Trips left. short motion right, RPO play action, QB waggle left, chunk yard strike to MHJ over the middle

Here is added proof as to how focused Kyler Murray has been in mastering his footwork. Take a good, close, several-times look:

Pre-Snap Intentions:

• Shotgun formation
• 11 Personnel
• Trips Left (Dortch, Wilson, McBride)
• Single Right (MHJ)
• Short Motion (Dortch) —- CB does not chase, points to a switch —- looks like zone coverage to trips side and man-to-man on the single side with Max Melton assigned to MHJ
• Play action (RPO)
• Intended QB waggle to left
• Passing routes:

1- Dortch —-> short motion into a zig-zag corner pass

2- Wilson —-> go-route between the number and the left seam to beat the coverage deep or draw the FS (opens the middle of MHJ) —- It’s called “opening the door”

3- McBride —-> delay out-pass to keep the “under” CB in the zone honest and be the play-side safety valve

4- Marvin Harrison Jr. —-> intermediate crossing route between the linebackers and safeties

5- Conner —-> decoy swing route to the right

Note: whenever an offense runs a waggle, it typically means they want to buy time for a backside WR to get open, which appears to be exactly the case on this call.

Post-Snap Results:

• PJJ at LT is forced to steer his rusher (who disrupts the timing of the play) wide of the waggle lane
• Kyler makes an outstandingly quick adjustment to abandon the waggle in favor of stepping up into the vacated area that was left by the edge rusher
• Watch Kyler’s feet here —- he shuffles them perfectly sideways and forward in order to re-direct his launching point —- he climbs quickly up the vacated outside pocket space —- sets his feet —- and spirals an absolute arrow to MHJ, who is a half-step ahead of Max Melton (kudos to Melton for being this sticky especially in a situation where he has no built-in LB or FS help).
• Wilson does a great job drawing deep coverage, which opens the door for Dortch on the corner pass and for MHJ on the intermediate crosser.
• McBride is left wide-open as the safety valve in the flat.

Corrections: (what I would recommend to the players during a film breakdown of the play)”

• PJJ — “On an RPO play-action QB waggle to your side, when you are covered by the TE and you have the DE lined up head up on you, on the snap —- you want to “influence” the DE to take an inside rush by hiking up your left shoulder and taking a slight drop-step with your right leg. However, after you allowed the rusher to cross your face to the outside, once the DE started trying to swim around you to you did a good job of steering him wide enough for Kyler to make a quick enough adjustment in having to abandon the customary waggle arc. Good job of playing to the whistle.”
• TMcB —- “Did you miss your blocking assignment on the play? On a QB waggle to your side, weren’t you supposed to step down to seal block the DE (who turned out disrupting the timing of the play) before releasing on your delayed out-route? Sealing that edge could have given Kyler a perfect waggle arc. And by making the block first, you would have been even more wide open on your delay route to the flat.”
• Jonah —- “This was such a brilliant play for chunk yards but look at your off-set alignment at right tackle. In a real game, the play would have been called back for illegal formation (not 7 men on the l.o.s) And the irony is no one rushed from your edge on the play.”
• MHJ —- “Great play in all aspects by you (the precise route, the burst off your cut, the soft-handed, easy, catch, your fantastic RAC) —- alas, except your alignment. The ball is spotted on the 31-yard line, and you are lined up on the 30 yard-line. Unfortunately, this big gainer is coming back. In a real game, you know better than anyone how to check with the line judge to make sure that you are accurately lined up —- but in the NFL this past year there were a few occasions where communications with the line judges got screwed up. Therefore, it’s best for you to be the judge.”

Superlatives:

• Kyler —- “Superb, cat-quick adjustment to the disruption, while keeping full command of your footwork, poise, downfield vision and passing fundamentals.”
• Dortch —- ”Your short motion and outstanding corner route to the sideline were precise in every possible way. Next time we are throwing this ball to you.”
• Wilson —- “Great job of opening the door for MHJ. I’m sure MHJ is eager to return the favor for you from the opposite side.”
• Fro —- “Nice crisp snap and excellent job of pulling to the left to be Kyler’s protector on the play. Budda wanted no part of you, big dawg!”

Significance of the play?

We have been wondering whether the addition of Marvin Harrison Jr. may prompt Drew Petzing to open up the passing game more regularly this season. Not only does this play indicate that the OC could very well be planning to do so, this play may also answer the question as to whether he and Kyler plan to run snap motions this season. Bravo to all of this! This play design is an A+.