Chiefs Pass Game Concepts: Thru with the Deep Over Concept

There are various great crossing route concepts for your offense! Between dagger and y cross, and the shallow cross concept, you have different ways to attack the middle of the field.

In this article I will be covering some different crossing route variations you see from the Chiefs and is a crossing route concept, with a different variation. It is different because the frontside route by the #2 WR is a thru route, and also you don’t have the dig behind the cross like the y cross concept. Let’s jump right in and look at the way the Chiefs run their thru-cross concept and how you can use it in your offense.

The Chiefs run their concept in 2 ways and it’s technically 2 different calls. For arguments sake I’ll group all the crossing concepts into one state to name it. The 3 man version I call Cleveland and the 4 man route concept I will call Ohio.

In both concepts, they have the #1 and #2 run clear routes. The #2 WR runs a skinny post and is the first read in either concept. The next part that is the next major part is the the crossing and shallow route coming from the other side. They run this two ways.

#1 They run it with y running the deep over(crossing route) with the z WR running a shallow. Here is from a Y flex set with that route concept.

The read is the #2 skinny post to the dover to the dover to the shallow.

12P

If you like to be in 12 personnel you can run it like this. The TE off the ball runs the deep over and the TE on the ball runs the shallow.

The defense is in cover 1 below, with the concept creating leverage for the Tight End on the football.

Film

2nd version

#2. They run the same through route on the outside with only the crossing route with the RB as a checkdown.

They don’t run the shallow with the WR but utilize the RB instead. They also like to take a top WR motion him either with orbit or tear motion to put the defense in a bind.

Traditional 2x2 with the shallow:

Progression:

1-post to y cross to shallow

Check the leverage of the DB and help over the top. If you have leverage throw the thru route to the #2 WR to the top of the screen. If it’s taken away you have the deep over to the shallow off it.

#2 Chiefs crossing concept without the Shallow.
This is primarily a 3 man pattern with 5 man protection with the RB check releasing.

They would dress it up by Taking their best WR, and moving him around. They do it in 3 different ways with Tyreek Hill when he was playing.

The safety plays over the top of #1 and helps on the crossing route from Kelce. The middle of the field is open so Mahomes throws the thru route. That’s the first read so Mahomes throws it.

Film

Film Clips of the Route Concept without the shallow

2 other Clips of the concept with moving Hill around and using motion.