Chiefs: “What Speed Do” – In this day and age of the National Football League, we are seeing that the game has evolved to a much faster paced game than what we witnessed in the 70s, 80s, or 90s. Even as we have moved into the 21st century we can see the league has continued to move towards a faster and faster pace, in all facets of the game. Here, I’ll explain how speed gives the Chiefs a distinct advantage over the rest of the league, because, as we all know, they’re the fastest team, possibly in history. Plus, it’s more than just the Legion of Zoom, they’ve added more speed this offseason to the defense. So, put on your seatbelts and hang on.
Word Recognition
Football quickness is: once a decision is made, how quickly does a player get to his destination point.
Football speed is: how fast is a player moving from point A. to point B.
Football processing is: to read and react to what is happening.
Football analyzing is: to figure out what an opponent is trying to do (then acting accordingly).
All of these words have varying meaning, but when used in conjunction with each other, end up helping us understand the benefits of team speed. I’ll use all 4 terms throughout this article.
Coaches: Part of the Speed Equation
Why am I including them in this article? Because they are the spark that starts the fire in the jet engines. They are vital, to put the right players on the field, for any given situation, and their decisions must be done quickly. Then, they must quickly decide what play to call, and communicate it to the QB, or the defensive play caller, in a timely fashion. Furthermore, they must expeditiously analyze from video or still shots, what the opponents are doing and report that back to the players asap. Any adjustments needed must be done early in the game: a smooth running engine with no misfires is a faster engine.
The Quarterback
All players are equally important to the speed game, but it starts with the QB. How quickly he analyzes what the defense is doing, enables him to accelerate his reaction time in getting the ball to the playmakers. So, as Mahomes approaches the line of scrimmage, the the more sooner he knows whether it’s:
- zone coverage or
- man-to-man or
- where the mike LB is at, or
- where the blitz could be coming from or
- where his hot receiver will be….
… then the more instantaneously he can react. All these factors enabled him to decide at light speed whether to hand off to the RB on a RPO, or pass, or call an audible. As we all know, Mahomes processes and throws a faster ball than the common QB so, he’s been able to get the ball into the hands of his playmakers with haste… not putting their haste to waste.
The Offensive Lineman
Similar as the QB, they need to quickly analyze the defense, in order to know what their blocking scheme will be. Then they need to quickly communicate it with each other and to the QB. This allows them to be faster to the point of impact. That’s right, the speed of the OL makes a big difference in Reid’s scheme.
The Skill Positions
The fire for the fuel is here. Yes, there is speed — and lots of it — at RB, TE, and WR. The WRs get all the publicity with the popular moniker “Legion of Zoom” and it is well deserved, because they are the fastest group in the league. As we are seeing over time, especially in this years draft, more and more teams are adding speed throughout their lineup, but especially at the skill positions. Of course it is a copycat league, but I don’t see that any other team has enough speed to do what Andy does. Travis Kelce is very quick at processing what the defense is doing, then getting himself consistently into the open spots for a Mahomes option. Plus, this years backup Tight Ends will be quicker than last years were.
We have not seen much of our current set of RBs, but we know what Andy Reid wants back there: quickness. Being agile and fleet of foot as a RB is vital to maintain the best screen-scheme in the league. Plus, similar to QBs and OL, they must quickly process the defense to know where the run lanes will be and must quickly process where the blitz is coming from to the point of impact faster, in order to protect Patrick. Protecting the face of the team — and the league — will be critical over the next decade or more.
The Offensive Scheme
Andy Reid’s offense is very good at using speed and quickness at all levels and the basic principle of this offensive philosophy is undervalued. It may be unknown to the casual observer, but a primary goal of his is to exhaust the defense. He uses pre-snap motion to expose the defense, but also to cause the defense to use extra movement following the offense (and by the time the third quarter has arrived, opposing DBs & LBs have run further than the Chiefs WRs and RBs would run during the whole game). The skill players run several deep patterns every play, not just as an attempt to get open, but sometimes just as a decoy for what is happening behind them; short passes, screen passes, and the running game. Then Reid uses team depth to run in fresh players, meanwhile NFL defenses don’t have enough depth to keep fresh bodies on the field… not enough to keep up with the Chiefs skill position players for four quarters.
