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Film Study: How the Chiefs can defeat the defensive juggernaut Jaguars

By Grant Tuttle

DENVER, CO - OCTOBER 1: Quarterback Patrick Mahomes #15 of the Kansas City Chiefs reacts after a fourth quarter go-ahead touchdown against the Denver Broncos at Broncos Stadium at Mile High on October 1, 2018 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)
DENVER, CO - OCTOBER 1: Quarterback Patrick Mahomes #15 of the Kansas City Chiefs reacts after a fourth quarter go-ahead touchdown against the Denver Broncos at Broncos Stadium at Mile High on October 1, 2018 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images) /
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JACKSONVILLE, FL – SEPTEMBER 30: Blake Bortles #5 of the Jacksonville Jaguars attempts a pass during the game against the New York Jets on September 30, 2018 in Jacksonville, Florida. (Photo by Sam Greenwood/Getty Images)
JACKSONVILLE, FL – SEPTEMBER 30: Blake Bortles #5 of the Jacksonville Jaguars attempts a pass during the game against the New York Jets on September 30, 2018 in Jacksonville, Florida. (Photo by Sam Greenwood/Getty Images) /

Defensively:

Stop Blake Bortles from giving you paper cuts. (Watch)

Blake Bortles has been more successful this season because this is his typical passing play in any situation. The Jaguars have won games by giving papercuts to opposing defenses. With Leonard Fournette out of the game, this offense really lacks explosiveness.If I am the Chiefs defensive coordinator, I am not allowing the underneath stuff and I am forcing Bortles to beat me deep.

If the Chiefs press the wide receivers on this team, the Jaguars will struggle to find a rhythm. Bortles loves to throw on short crossing routes and has had some success in doing so. If the Chiefs ever wanted to get Dorian O’Daniel involved in a game plan, this would be the perfect game to do so. If you play O’Daniel as a hybrid type underneath with Hitchens you may force Bortles to beat you deep, which would be a great way to throw him off of his game.

Don’t get lulled into complacency. (Watch)

While I said that the best way to beat Bortles is to make him throw deep, I didn’t mean, “make it easy on him.” The Jaguars have done this a couple times this season. After calling a series of short passes and run plays, they will try to beat you over the top. This will be a great test for the Chiefs defensive backfield to stay disciplined.

On this play, the cornerback looked as though he was expecting the receiver to break inside for a shorter route. When this didn’t happen, he found himself behind him. Furthermore, the Safety got caught looking at the middle of the field and didn’t even see the receiver break out of his route. Because of this, he has to take a terrible angle and is slow rotating over. The Chiefs have to limit mental errors or they will fall victim to this kind of thing at least once on Sunday.

Watch out for running backs in the flats. (Watch)

This has been an issue for the Chiefs all season and unfortunately this is a strength of the Jaguars. While TJ Yeldon is not as explosive a runner as Fournette, he is very good at catching out of the backfield. On this play, Yeldon gets a free release and the linebacker does not even see him. For the defense, this is lethal.

Anthony Hitchens, Eric Murray and Ron Parker will need to be ready for Yeldon. If he is allowed to freely release out of the backfied and get to the edge, the Chiefs will be in trouble. I think the Chiefs are showing little improvements every week and I would love to see this problem become less obvious.

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