Offensive Concept: 11p 3x1 Same Side Zone Lock with Orbit Return Motion
Defensive Structure: Even Open Zone
Breakdown: There are two differences I’d like to highlight from yesterday’s orbit:
First, the same-side zone action forces the offense to protect the C gap with the tight end blocking the usual read. Thus making this RPO a second level read where the QB now reads an off-ball defender for his decision to throw or not. At least that’s the technical way to think about it. In practicality the read is much simpler: do we have numbers to block the orbit? If yes, throw and if not, give.
Now the second difference: The defense stays in an open structure and doesn’t bump the Mike out therefore the offense has the numbers advantage to block up the orbit.
BUT the Chiefs also have the numbers advantage in the run box since the defense stays in open and the backside safety and cornerback aren’t getting any closer (you could expect it since it’s a nub tight end set). Therefore the offense has BOTH options — the run or the orbit, numbers speaking.
So why does this all matter?
As opposed to yesterday’s version where the run scheme had a run read option for the QB, the lack thereof for this version eliminates something the QB has to worry about and can focus him on the orbit better. When there is an end read, he has to move his eyes from wherever they were concerning the orbit decision to his end read and then make another decision. So two decisions in a real short amount of time.
Now the read becomes very simple: if a third defender shows up low to the orbit side, the quarterback should give. This situation was some down & a yard to go so the give makes sense.