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Nick Jacobs' game plan: Baltimore Ravens at Kansas City Chiefs

Posted at 5:44 PM, Sep 18, 2019
and last updated 2019-09-20 10:34:30-04

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The Kansas City Chiefs head home with two decisive road victories and a potential playoff opponent awaiting in the 2019 home opener Sunday at Arrowhead Stadium.

Led by second-year quarterback Lamar Jackson, the Baltimore Ravens opened plenty of eyes by building a 42-10 halftime lead in the season opener against the Miami Dolphins.

LISTEN: Chiefs’ home-opener comes against 2-0 Ravens

The Ravens then held off the Arizona Cardinals 23-17 last week, setting up a clash of 2-0 teams a noon on Sunday.

Baltimore promoted Greg Roman to offensive coordinator during the offseason. He previously served as offensive coordinator under coach John Harbaugh's brother, Jim, in San Francisco.

Quarterbacks Alex Smith and Colin Kaepernick flourished in Roman’s system and he has installed a great deal of shotgun and pistol formations to fit Jackson's comfort level from college and provide route combinations that allow him to comfortably make reads.

The Ravens’ offensive line plays a power run style with pulling and combination blocks.

The system also limits Jackson's drop backs, because he’s already in pistol and shotgun formations so much.

Defensive coordinator Don Martindale returns this season. His style primarily tries to confuse opposing quarterbacks with pressure and coverage looks.

Baltimore likes to bring unexpected pressure or drop into coverage where they anticipate the hot routes going, looks that provided Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes with a unique challenge last season.

The game promises to be physical and provide the best challenge yet this season for the Chiefs, but here are a few keys to a Kansas City victory:

1. Contain, collapse against Jackson

The Ravens’ offense is based on Jackson's legs. He is arguably as fast as Michael Vick when he takes off scrambling, so the Chiefs’ defense must be disciplined in their rush lanes.

KC’s edge rushers need to get up field to contain while the defensive tackles collapse the pocket in on Jackson. He does not feel comfortable when the pocket is closing in on him and he has nowhere to escape.

This week isn't about getting sacks. It is about not letting Jackson beat the Chiefs with his feet.

He is a mechanical rhythm quarterback, who is used to doing a play fake, not having to rush his throws and stepping up in a comfortable pocket for his delivery.

If his footwork, launch point or timing are disrupted, it quickly throws off his accuracy. He regains confidence by taking off and running with the football.

The Chiefs could use some overload blitzes, but they will need a secondary member waiting as a spy on the opposite side when Jackson takes off.

2. Disrupt Mark Andrews, Marquise Brown

So far in 2019, 28 of Jackson’s 41 completions have gone to Andrews and Brown, who clearly are the focal points of the passing game

Andrews provides a big, reliable target down the seam and on crossing routes with an occasional delayed wheel route mixed in.

Brown is the Ravens’ crossing, slant, deep post and vertical threat. Essentially, he is the Ravens’ version of Tyreek Hill without the refinement yet.

Brown is a smaller receiver but he has the speed to burn a defense over top if he gets a clean release off the line and the time to run through zone coverages.

3. Create a pile

Baltimore’s run game is primarily based out of the pistol formation. Jackson either hands it off to a running back, like Mark Ingram, or keeps it and uses his elite speed.

Occasionally, the Ravens throw in some jet sweep motion to distract defenders, but the read-option from the pistol is the primary style.

If Jackson takes off running, he has the ball. If he doesn't, Jackson isn't aggressive in carrying out his play fakes.

Baltimore’s line loves to double team and combo block at the point of attack, so defenders ned to hold ground and create a pile.

If it is a down block with a pull, the defender needs to blow up the pulling offensive lineman and close the hole down.

4. Use delayed routes, motion screens

The Ravens’ defense is built on identifying the routes that need to be covered at that moment. It can be fooled by delayed routes into the flats off of play-action after that receiving option initially blocks.

The delayed routes get lost and Baltimore can't account for them.

Screen passes to the perimeter that include motion offer easy first downs versus the Ravens early on as well.

5. Move pocket, utilize hot routes

The Chiefs will need to move the pocket at times for certain desired routes and to disrupt the Ravens’ blitzes.

Baltimore’s defense will tee off if the quarterback doesn’t change up its dropbacks and where the QB sets up.

Kansas City will need to have hot routes based off the expected pressures.

The most successful teams against this scheme have two hot routes built in for a short dump off and two medium to deep routes to take advantage of the pass protection holding off the defenders when they drop into zone coverage.

It will just be a matter of how much time Mahomes has in the pocket.

6. Use trips with isolation

Teams that run trips with an isolated receiver on the other side typically find success moving down the field.

The trips allows them to clear out the space they want, but also provide one-on-one options on the other side.

The Chiefs took advantage of the Ravens’ defense with similar looks last season throwing to Travis Kelce multiple times and on Damien Williams’ touchdown.

7. Space out Baltimore, use combo blocks

Kansas City will need to force Baltimore to space out its defenders and try to force only six players in the box.

They will need to run double teams to the play side or combo block to the second level. It won't be pretty, but the Chiefs found success last week when they used this style against the Raiders and it allowed them to pick up 4 yards on a regular basis.

The Ravens’ style may force the Chiefs to try this tactic.

8. Overload a side with athletic blockers

The Chiefs will need to use two- and three-tight end sets in the run game on the same side. This will be especially crucial in short down and distances.

Travis Kelce, Blake Bell, Deon Yelder and Anthony Sherman are all capable of helping the run game in this capacity along with the extra offensive linemen on the roster.

Kansas City can find short-yardage success even in poor conditions with this strategy.

9. Expect a fake punt

The Chiefs will need to be on the look out for a fake punt.

John Harbaugh was a well-regarded special teams coach during his time under Andy Reid and is willing to take the risk when he wants to keep the momentum going.

This is a game where a fake could be crucial in securing the necessary possession to win, so Dave Toub will need to have his punt return team ready.

Kansas City faces a tough challenge in both its run defense and pass protection this week.

The Chiefs got a good look at what the Ravens threw at them last season in their December matchup.

Mahomes has experienced the Ravens’ pressure and the frustration their looks and that pressure can generate.

This matchup is a great test for where the Chiefs are in terms of being playoff caliber in all phases of the game.

Nick Jacobs can be found on Twitter: @Jacobs71. You can also download the weekly 4th and 1 podcast on Apple, Google Podcast, Spotify and Stitcher.