to a 1 yard gai as the Chiefs run outsidee zone to the pats left.
on 2nd and 9 the Patriots are in a 4-1 box so the Chiefs decide to run it. The Patriots run a tackle end stunt with the sam linebacker blitzing off the edge. End up being a big play and creating a 3rd and 10 situation.
Now on 3rd and 10 they get a huge bailout as the Pats run a 2 man version.
They rush 3 men, double Hill with a db waiting for him coming across and double Kelce with the Safety to his side. They leave the other safety over the top and essentially sit cover 2 man wtth a rat player to play the crosser.
They get bailed out on this play with a pass interference call.
After a personal foul on the Pats-for trying to basically stop Mahomes from falling down( a very questionable call) they get another 15 yards.
AFTER A 2 YARD GAIN, WHAT HAPPENS NEXT? ITS 2ND AND 8 ON THE PATS 38.
NOW THE NEXT PLAY.-AS YOU RECALL A FEW PLAYS AGO THEY TOOK AWAY THE CROSSER SO!!! WHAT DOES REID DO!
Coach Andy Does what he likes to do when you take away the crossing route. He throws Hill on a post corner route that the Patriots anticipate. Great job by the defense and it should have been an interception
ON 3RD AND 9
MAHOMES SCRAMBLES AS THE PATS RUSH 3 AND NO ONE IS OPEN. THEY PLAY THE CROSSER CONCEPT AND DOBULE KELCE LIKE EARLIER
THEY END UP RUNNING THE LAST 3 PLAYS
1. JET SWEEP THROW IT TO THE JET MOTION MAN. 6 YARD GAIN. GREAT DESIGN BY COACH REID
2. PIN AND PULL OUT OF BUNCH FORMATION. 9 YARD GAIN. THEY DO AN EXCELLENT JOB SETTING THE EDGE ON IT.
3. JET SWEEP RIGHT FOR A 6 YARD TD. GREAT PLAY ON THE GOAL LINE AGAINST MAN COVERAGE.
CLIPS ARE BELOW AS WELL AS THE MAHOMES RUN WHICH WAS EXCELLENT COVEREAGE BY THE PATRIOTS!
THAT PRETTY MUCH SUMS UP THIS ARTICLE AS THE CHIEFS GOT THE BALL BACK UO 26-10 AFTER A PICK 6.
GREAT JOB BY Coach Belichick IN THE GAME PLAY.
I LEARNED ALOT FROM BOTH COACHES AND THEIR IS A REASON YOU 2 ARE THE GREAT COACHES YOU ARE.