So again, so very much of what Reid plans for the offense, is predicated on the idea of: tiring out the defense. Of course, Reid’s design is meant to, move the ball down the field, but by also exhausting defenders, from chasing wideouts like 4.29 Tyreek Hill, 4.34 Sammy Watkins, and 4.33 Mecole Hardman around all game long, it gives us a strong view as to why the Chiefs have had so many late game comeback wins.
That’s What Speed Do!
Defense D-Lineman
There is a phrase that applies to all defensive personnel, which is: they must be quick to read, and fast to react to what they see. The entire defensive line working together is dependent upon working in unison, and to instantly process what the offense is attempting to do: be it a running play or a passing play. They must swiftly shed blocks, and in get to the ball carrier, and even more expeditiously: put pressure on the QB.
The Linebackers
It is there responsibility to be the second line of defense. They must be fast enough to cover the field sideline to sideline, plus quickly shed blocks and get to the ball carrier. At the same time, they have to be fast enough to stay with RBs on pass plays, but strong enough to cover the TEs. With the edition of Willie Gay Jr. this years unit will be faster than last years group.
The Defensive Backs
DBs in Spags defensive philosophy expands in year two. We have seen that he expects each player — DBs — to be able to play any position. He does not use all of them at different positions, but he does strive for versatility. His reasoning… it’s harder for an offense to process how each player will defend, and where at on the field certain players will maintain their line of defense. In order to play all positions the DBs must be football savvy. That includes quality film study. Tyrann Mathieu is a perfect example of the skill set Spags cherishes, and Mathieu is a perfect leader to show others how to accomplish his same level of play. The Chiefs added the speedy L’Jarius Sneed — 4.38 – 40 — and Bopete Keyes — 4.44 – 40 — as rookie draft picks. Sound like Sneed will start in place of suspended Bashaud Breeland.
The Chiefs want all DBs to also be nimble and fast, to keep up with the skill players that they’ll encounter. The defensive back coaches, Sam Madison and Dave Merritt Jr., are very good teachers of technique, but they can’t teach speed. With proper analyzing from in game adjustments they can be quicker to defend the passing game.
Conclusion: What Speed Do
If memory serves me correctly, one of the failures from the Philadelphia Eagles losing in the Super Bowl to the Patriots at the end of the 2004 season was the player’s fitness and endurance. You can see now in how Andy Reid is coaching, that he vowed from that day forward he would not let that be a factor again. Brett Veach in 4 years time has built the roster to accomplish Andy’s goal. New Chief, Ricky Seals-Jones said recently,
“The speed of how we play and how we go, it’s something that you can’t really tell someone, you just have to be here… I don’t think you can game plan for it As fast as we go and how many plays we do, it’s incredible how they do things here. I’m glad to be a part of it.”
It’s not just Ricky either, multiple players this offseason, who are new to the Chiefs, have commented on how his practices are unlike anywhere else that they have been. “F-A-S-T!” The speed of the team is at a faster level, but not only that… it’s also how quickly they progress through the different plays, and how fast they move from one drill into the next. While it all points to gaining more endurance, it also demands that the players think quicker and more “game ready.” The message, is “you practice the way you intend on playing.”
I’ll leave you with this… Royals one time outfieder, Jarrod Dyson, answered a question about how his quicks might affect an opponent and he replied, “That’s what speed do!“
That’s What Speed Do!
Editor’s Note: This week’s “Chiefs Fan of the Week” is none other than ALan Haupt and here’s why…
Here’s another reason why Alan is this week’s “Chiefs Fan of the Week”: “It’s What Speed Do”!!!
Alan Haupt — ArrowheadOne
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