Breaking Down Shaun Draughn’s Touchdown

Let’s take care of some in-house business first. Shaun Draughn’s last name is pronounced: “Drone.” The “o” in his last name makes the long sound, heard in the first syllable of the word “donut.” The “au” in both of his names is pronounced differently but, since it looks like he’s going to be around for awhile let’s get it right. Which is more than I could say for Chiefs television announcers on Friday evening as they flip flopped back and forth but, mostly getting it wrong.

Draughn → the vowel sound rhymes with: phone home.

At a glance, Shaun Draughn’s touchdown looks like it might simply be the product of a lot of good blocking. The blocking was good on that play but, Draughn was the biggest reason of all that the Chiefs scored their second touchdown in as many possessions during their first preseason game last Friday against the Arizona Cardinals.

First of all, Brian Daboll called a great series of plays during the Chiefs’ first and second possessions. A big part of that was making sure the Chiefs rotated all of their personnel at the playmakers positions of RB, TE and WR. The Chiefs appear to be loaded with playmakers like never before, which gives Daboll a great advantage: opposing teams will never know where the attack is coming from, never. At least not based on the way the play calling was designed last Friday. Using Draughn to carry the ball at the goal line was a brilliant piece of play calling since he’s not nearly the first or second or even third person you’d think of at RB for the Chiefs. Plus, with tight ends Tony Moeaki and Kevin Boss lined up in a double-tight-end set to one side — the defense may have been reading a pass play to that side.

The Chiefs executed Daboll’s plans extremely well. Especially in their first two possessions. Which brings us to Shaun Draughn’s TD. Below, you’ll find step-by-step graphics showing the play’s design and execution.
1. As the play begins, QB Matt Cassel turns to hand off to Draughn. None of the Cardinals linemen get enough push into the Chiefs backfield to create a problem with the play’s intended direction. Also, notice each Chiefs linemen either engaging their assigned player to block or turning and getting their bodies out in front of the play. That’s RT Eric Winston lowering his shoulder into Cards #91, DE, Vonnie Holliday. Tony Moeaki rushes upfield to meet #24 Adrian Wilson. On the end, Kevin Boss heads toward OLB Brian Schofield.
2. Cassel has handed the ball to Draughn who is advancing with enough speed for the backside pursuit of the Cardinals to not be an issue in the play. The Cards #92, DT Dan Williams, has pushed Chiefs center Rodney Hudson back one yard but, Hudson locks him up there and gives no further ground. LG Ryan Lilja has hit his man DE Calais Campbell, once and is attempting to get to the next level to take out a LB. Jon Asamoah is taking over Winston’s man so that Winston can move on to ILB Stewart Bradley. Boss keeps Schofield engaged as he attempts to seal the edge. Note: if other teams watch what the Cardinals are doing on this play, the Chiefs may be inclined to run a bootleg because the outside contain on Cassel has failed completely. Had Cassel kept the ball — he would have waltzed into the end zone.

3. This split image shows two different angles of the same moment. A small alleyway for Draughn to pass through has developed to his right. He navigates the seam but, the inset shows just how close Draughn comes to being tripped by his teammates. This is where Draughn should draw praise in the screening room. He easily could have gone down here but, each blocker holds their assigned block long enough for Draughn to squeak through and he barely does. Notice the Cards #58, ILB Daryl Washington, on the left half of this picture. Washington comes from all the way across the field at his ILB position to nearly make a play on Draughn.

4. ILB Washington has a chance to bring Draughn down at the one yard line. Washington does a good job of coming from the opposite side ILB position to nearly thwart Draughn.

5. Chiefs WR Steve Breaston has done a good job of keeping his man, DB Patrick Peterson (5th pick in the 2011 draft) deep and out of the play at the goal line. As Washington hits Draughn, Draughn squares his shoulders to the end zone line and drives his hips forward scoring the Chiefs second TD of the preseason and sealing a strong start to the game and the Chiefs year.

Chiefs announcer Mitch Holthus spoke about the Shaun Draughn touchdown on Tuesday afternoon. He said,

"… to go back to that play — where Shaun Draughn gets to score here. Watch the offensive line on this play here. Engage — and drive. Command the line of scrimmage — and then attack. Moeaki makes a great block there, the lead blocker….  but, everybody on the offensive line, contact and drive, and they were doing that on the first two series, and it’s good to see it."

When the first string was in the game, the execution was excellent.

So, Addicts, why is that? Or, did you not think things went very well last Friday evening? What do you expect this week when the Chiefs go for the Governor’s Cup?

Let the “Draughn-ing” begin.