[KChiefs1]

https://theathletic.com/2281130/2020...s-film-review/

Chiefs’ improved discipline on defense in full display vs. Saints: Film review

by

Seth Keysor

To properly analyze the game, it’s important to look at how each drive transpired and the effect it had on the game overall. It’s easy to forget now after quarterback Patrick Mahomes’ heroics and the final output (32 points) by Kansas City, but the Saints’ defense did an excellent job slowing down the Chiefs early. Kansas City’s first two drives ended in punts after little progress was made, and the Saints could have altered the nature of the game had they scored on either of their ensuing possessions. Instead, it was the defense that gave the offense a spark, stopping the Saints cold for a punt on their first drive then handing Mahomes and Co. excellent field position with an interception on the second.

This interception came courtesy of rookie cornerback L’Jarius Sneed, who has continued to impress in recent weeks after returning from injury. While some interceptions are a function of a bad throw or miscommunication between the quarterback and wide receivers, in Sneed’s case it was the result of excellent coverage giving almost no shot at a completion. It was also a chance for Sneed to show off his skill set and versatility.

On this play, Sneed is lined up in tight coverage, set to jam the receiver. The Saints try to execute a pick for their underneath route, hoping that the receiver Sneed is directly over will drive into him and create space.

It’s a decent idea in theory, but Sneed does a nice job delivering contact while receiving it and isn’t driven into his fellow defenders, who are looking to bait Saints quarterback Drew Brees into an apparently open underneath throw that they can hope to break up or tackle short of the first-down marker.

Brees is smart enough to not take the bait, so he looks to his receiver in a one-on-one situation against a rookie. That’s the sort of matchup that should favor the Saints, but it doesn’t here and Brees doesn’t realize it before it’s too late.

Sneed does an excellent job maintaining contact with the receiver in order to feel and redirect the route, but not so much to draw a flag. When the receiver cuts outs, Sneed is able to run the route better because he can feel that it’s coming.

He undercuts it and is in such great position that by the time the ball arrives, the only question is whether or not he’ll be able to stay in bounds while making the catch, which he does with some phenomenal toe-tapping.

This interception gave Kansas City the ball back on the Saints’ 36-yard-line, and they responded by scoring a touchdown to take an early lead that would have been impossible without the contributions of the defense. And on the ensuing drive, the Chiefs forced New Orleans into a three-and-out punt that allowed the Chiefs to get the ball back and build a 14-0 lead that would prove instrumental in the win.

On the next down, a third-and-4, Sneed once again showed off his ability as Brees tried a deep shot to veteran receiver Emmanuel Sanders, who could not get any separation from Sneed deep. Look at Brees’ options even after he makes his pass.

With the deep route appropriately passed off and the out-breaking route bracketed, Brees has no choice but to hold the ball longer. Even a late leak by the tight end is well covered by the Chiefs, another example of their discipline, and Sneed is able to collect the sack thanks to exceptional coverage on the play.

In a “Groundhog Day”-like repetition, the coverage here has provided Brees with no reasonable outlet to go. Everyone is bracketed or well-covered with leverage. He tries to force a throw to Sneed’s receiver on a crossing route, but the rookie aggressively closes and knocks the ball away.

The pass rush still hasn’t returned to its form from 2019, but the coverage on the back end has started to look even better than last year’s group with the addition of Sneed and safety Juan Thornhill starting to look healthier. With the playoffs coming and pass defense being key to beating most opponents on the road to the Super Bowl, this couldn’t come at a better time.