Chiefs 2020 Whack-a-Mole Offense

Chiefs 2020 Whack-a-Mole Offense – I’m sure you’ve heard of the Whack-a-Mole arcade game in which you use a mallet to whack down a Mole that keeps popping up from one of many different holes? Whack as many of the Moles that pop up as possible, and you’ve won the game. That’s precisely what the Chiefs 2020 offense has become for opposing defenses: a Whack-a-Mole proposition. As of this moment, I’m not sure there’s a team in the league capable of whacking down enough of the Chiefs offensive threats to hold them to a low enough score, to beat them. Let’s take a look at why that might be.

First and foremost, there’s QB Patrick Mahomes

In Patrick Mahomes first full season as a starting QB, he had a league leading running back — from the previous season — playing behind him in the name of Kareem Hunt. Let’s give credit where credit is due because in Andy Reid’s system Hunt averaged 80 yards rushing per game. Mahomes first year as a starter, he hit on unprecedented numbers for any quarterback in any season, but in large part that was due to both Hunt’s ability as a RB to draw defenses in with play-action and Reid’s ability to scheme up an offense that took advantage of Mahomes’ and his playmaker’s ample skills. Since Mahomes hasn’t lost a game by more than one score — which means he’s kept the Chiefs in every single game since he took over the starting assignment — we can take that to mean that the only way to stop Mahomes, is for him to get hurt (knock on wood). While Reid has proven he can win with other QBs behind center, Mahomes has already proven he’s very, very special and the number one reason the Chiefs will keep on winning.

New on the scene is RB, Clyde Edwards-Helaire

Perhaps the best way to emphasize the importance of Clyde Edwards-Helaire in Andy Reid’s system this year, is to listen to Patrick Mahomes talk about him. Here he is from Monday on 610 The Drive with Carrington Harrison, Sean Levine and Danny Parkins:

Edwards-Helaire can make big plays in big moments. Sound like anyone you already know? That’s right, Patrick Mahomes. So many players wilt or shy away from pressure during the biggest moments, even those who are ultimately talented physically. Eric Edholm, of Yahoo Sports, compares CEH to Maurice Jones Drew and that’s not a bad comparison as they’re similar in size, with CEH standing an inch taller. LSU’s running backs coach, Kevin Faulk, compares Edwards-Helaire to Barry Sanders. In any case, adding a RB who is as adept at running the ball between the tackles or to the outside — especially squeezing between the Redwoods — plus, his ability to follow his blockers is a premiere skill which should not be minimized. More importantly, CEH makes this offense, that much more difficult to defend.

There’s another reason I think the impact of Clyde Edwards-Helaire may be undervalued and that is: CEH is an Offensive Lineman’s dream come true. Sure, OL have loved playing with Patrick Mahomes — who doesn’t like playing with a winner — but, what most linemen love is being able to fire straight out and push defensive linemen backwards… instead of having DL do that to them. CEH also runs where the hole is designed to be, but what the casual fan should know is that so many times, an OL wonders why a RB has not followed the play design, so when someone like CEH does as he supposed to do, it improves trust between the OL and the RBs, and that’s always a good thing.

From Seth Keysor in a piece he wrote called, “How Clyde Edwards-Helaire mattered in his first start:”

Edwards-Helaire’s excellent start will … lead to more opportunities for the league’s best offense. It will also force teams to re-think any strategy of leaving light boxes and daring the Chiefs to run. Which is bad news for a league that already lacked answers for Mahomes and company.

Tyreek Hill: “The field stretcher”

One of the first jobs I had while working my way through college, was at Potlatch Paper Company. When being initiated into the workforce, I was asked to go down the the foundry where paper is made and ask for, “A cup of sand” because, as they put it, “We’re going to make sandpaper,” which of course, was a falsity and meant to get a good laugh from those who were company veterans. For me, it was met with disdain as I had been forewarned by the man who got me the job: a long time company employee. It’s reminiscent of first year workers at a lumber yard being asked to go down to the mill to ask for, “A log stretcher.” However, there is a true field stretcher here in Kansas City, his name is Tyreek Hill, and he really does exist. He’s so fast that back in January, olymics.nbcsports.com reported that:

“Hill was a world-class sprinter in high school. He ran the 200m in 20.14 seconds at age 18, ranking him sixth in the U.S. in 2012. If he ran that time between now and June 7, Hill would qualify for June’s U.S. Olympic Trials… Hill easily qualified for Olympic trials in 2012 (the automatic qualifying time was 20.55), and 20.14 would have made the Olympic team at trials. But Hill did not race trials. He ran junior nationals and the world junior championships instead.“

Hill forces teams to cover the field Deep and Wide, Deep and Wide… there’s a fountain flowing… (oh never mind). He opens up all the spaces underneath for every other Chiefs WR and TE, as well as making the running game easier to execute. However, Hill is not just fast, he is the twitchiest NFL player I’ve ever seen (think Dante Hall on speed). On any other team than the Chiefs, he would sit at the top of the Whack-a-Mole list. However, his presence shows how much of a team effort the Chiefs have created.

