Anatomy of a Touchdown Preseason Week 4: Tyler Bray to De’Anthony Thomas

I will be up front with everybody; I didn’t think that Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver/return man De’Anthony Thomas should have made the roster. However, he played himself to a spot on this team, and now it’s just a waiting game to see if he can produce in the regular season. However, if he can shine as he had the opportunity to in the preseason, he could truly be the weapon that general manager John Dorsey hoped he’d be when he was drafted in 2014.

While this play isn’t a touchdown–I know what this piece is called, don’t remind me–it’s a great pass play to break down on film. And since I’m the one with the keyboard and the login to write the article, that’s exactly what we’re going to do.

We all know now that Thomas is on the Chiefs roster and Bray is the third string quarterback. That said, looking at this play shows a glimpse of why both were chosen to be on the Chiefs’ 53-man roster.

As you can see, Thomas lines up in the slot, which is where I suspect we’ll see him “make his money” in formations this season. Hill is split out wide to the left of the formation and now-ex Chiefs receiver Rod Streater–who was traded to the San Francisco 49ers in a bizarre cut-down move–is split out to the right.  Tight end James O’Shaughnessy is in a “heavy left” formation and running back Knile Davis rounds out the formation in the backfield.

As the ball is snapped, Thomas begins to immediately cut across the field. With his speed, he is able to split the linebackers who are playing back for the Green Bay Packers, and create some separation. With only one safety playing high, Thomas is pretty much in one on one coverage.

It is clear in watching Bray’s eyes that Thomas is the first–and only–read on this play. Hill runs a fly route, though he puts a couple of stutter steps in to try and burn his opponent. Streater is supposed to throw a block at the linebacker attempting to rush Bray before moving into a crossing pattern about five yards deep from the line of scrimmage, though it looks like he gets caught on his block longer than he wanted to. Davis leaks out into the flat on the right side and O’Shaughnessy hits a block on the left and then runs a similar pattern.

It’s clear on this play that Thomas is the only read as Bray’s vision never wavers from his No. 1 receiver. Because of Thomas’ speed, that doesn’t seem to be a problem. The Chiefs’ receiver known as DAT splits the linebackers, and because the safety is playing 10 yards deeper than the play, he’s not a concern for Bray. As soon as Thomas hits this part of the route, Bray knows he has a very high percentage of making the throw. At this point, it’s only a matter of accuracy and ensuring he can get the ball into his receiver’s hands. He doesn’t even look at another Chiefs receiver during this entire play.

The biggest mistake Bray makes on this play is throwing the ball too high for shorter Thomas to catch in stride. Because the ball is thrown so high, it gives a chance for the Packers’ safety to move up and make a play on the ball, and ultimately Thomas. Had Bray’s ball been a bit lower and hit the diminutive receiver in stride, he may have been able to continue his route all the way to the end zone.

The good news in this scenario is unless something goes terribly wrong for the Chiefs, it won’t be Tyler “I Have a Cannon for an Arm but no Accuracy” Bray throwing the ball to De’Anthony Thomas this season. Starting quarterback Alex Smith is every bit as capable to throw this pass as Bray and could do it with much more accuracy.

At the beginning of the piece, I stated I was against DAT making the roster. After seeing that Streater was traded, I’m good with him being here. It will allow the Chiefs to bring Hill along slowly and not rush him into that role. And let’s be honest, DAT can make some plays. I’m looking forward to a package on the field this season that contains DAT, Hill, Charles and West–three speedsters–and has the defense completely baffled as to where the ball is going.

But that’s not the only good news. The real good news is this is the last “fake” Anatomy of a Touchdown article I have to do. The next one I do will be for a real touchdown that counts during a real game and real standings.

Thanks you guys for reading. Enjoy and I’ll see you next week. When it counts!