What happened to all the misdirection?
 

As I watched the Cowboys game, I kept noticing that our offense has settled into a pretty typical "line up, look around, snap the ball" approach lately. We were having so much success with all the movement and misdirection early in the season that it seems odd that they've gone away from it.

Any theories on why? Or am I just crazy and they're still doing it at about the same rate?

The only things I can think of are that injuries to guys like Wilson who were often part of the misdirection have made them prune down the playbook a bit or that they just don't like their chances against certain teams, but still, it seems very odd.

I thought it was around week 4 that a lot of the fun college stuff Andy was doing disappeared. I attributed it to teams catching on, but i really have no idea.

I just know that they looked like a damn College team in week 1 and 2, and then it started to fade, and around week 4 they really started to just look traditional.

I miss what we were doing too. Fit smith like a glove and seemed like something mahomes could fit into.

The powers that be forced them to stop.
- Blackop

Agreed.

I noted this in the game thread, but one of the things that helps Kareem Hunt when he goes off-tackle is when they bring Tyreek, D'Anthony, or Albert in motion where Alex can give it to them or they just serve as a decoy to pull the defense wide, opening up the middle.

Teams caught up to the shovel pass for sure (at least the Steelers did), but misdirection should be a big part of what we do.

They should use the same basic offensive approach they used on NE every game until someone stops them. Seems like the offense slowed down when the play calling got more conservative. Nothing wrong with looking like a college offense. We have the players for it.

Teams got tape of it and it doesn't work anymore. The Chiefs tried to do a jet sweep with Tyreek and it got killed.

The Chiefs can't do the basics well anymore and teams know it. All they have to do is defend the gimmick plays.

I’ve mentioned it several times too.

I don’t have any theories other than they like the matchups. We are still getting an assload of penalties so I don’t think the scheme is helping that.

I’m lost but I want it back.

I think a defense like Dallas just plays a more conservative, stay-at-home approach and it works against the misdirection/trick play junk

The losses of Morse, LDT, Conley and Wilson have changed Andy's play calling and scheme.

While he's been able to scheme around some of it, each time it's on film with guys like Fulton, Erving and Devy, instead of Morse and LDT, it becomes much easier to defend.

The offensive line will get better as they play more together but I hope they don't rush back Dee Ford or Albert Wilson in the next 3 weeks.

If they're ready to play, great, but I'd rather them all be healthy in December, when the Chiefs face the Chargers, Raiders and Broncos (and Dolphins, who are on the fringe) as opposed to the 1-7 Giants, 4-5 Jets and 5-3 Bills.

It was noted that the Chiefs have good success when playing defenses that play a lot of man coverage. The Steelers, and teams that have played the Chiefs thereafter, have been running a lot of zone blitzes.

Disagree. Chiefs have the players on offense to make the plays. Just need to open it up and be less predictable. Like they did during the initial win streak. The OL is going to get better barring injury. Morse & LDT are still shaking off the rust. I imagine Hunt is hitting the rookie wall after 4 wks of training camp and 9 games. Good time for a bye week. Team just needs a little spark and then some momentum.

That was just a great defensive effort on Orlando Scandrick’s part. The play was there- blocking was perfect- he just blew it up with great speed and a perfect open field tackle.

If we run that play 100 times with everything being the same, Tyreek probably scores on at least half of them.

I’ve mentioned it several times too.

I don’t have any theories other than they like the matchups. We are still getting an assload of penalties so I don’t think the scheme is helping that.

I’m lost but I want it back.

From what i've read and heard, the issue comes down to defensive schemes and Alex's (and the OL) ability to read and react to zone blitzes.

Man coverage is a lot easier to throw against, and misdirection etc is certainly easier against man coverage as well.