Welcome to half two of the Tremendous Bowl LIX breakdown from Set up the Enjoyable. Learn our movie overview of the Chiefs offense vs. Eagles protection. Now let’s dive into the opposite facet of the ball.
Now, you’re in all probability anticipating me to begin off with one thing right here about QB Jalen Hurts and the passing recreation.
YOU THOUGHT WRONG!
As up and down as Hurts and the Eagles’ passing recreation has been this season, they achieve this effectively at avoiding these conditions as a result of they’re probably the greatest speeding groups within the sport. Kansas Metropolis should be significantly better of their protection on the bottom than they have been of their win over the Payments within the AFC title recreation in opposition to this Eagles staff, however how each groups get to their run schemes is far completely different. Whereas the Payments majored in duo, mid zone, after which throwing in sort out dart on events, the Eagles are extra of a counter staff and use inside zone as their changeup.
Due to how athletic Philadelphia’s offensive line is, they focus on GT Counter, the place each the guard and sort out pull.
They use Hurts together with this on Counter Bash, the place the guard and sort out pull reverse of the route the again goes, as a substitute main for Hurts. This permits the Eagles’ QB to get downhill with lead blockers, typically a foul situation for the protection.
I’m a little bit intrigued by how the Chiefs defend the run this week, as a result of the Eagles’ run scheme is much more much like the Ravens, who they confronted in week one. Even then, the Ravens have a way more explosive run risk at QB and poses completely different issues than the Eagles. But, I believe the Chiefs will pull out an analogous defensive gameplan. Anticipate a number of their linebackers walked up, or DB Chamarri Conner in the event that they wish to play in nickel. What this does is creates a tough edge to both drive performs to bounce or field them again inside.
LB Leo Chenal (No. 54) loses the sting right here due to all of the run stuff thrown at him, however you get a terrific play by LB Nick Bolton (No. 32), who performed effectively within the SB win in opposition to Philly.
On this one, they’ve Conner because the bottom EDGE participant, monitoring this play down from the bottom. I believe KC goes to have to indicate the Eagles completely different seems to be up entrance to disrupt the timing of their run recreation in the event that they wish to sluggish Philly down.
If we use the 2022 Tremendous Bowl to tell us of something with regards to Hurts’ efficiency, I believe he must be wonderful. The most important factor for Hurts as a passer is for him to take the straightforward stuff when it’s there. This season, he’s turned down a number of passing choices in an effort to scramble, and whereas I believe he can do this, I don’t assume that’s his recreation. Offensive coordinator Kellen Moore should give him simpler stuff to get him warmed up and into the circulate of the sport to allow them to assault downfield, which they’d success doing of their first Tremendous Bowl matchup. I believe the run recreation will play a big position in that, as a result of it retains the Eagles out of conditions the place Spags and the Chiefs can throw all of the bizarre strain seems to be at them. In a recreation the place Landon Dickerson and Cam Jurgens is likely to be hampered, that may very well be their best choice.
We’ve all seen the strain numbers for Hurts at this level. He’s one of many worst with regards to EPA and Success Fee, however has additionally thrown six TDs whereas underneath strain. I believe he performed his greatest soccer of the season in opposition to Washington, and it’s partially as a result of he was discovering his solutions in opposition to simulated pressures. Washington tries to play a cool inverted Cowl 2 right here, bringing LB Bobby Wagner and dropping LB Frankie Luvu. Hurts doesn’t panic, is aware of the place his reply is and delivers a 15-yard cross to WR AJ Brown.
Nevertheless, the Eagles face the king of the only recreation defensive gameplan and probably the most underrated secondaries within the NFL. Spags trusts his secondary to take action a lot with regards to the altering footage and appears he can throw at opponents, and so they’re all feisty blitzers from depth. When the Chiefs can use pressures like this one in opposition to Houston, they’re extraordinarily robust to beat.
To me, the battle on this facet of the ball goes to come back right down to first and second down. Spags and the Chiefs wish to get you into apparent passing conditions, and whereas Hurts can win that method, it might make the sport lots simpler on them if he doesn’t should try to decipher the Spags code in apparent passing conditions. Conversely, I’m wondering how the Chiefs defend the run after getting gashed in opposition to Buffalo. This can be a a lot completely different beast than the Payments are, but when they’ll stymie the run recreation and stop a Saquon Barkley lightning bolt, they may very well be in fine condition.
