Chiefs film room: Alex Smith, let it fly

Second down and 10 from the Cleveland Browns’ 11-yard line. It’s the first quarter and the initial drive of the game. We have an odd formation that features an empty backfield, with Charcandrick West wide left and well behind the line of scrimmage. Kelce is wide left and Maclin is in the slot. Demetrius Harris is tight left and Wilson is wide right.

This looks like a running formation coming onto the field, but quickly shifts into an obvious pass. The Browns bring two secondary players down to account for West and Kelce, with Maclin getting man-to-man coverage in the slot. After watching Chiefs film all year, this play looks like an option for Smith to either hit West with a bubble screen or go to the corner with Wilson.

As the play unfolds, we see the importance of design. Harris runs a shallow cross and sucks up the linebackers in zone coverage. The safeties are cheating wide, expecting help from linebackers getting good depth.

West simply stands there while Kelce takes a few false steps upfield. Wilson runs a corner route but is blanketed. Maclin is running his post route perfectly. He drives straight upfield to keep the corner off-balance before making a sharp inside break.

As for Smith, he knows he wants Maclin. He takes a few steps to his right and behind perfect protection, unloads.

Look at the window Smith has. It’s smaller than a peephole.

This might have been Smith’s best throw of the season. It has anticipation, guts and a lot of mustard on it. He has to drive the ball beyond the linebacker and between the two converging defensive backs.

If that throw is three inches in any direction, it’s incomplete or intercepted. Instead…

Touchdown.

Next: Smith still needs work...