Mills Concept

Sep 11, 2015

Dan Syed

This article featured on SyedSchemes.com.

Mills is a pass game concept used both at the NFL and NCAA level,
originally made famous by Steve Spurrier. Mills is executed with a Post route
from the outside Wide Receiver and a Dig route from the slot. In todays NFL,
it is primarily used as a Cover 4 or Quarter/Quarter/Half beater and is most
often seen in offenses associated with Dirk Koetter, Norv Turner, Mike
McCarthy, and Peyton Manning. Mills is also sometimes referred to as the
PIN concept (Post/In combo). This article analyzes the Mills Concept and
how it can be utilized in various ways depending on personnel. Below, the
2014 Broncos run Mills against the Rams at the end of the 1st half on 3rd and
10 against a 2-deep safety look:
The basic idea of the Mills Concept is baiting the 2-high Safety into
overplaying the Dig route to open up the middle of the field for the Post. To
help set up Mills some coaches also run the Post route with a Dino stem,
where the WR breaks to the corner before breaking back to the post.

Mills tests the eyes, discipline, and awareness of the circled 2-high Safety
with the Dig route. If the Safety gets caught flat footed or driving downhill
toward the Dig, the middle of the field is completely exposed. Note here when
Manning releases the ball, the Safety has barely committed to the Dig, but it is
still too late:

Mills 1.mp4

Mills can be run against a 1-high Safety look and may incorporate Play
Action. Protection is the key, and play action helps the O-line. If the Defense is
caught in Cover 4 quarters to the Mills side of the formation, it is a definite big
play/Touchdown opportunity. The Mills Concept is also a great way to use an
elite Wide Receiver as a decoy. Below, the 2014 Falcons run Mills with play
action against the Bears, who have just rotated from a 2-deep Safety look to
1-high Cover 3:

Take specific note of the two circled defenders, the Mike Linebacker and the
1-high Safety. Julio Jones is lined up on the outside running the Post route.
The deep safety is wholly aware of this and makes sure to play the Post to
avoid a touchdown. This means the Linebacker must get depth in his drop to
play the Dig route. However, the play action holds the Mike Linebacker,
creating a void behind him and in front of the Safety:

Mills 2.mp4

If the 1-high Safety had his eyes in the backfield or tried to replace the void
left by the biting Mike Linebacker, the ball would have likely gone over his
head for a Touchdown to Julio Jones.

Mills can also take advantage of elite receivers as decoys from a 2-high look.
Below, the Colts run Mills against the Chiefs, who are in a 2-high Cover 4
look. Speedy Wideout T.Y. Hilton is in the slot running the Dig route:
As the play progresses, the circled 2-high Safety drives downhill with his eyes
on T.Y. Hilton. The Safety is Man-keying on Hilton with his eyes the entire
time. Note that multiple defenders key in on Hiltons dig route and have it
completely blanketed:
However, this leaves the middle of the field wide open for the Post route:

Mills 3.mp4

Finally, below is a look at the Mills Concept against a 1-high Safety look where
the Linebackers do not bite on the play action. Julio Jones is able to create
separation, but the concept is relatively well covered and requires a near
perfect throw to complete:

Mills 4.mp4

Overall, Mills is a great way to attack Cover 4 and test a Safetys eye
discipline and awareness. Mills can also be successful against 1-high looks
and be run with play action to draw up a Linebacker or Safety to create a zone
void. Mills is a concept that can take advantage of a great wideout as a decoy
to open up the field for other players.