Owning the middle of the field with Travis Kelce

It’s well known that TE Travis Kelce set a record last year by stringing together his 4th consecutive 1,000 yard receiving season, but what you may not know is that he did that while averaging 76 yards, and 6 receptions per game in the process. Then, last Thursday evening, Kelce had 10 catches for 134 yards. He appears to be well on his way to an unprecedented 5th consecutive 1,000 yard receiving season for a Tight End. Most teams attempt to double both Kelce and Tyreek Hill. That may be the approach of many a DC, in their quest to stop the Chiefs Whack-a-Mole offense, but that hasn’t worked on Kelce very often and if you double Hill, that leaves a few of other supremely talented WR open to slice and dice a defense including…

Whammy, Bammy, Thank your Mammy we got Sammy

While Sammy Watkins has become a bit of a controversial player in K.C. it’s mostly because of his lack of regular season production tied with a bloated contract. However, Watkins decided this offseason to take a much reduced deal for the chance to win another championship. Looking beyond those disappointing numbers… I’ll forever remember Watkins for his 60 yard TD catch vs the Titans to help stretch the score to 35-to-17 ultimately putting the game out of reach and most importantly, securing a Super Bowl berth for the Chiefs for the first time in 50 years. Also, Watkins fake against CB Richard Sherman in the Super Bowl helped to put the Chiefs in scoring position to give them the lead, a lead they never relinquished. Watkins has speed and moves that require he be given special attention by every defense in the league. His lack of ego helps this team succeed and is also what makes this Whack-a-Mole offense… purr like a kitten and kill like a cougar. Sammy had two catches for 76 yards in game one. BTW… if he averages 76 yards per game that would put him over 1,200 yards for the year. Just sayin’.

Me Likey Mecole

WR Mecole Hardman is fast but not Cheetah fast. He runs a 4.33, 40-yard dash, while Tyreek Hill is in the 4.29 (or faster) range. Hardman is also not as twitchy as Hill, but he was good enough as a returner in 2019 to earn himself a Pro Bowl nod. Let’s not take anything away from Hardman. It’s tough for anyone to follow Tyreek Hill. They’re just not the same player, but Hardman is one talented and fast wideout who demands attention as well.

Summary: Chiefs Whack-a-Mole Offense

With a running back like Clyde Edwards-Helaire, opposing defenses will now have to stack the box to stop this offense. If they do, then PMII will read it and go long. My guess is that teams would rather take their chances stopping CEH and continue to keep their Safeties deep, leaving the box with room to run. Consequently, it’ll be death by a thousand cuts, with Edwards-Helaire providing the cuts (literally and figuratively). Sooner or later teams will collapse the box and when they do, oh watch out. Then, the Chiefs vast array of speedy and skilled wideouts will awake like a sleeping giant ready to do damage.

Could we see Patrick Mahomes have another breakout year like in 2018? Sure. Could we see Clyde Edwards-Helaire break Kareem Hunt’s record of 1,327 rushing yards? Sure. Could we see Tyreek Hill have his best season yet with more than 1,479 receiving yards and over 12 TDs? Sure. Will be see Travis Kelce have another 1,000 yard season? Sure. Will we see Sammy Watkins or Mecole Hardman with their best numbers yet? Sure. We just won’t see them all this season, but what we will likely see… is another championship as a result.

Give Andy Reid and inch, and he’ll take a mile. That’s exactly what the addition of Clyde Edwards-Helaire gives him: a mile and a smile as wide as a cheeseburger! So, can you contain the Kansas City Chiefs offense by focusing on a couple of talented players? No. In fact, even if you were able to cover half of these skilled athletes, you’d still be in Big Trouble in Little China. Am I saying it can’t be done. Yeah… pretty much. Apparently, the only way you can stop this Chiefs offense… is to hope they stop themselves.

Laddie Morse — ArrowheadOne

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