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I spent Saturday looking at a lot of film on Ole Miss’ Chad Kelly and Laquon Treadwell, charting their throws, their connections and noting how coverages rolled in Treadwell’s direction.
I talked with my buddy, Javier Arenas, a former All-American defensive back at Alabama, about how he would try to slow down Treadwell. You can watch that video here.
There was so much to like from Treadwell last week — 8 catches for 136 yards, 2 touchdowns — but I liked how he impacted the game even when the ball wasn’t in his hands. He had a huge block to spring a teammate for a long gain.
But this play might have been my favorite. Treadwell, lined up left on the outside against New Mexico State’s “1 High Look” coverage, essentially is a decoy, occupying three defenders, which put Markell Pack in position to beat 1-on-1 coverage for a 66-yard touchdown.
Treadwell took off on a streak and Kelly helped create the huge opening by looking Treadwell’s way, drawing the safety farther away from a help position on the right. The tight end on the right side of the formation ran a Cover 2 seam route to occupy the high safety closest to Pack. The result was no defender within 5 yards of Pack and a perfect throw from Kelly. As easy a pitch-and-catch long TD pass as you’ll find.
There are so many playmakers in the SEC — beginning with Treadwell — but this one was just as much about the play call, all set up by an unselfish star doing his job.
The Man. The Myth. The Legend.
