2023 Chiefs Dolphins: Having Answers: Chiefs Cover 0 Pass Route Concepts
The Miami Dolphins and the KC Chiefs played a pivotal playoff game in which the Dolphins brought cover 0 pressures often. Cover 0 pressures will bring 6 rushers and possibly a 7th when the RB stays in to block.
Dolphins Scheme
The Dolphins pressure system this game was one in which they often brought 7 rushers. They way they did it was to bring rushers from depth and try to catch the Dolphins with 1 extra rusher. They also played off man and some catch technique, where they play outside leverage and play their man from an off position. They ran this concept quite often, not utilizing any mug looks or techniques that would be more beneficial to their success.
Weaknesses of the Scheme
The weakness of how the Dolphins played it was they played their db’s in off coverage at 7 yards with outside leverage. This allowed for some completions off inside breaking routes. Often times the Chiefs would make sight adjustments and run slants and inbreaking routes on the outside.
The 2nd weakness was that they ran everything from depth. They never brought blitzes or pressures from a mug look, which allowed Mahomes a little more time to get the throw off. The Dolphins were often a second too late and Mahomes got most of the throws off.
They never ran their pressures with a DE or LB dropping out into coverage. This could have helped with some of the slants, shallow and short in routes that hurt them all night, They could have also ran some mug looks and that may have possibly freed up a rusher and also got a DL or LB into a passing lane
How the Chiefs Beat it
The Chiefs had a solid protection plan but more importantly, made adjustments all night in their passing game when they saw pressure. Mahomes also realized what was coming based on safety alignments and poor disguise and checked the play at the line of scrimmage. The Chiefs has a good handle on it and made some great adjustments throughout the game with their route concepts.
The Chiefs didn’t give up one sack against the 11 cover 0 pressures Fangio brought.
Mahomes as always got the ball out quick and didn’t hesitate on many of his reads. He knew where he was going with the football.
Example #1
3rd and 5
In the first example the Dolphins send 6 with an add in and play way off, allowing the Chiefs the opportunity for an easy completion.
First note, look where the db’s are on 3rd and 5. Most are at 6 and 8 yards. This allows for the space for the easy completion.
The pressure is an overload where they have 2 on 1 on the RB
Look at the space as he gets open behind the markers.
Example #2
They get cover 0 again, Mahomes goes to Kelce but has the site adjustment on the outside if he wants. The o line gives him great protection.
The whip route is open by 1 but the Dolphins botch the coverage and he looks for Kelce on the crossing route.
The best part of this clip is the RG blocking 2 guys with each arm.
film of the play
Example #3
The Dolphins come out and get into a situation where they are all playing outside leverage. This opens up the slant windows as the Chiefs throw basic slant routes against the man pressure concept. Mahomes knows exactly where he is going with the football. #2 on the slant is wide open. Also, had #1 as again the Dolphins are way off in coverage.
film clip
Example #4
Protection: full slide
Route Concept: 2 whip routes and a post
Mahomes has 2 players open but throws the post. Nice whip route adjustment.
Film
Example #5
Here is the last one, Just 2 slants and a chute route on the bottom of the screen. Nice job with Mahomes getting the ball out on the slant.
Here are a few other clips on how they defeated cover 0.
I hope you enjoyed this article and analysis and have some answers vs cover 0.