Chiefs Play Calling:
Inside-Outside
by Laddie Morse
I set out to examine the playcalling of Andy Reid when the Kansas City Chiefs played the Los Angeles Chargers last weekend because I had the sneaking suspicion that the Chiefs were calling plays: inside the box then outside the box then inside the box… and on and on. However, in the first series of plays I not only found this pattern but more than I’d bargained for:
The bright green box represents an extended box that is wider than the Tackles but not all the way out to the numbers. The length of this box is 15 yards because I wanted to keep track of any passing plays that were longer than that (explosive plays).
My original intent was to draw a line from play 1 to play 2 to play 3 and such but it’s easy enough to follow tha progression without the lines.
The X is the QB or you can also think of it as the place where the play originates.
Play 1: a four yard hand off and run by Kareem Hunt to right (inside the box).
Play 2: a pass in the right flat to Sammy Watkins for four more yards (outside the box).
Play 3 a busted play — I assume — a run up the middle by Patrick Mahomes for a 1st down (inside the box).
Play 4: a six yard pass to Travis Kelce to the left (outside the box).
Play 5: a slant pass to Tyreek Hill (inside the box) which he took all the way for a TD.
I had suspected that Andy Reid would begin to use the flipping motion of going inside/outside to confuse the defense but I had no idea this initial drive would be the only time that Travis Kelce would catch the ball (he had 6 targets).
The Chiefs Second Series began on the 12 yard line:
This series was a three-and-out.
Play 1: a slant thrown too hard to Sammy Watkins. A drop (inside the box).
Play 2: a pass in the right flat to Travis Kelce. Mahomes was pressured and he over threw if (outside the box).
Play 3: a running play up the middle to Spencer Ware for four yards (inside the box).
It is worth noting that both Watkins and Kelce were in the original 15 scripted plays more than once each. Also, it’s interesting that Spencer Ware took reps on the second series of the game. The plan is obviously to keep Hunt as fresh as possible during the long haul of the season.
On the Third Series Patrick Mahomes started out with the sensational 30 yard pass to Tyreek Hill which he went high to snag then came down on his head and shoulder.
Play 1: passing pay to Hill (outside the box).
[The end of the first quarter turned the Chiefs in the other direction]
Play 2: P. Mahomes rolled right and threw back across his body to De’Anthony Thomas in the end zone but it was batted away by Derwin James at the last second (outside the box).
Play 3: an incomplete pass — thrown too high — in the left flat to Travis Kelce (outside the box).
Play 4: Mahomes back to pass, couldn’t find anyone open, ran to his right, caught from behind by Derwin James (inside the box).
Play 5: Punt
The Fourth Series for the Chiefs began on the 25 yard line after the Chargers scored a TD and failed to get the two-point try.
Play 1: Kareem Hunt up the middle to the left side for 3 yards (inside the box).
Play 2: Patrick Mahomes runs the option to the right for a first down (outside the box).
Play 3: Kareem Hunt run up the middle for 5 yards (inside the box).
Play 4: Hun running play to the left for 4 yards (inside the box).
Play 5: Spencer Ware up he middle (trick play with Mahomes in motion (inside the box).
Play 6: Pass up the middle to Hill (inside the box).
Play 7: Hunt jet sweep to the outside left for 13 yards (outside the box).
Play 8: Damien Williams sweep right for no gain (outside the box).
Play 9: Pass knocked down at the line of scrimmage.
Play 10: Pass in the left flat to Spencer Ware for 8 yards (outside the box).
Play 11: FG.
The Fifth Series began at the 10 yard line.
Play 1: was a sweep right by Spencer Ware that went for over 26 yards to the 36 yard line (outside the box).
Play 2: was a 20 yard bullet pass to Tyreek Hill up the middle for 20 yards (outside the box).
Play 3: Holding call, a deflected pass that Damien Williams caught after bouncing off of a couple other players (inside the box).
Play 4: with 13 seconds left before the half, Mahomes rolls right and throws incomplete out of bounds in he end zone caught by Derwin James (outside the box).
Play 5: Incomplete to Kelce around the 5 yard line (outside the box). END OF HALF.
Now, let’s take a look at a couple of the Chiefs series’ in the second half:
This is the Chiefs Sixth Series.
Play 1: Tyreek Hill runs for 21 yards on a jet sweep to the left (outside the box).
Play 2: Hunt sweep right, outside the numbers, for 8 yards (outside the box).
Play 3: Hunt up he middle for 5 yards, 1st down (inside the box).
Play 4: Over throws Kelce (outside the box).
Play 5: Mahomes keep for 8 yards on an option right (outside the box).
Play 6: Delayed draw to Hunt up the middle for 3 yards (inside the box).
Play 7: Tyreek Hill, a pass in the left flat, tip toes down the side line for a 1st down (outside the box).
Play 8: Kelce drop at the ten yard line (outside the box).
Play 9: Sammy Watkins catches a laser for 16 yards at the 4 yard line (outside the box).
Play 10: Patrick Mahomes up the middle/left side for 3 yards, to the 1 yard line (inside the box).
Play 11: Mahomes flips (passes) the ball to De’Anthony Thomas right in front of him, the play is blocked up and designed perfectly, and DAT is able to do the stroll into the end zone (outside the box).
There were a couple of big positives about that drive. It took 5:35 minutes and included 7 first downs for the Chiefs. up to this point, there have been 16 plays that were “In the Box” while the Chiefs have run 21 plays that were “Out of the Box.” Without charting the next drive for you, I can tell you that it followed the Ron Parker INT and culminated with Anthony Sherman’s TD catch and in that drive there were 4 more out of the box plays and 1 more in the box play. That makes 17 in… and 26 out. The Chiefs final TD came following the fumble on a punt return so there’s not much that’s meaningful to count there and the same goes for most of the rest of the game as Andy Reid slipped back into his “prevent offense” mode… which, by the way, he said he would not do.
A Thought or Two in Closing
I’m thrilled at what I saw in the Chiefs offense overall against the Los Angeles Chargers, especially the play calling. After reviewing the game tape twice now since Sunday, I’m far less worried about Travis Kelce getting his catches. He was targeted 6 times and although he was over thrown a couple of times, he also dropped a couple of passes he coulda-woulda-shoulda caught. While I expected to find more of an inside-outside pattern happening throughout the game, Reid and Mahomes kept pounding away, with success, at the heart of the Bolts D. Also, I have been assuming that the Chiefs have been planning on pounding the inside… in order to loosen things up on the outside but, the opposite may be happening: Mahomes helps them hack away on the outside… in order to loosen things up on the inside. The reality is — I guess — that it works both ways. What I’m hearing also is, that the Chiefs plan on attacking every team differently, becaue they have the weapons to play any style of ball they choose.
I just hope the Chiefs defense can give the offense enough opportunities to score… without being scored on every time the opposition’s offense takes the field. We’ll certainly know more on Sunday.
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