Chip Kelly's 4 Vertical Adjustment

This play as taken from the 2015 week 1 matchup: Eagles at Falcons

This was the first game for Falcons new head coach, Dan Quinn. Dan came from Seattle, where they arguably play cover three more than any other team. This style of defense, consistently playing one coverage, fits into the Eagles style of play. When a defense stays in the same coverage, it becomes easier for the offense to call concepts designed to beat the specific coverage. This combined with the no huddle pace allows the quarterback to think less and just “play ball”.

The Eagles run an offense that is based more on execution than scheme. This means that they will run the same play multiple times, counting on the fact that the many repetitions gained in practice will pay off on game day. This execution is aided by the no huddle, it often does not allow a defense the time to adjust to the specific formation tendency that the offense might have.

One specific play that the Eagles featured is shown below. This play is a variation of the traditional 4 vertical concept, a staple against cover three teams.

A team that plays a lot of cover three understands that they will see 4 verticals multiple times a game, so the Eagles decide to dress it up. The adjustment sends one of the verticals out of the backfield to a run-heavy side of the formation. This adjustment allows the offense to run the same concept but confuse the defense as well as place a run defender on a speedster out of the backfield.

In the video clip below, the cornerback to the tight end side of the formation matches the tight end vertically, as he does not recognize any other vertical threat to his side. This creates a 1 on 1 matchup: the runningback on the flat defender.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HJleqiEajho

The runningback, Darren Sproles, is a matchup nightmare for Kroy Biermann. This is a great play design that Kelly would call again just two plays later. See the video below.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nCcgPvxUo7A

This time, the cornerback stayed outside in order to help on the runningback’s vertical. The falcons also removed the flat defender from the box in order to better defend the vertical concept. This creates a clean window for quarterback Sam Bradford to hit the tight end on the inside vertical route. 

Season Preview: Kevin White and the Chicago Bears

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:

http://youtu.be/oou3vK0wEZg

https://twitter.com/b_peters12/status/624956605495386112

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:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GOPRosKzvCM

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.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=prGeOCXSqlA

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.

WTBMC #6: Backside Post

East Carolina used a typical play action scheme to create a one on one matchup for their X receiver. The defense played Cover 1, or man free. The key to the play is getting the free safety to roll with the quarterback after the play action. This allows the X receiver to get behind the defense for a big gain. Click the youtube link below to watch the clip:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WY_vBpGN4a8

Creating explosive plays

Taking advantage of aggressive safety play is one of the best ways to create explosive plays. Pattern match rules used by defenses in 2 high looks allow the offense these opportunities. 

In the film clip below, Michigan State uses a dig route by the tight end to trigger the safety down. The outside receiver runs a skinny post route, designed to get behind a safety in a 2 high look. Connor Cook correctly recognizes the coverage and makes a perfect throw. 

http://youtu.be/q56wtezwOqg

WTBMC #5: Back Shoulder Fade

Against press man coverage, a back shoulder fade route can take advantage of a defender's trail technique. The defender can not adjust to the under-thrown ball, as he is not looking at the quarterback. This play requires a good amount of practice time, but can be run at all levels of the game (NFL, College, High school).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pcBJMyXDGKY

WTBMC #4: Out and Go

The Steelers used a double move against a version of man coverage on third and short. The double move is an out and go route from a bunch alignment. The defense will typically trigger on any routes at the sticks on third down, this makes a double move a great call. The link to the video is below.

http://youtu.be/rda-p0sU1BY

WTBMC #3: Jailbreak Screen

The Steelers used a jailbreak screen against a man look from the Cleveland Browns. There are a couple of subtle differences in this play from most jailbreak screens. The ball is thrown to the slot receiver instead of the outside receiver. The slot will sell the bubble in his first few steps. This fake will put the defender in a trail position for the jailbreak screen. A releasing offensive lineman will also block this defender. The video can be seen by clicking the link below.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gg8ubsF2Zvo