The Chicago Bears drafted a dynamic receiver by the name of
Kevin White in the 2015 NFL Draft. White is a dynamic play maker with
exceptional size and speed. In college, White ran a limited number of routes. This
is no criticism to his skill set, it is the nature of Dana Holgorsen’s offense
at West Virginia. Holgorsen’s offense is a branch on the elegant tree that is
the air raid offense. The air raid offense is much simpler than an NFL offense
and does not ask receivers to run a wide range of routes. Instead, the air raid
focuses on getting receivers to master a few routes in order to perfect their
technique.
Dana’s version of the air raid takes this simplicity one step
further. After Geno Smith left West Virginia for the NFL in 2013, Holgorsen
decided to simplify his schemes. Traditionally, the air raid offense does a
nice job of stretching the defense horizontally, not as much vertically. Holgorsen
recognized this and made changes in his scheme in order to create more big
plays for his dynamic receivers. He
began using tight ends and fullbacks (air raid using a fullback?!) in order to focus more on the running game.
The tighter formations and the focus on the running game provided more
opportunities for Kevin White to make big plays down the field. Defenses started
bringing a safety down into the box to help out against a more focused ground
attack. This created many 1 on 1 matchups for White, a nightmare for even the
best of defensive backs:
To
help him adjust to more complicated NFL offenses, Bears offensive coordinator
Adam Gase should provide White with ways to make early impacts in the month of
September. This screen play used by Chip Kelly and the Eagles is our first
example. This screen play is a packaged play. The Eagles are running a sweep to
the left, along with a tunnel screen to the right.
The
play call worked well, as the Arizona Cardinals brought a blitz. The
quarterback appears to be reading the #2 defender to the side of the screen
(either the safety or outside linebacker). If this defender is either in the
box or is influenced by the sweep to the left, the quarterback will throw the screen
to the right. The right tackle, who will perhaps be Kyle Long in the near
future, slides for a few steps to his left to influence the defense, then
releases to block the corner. The tight split by the receiver ensures that the
defense will not press him, as the play will not work if he is pressed. See a video link below:
This
play will provide White with the opportunity early in games to get his hands on
the ball and settle in to his first few games in the NFL. After the Bears call
a few of these screen plays, White can really show off his downfield skill set.
The play below is a diagram of a screen n’ go used by Oregon in the College
Football Playoffs.
White
is also a physical blocker who can block on the edge for other receivers such
as Alshon Jeffery or Eddie Royal. This threat will create the above diagramed
play to be open. In the video clip below, the receivers are wide open. In the
NFL, this play will get recognized more often than not. It will, however,
create the 1 on 1 matchup down the field that offensive coordinators desire.
Having
a receiver with the size and speed of Kevin White causes offensive coordinators
to salivate at the opportunity to draw up plays on the white board. I am
excited to see what Adam Gase has in store for Bears Nation.
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