Chiefs Training Camp Focus: Protecting Patrick – What would you do with half a billion dollars? Buy a Ferrari? Buy a baseball team? If you’re Patrick Mahomes you do both. Needless to say if someone cut you a check for five hundred million you’d probably look for investment opportunities, pay off those pesky credit cards and probably look for a way to protect your assets. Now more than ever it is up to the Chiefs to protect what is easily their most valuable asset in franchise history.
The Bookends
By law, all conversation with the Chiefs pass protection must begin and end with All-pro Mitchell Schwartz. Seen as the anchor of the offensive line, Schwartz has been consistently one of the best tackles in the game, which includes an incredible stretch during the postseason where he allowed only one QB pressure while facing J.J. Watt, Jurrell Casey and Dee Ford. Schwartz’s consistency has allowed the Chiefs to plug and play in the interior of the line over the past few years. Though the All-pro tackle is 31 years old there is no reason to expect anything less than his typical dominance until he has shown otherwise.
The Chiefs were undefeated with Eric Fisher starting at left tackle in 2019. Like him, or hate him, Fisher has been a solid protector of Mahomes’ blind side. Despite his draft position — 1st overall in 2013 — Fisher has had his fair share of criticism, but he’s been another key piece to the Chiefs’ vaunted passing attack. After his injury last season it doesn’t take much imagination to think of what life would look like without him. Images of Cam Irving getting bull rushed into Patrick Mahomes’ ankle might be enough to realize that his value to K.C. is incredibly high.
[Note: Fisher left practice on Sunday and is in the concussion protocol]
Brett Veach and Andy Reid have had a clear philosophy on the offensive line. Tackle is viewed as a premium position, invest in it and the interior of the line can be more flexible with talent and experience. Reid has always valued long and athletic offensive linemen who can get into space and make plays downfield. He has also valued versatility, especially in the swing tackle role. Mike Remmers was added in the off-season to fill that role, recently vacated by Cam Irving. Remmers has lots of experience including a start in the 2015 Super Bowl, he should be able to chip in if needed.
The Interior
Austin Reiter started all 16 games at Center last season and seemed to establish a nice rapport with Mahomes. His snaps were consistent and he gained valuable experience when making calls in 2019. It’s worth noting that Reiter is not typically thought highly of, among NFL circles. He grades out poorly on PFF — 21st overall, 9th in pass blocking — and was signed away from the Browns for pennies on the dollar. What he does bring to the table is a level of comfort for Mahomes, mostly because of his ability as a pass blocker. Hopefully he can continue to grow and develop as he is appears to be the shoe-in to win the job at Center.
Offensive Guard is where all of the fun really begins. There’s no doubt that the impacts of Covid-19 have touched the Chiefs pass protection. Both LDT and Lucas Niang chose to opt out for the season which creates some questions that need to be answered. Some speculated that Lucas Niang could be starting at guard this year while others saw this season as a red shirt year for him to develop as a tackle. With the departure of Laurent Duvernay-Tardif and Stefan Wisniewski the guard position will get a total transformation this off-season, at least from the way it left the field in Miami.
In the 2019 season, Andrew Wylie started 11 games at Left Guard until an injury sidelined him. The Chiefs added veteran Stefan Wisniewski to take his place and Wylie never earned his playing time back after that. For Wylie, the issue has truly been consistency. He saw a regression in performance at the left guard position from 2018 when he started at right guard. The recent signing of former Pro Bowl left guard Kelechi Osemele makes it a smoother transition for Wylie might be to return to his more natural position, on the right side of the line. His strongest competition will be Martinas Rankin who started 5 games at left guard last year but even though he showed progress towards winning the job outright — until he injured his patella — he has since been designated to the IR. Rankin was acquired in a trade with Houston for RB Carlos Hyde.
Kelechi Osemele is 2 years removed from being considered one of the best guards in football. A two time Pro Bowler, All-pro and Super Bowl Champ, he also was a key piece to the vaunted Raiders offensive line in 2016-2018. Osemele really breaks the Andy Reid offensive line mold: he is a bigger body mauler that loves to finish strong, especially in the run game. This could be a benefit paired with the drafting of Clyde Edwards-Helaire, especially with Darrel Williams, who also is a stronger up the gut banger. Depending on your opinion of LDT, the Chiefs may have actually upgraded their interior with his signing.
The 2020 line projects to be (left to right) Fisher, Osemele, Rieter, Wylie and Schwartz. The Chiefs will also likely carry Rankin, Remmers and Allegretti. There are still several other competitors on the line. Brett Veach handed out big UDFA money to Mississippi State center Darryl Williams and there’s also Greg Senat who saw snaps in 2019 as well. Typically, the Chiefs have carried 8-9 offensive linemen on the 53 man roster. With a season full of uncertainties, it’s reasonable to think that some players who make it to the practice squad will actually see time on the 53 man active roster to help out because of infections and/or injuries.
The Offensive Interior positions will be some of the most intriguing in camp to follow.
The Back Field
Protecting the Quarterback means more than just the men in the trenches. Ofttimes, a running back, or full back, can be the last line of defense against a rushing blitzer. Reid has always had a complex system that demands more than just playmaking ability for a running back. In 2017, one of the biggest concerns for rookie Kareem Hunt winning the starting job over veteran Spencer Ware, was the question of his ability to pass protect. Unfortunately, an injury gave Hunt the starting job by default and it feels like the Chiefs can never have a solid 1-2 punch at running back. Just as the idea of Damien Williams and Clyde Edwards-Helaire started getting exciting… the pandemic struck again. With Williams opting out of the season, Edwards-Helaire is left as the likely starter and protector of Mahomes.
The loss of Damien Williams goes beyond him turning into Walter Payton in the playoffs. Williams provided the Chiefs with a true three down back that could be relied upon, any down and distance. Edwards-Helaire will have to pick up pass blocking quickly, as he will likely be a valuable commodity as a receiving threat on third downs as well. The Chiefs added DeAndre Washington to help fill the passing down blocker role. It’s also notable that Spencer Ware is still a free agent, Ware has been a great blocker in the back field and was added to the roster last year as well. Ware could provide some familiarity and comfort for the half-billion dollar man.
Self Protection
The most underrated part of Mahomes’ game is his ability to take care of himself and to avoid sacks. His spacial awareness and elusiveness is part of what makes him such a great improviser. Mahomes has that second sense and knack for knowing when it is time to bail out of the pocket. We saw one of the Chiefs worst games in 2019 come against the Colts, where it seemed as though their pass rush was dominating K.C.. In reality a large part of that was due to Patrick’s lingering ankle injury that got reaggravated. It’s no coincidence that the Chiefs gave up 32 and 37 sacks in 2016 and 2017 (the last two years of Alex Smith) but only 26 and 25 in 2018 and 2019 (Mahomes’ first 2 seasons). His ability to not take sacks, allows the Chiefs to plug and play along the offensive line. His ability to make plays under pressure is what makes him elite.
Protecting Patrick: Summary
Keeping the Super Bowl MVP healthy and protected will be a major theme of camp this year. Look for what players are running with the first and second team offensive line. With a team that is returning so many starters from a championship level team it will be one of the few position battles to keep an eye on.
Price Carter — ArrowheadOne
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