Chiefs: Mahomes in Motion

Chiefs: Mahomes in Motion – The Ferrari car company has a saying, “Design is always linked to identity.” So says, Flavio Manzoni, Ferrari’s Chief Design Officer. If we apply that idea to the author of the Chiefs first TD on Sunday against the Panthers, we may learn more about the NFL’s best quarterback. More than we know now. That’s right, Patrick Mahomes was the designer and chief of “Ferrari Right,” which means he sent himself into pre-snap motion. It also means he was: the inventor and implementer alike.

The Game Situation

The Chiefs had scored two Field Goals prior to this drive. The Panthers had two touchdowns under their belt but the Chiefs had driven 63 yards before reaching a 1st-and-goal from the two. That was after the Defense had gotten their first stop of the game resulting in a 3-and-out.

Note: doesn’t it seem a little strange that we call it a three-and-out, when you actually get four downs to make a first down. Yes, I know, one down is for punting the ball but, in this game, the Panthers used one of their 4th downs to execute a Fake Punt and their Punter threw a perfect pass for a big first down. So, I’m just sayin’, it should be called: a 4-and-out.

Next, K.C. drove 65 yards for the TD and on their way Travis Kelce had a 23 yard reception on the first play of the drive and Tyreek Hill had a 14 yard catch to get them to the two yard line. That set them up for the Mahomes in Motion play with the score 14-to-6.

Mahomes in Motion

First, let’s take a look at “Ferrari Right” in slow motion. Look to the top of the screen as you watch this play to spot WR Demarcus Robinson, who ends up with the ball in his hands for the TD at the end of this play. While our tendency is to watch what Mahomes is doing, watch it through the first time and notice DRob putting his hands up as if he’s about to block the CB who is assigned to him, like Patrick Mahomes is going to keep running with the ball to the left, which makes the CB back up and give DRob space to make his move across the back of the endzone.

I also like Geoff Schwartz’ breakdown of the play.

Geoff Schwartz calls the movement of the defense, “Eye Violations” but in reality, the play is based upon what Mahomes does best: throw on the run to open receivers. It’s clear to me why he thought this play would work. Most defenses are already on pens and needles and so when Mahomes bootlegs across the action (meaning: away from the initial action of the defense), he ends up with a WR who is wide open. A WR who does what he does best: catch the ball while diving for it.

Let’s take another look at Ferreri Right in regular speed (without slo-mo):

Ferrari Right: Play Design

When Patrick Mahomes first came up with the idea, he didn’t know if the motion part of the play was legal. So, he located tight ends coach Tom Melvin and asked, “Am I allowed to do this?” Once he got the clearance he needed from Melvin, Mahomes dropped a number of hints to his head coach and finally, in preparations for the Panthers game, Reid told Patrick, “We’re going to put that play in.” Here’s Patrick Mahomes explaining how Ferrari Right came to be:

In the second clip below, is a Chiefs Fan View, from the cheap seats (actually, there are no cheap seats any more):

Summary: Mahomes in Motion

This breakdown of Ferrari Right is part of an ongoing series I plan to keep up this year called: “How Do You Defend That?” However, I haven’t come across a play by the Chiefs which has made me wonder more how a defense could actually, successfully, defend a play until this one. With this play, I’m not so sure it’s possible. Someone on defense would have to be in the wrong place at the wrong time for it not to work. Of course, now that it’s been run, we’ll never know because it’s doubtful we’ll see this play, out of this formation.

“Mahomes in Motion?” He’s moving everywhere now isn’t he: National Commercials, Royals Ownership, Face of the NFL, and more. He certainly is a man in motion. Also, with Patrick Mahomes taking the reins on this play from, design-to-execution, it shows that Andy Reid is serious when he says he wants to “Play to his player’s strengths.” I mean, it’s a “Know Thyself” proposition isn’t it? Reid trusts that Mahomes, knows who he is… and knows his own strengths. However, it’s more than that isn’t it? With Patrick Mahomes helping to design plays now — plays that really work — the prospects of playing the Chiefs just got more difficult. I’m used to hearing that a player like Tyrann Mathieu is Steve Spagnuolo’s “eyes and ears on the field.” Now, we have a QB who is not only the best in the league at what he does on the field but, also the best at what his coach does, off it.

Laddie Morse — ArrowheadOne

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