Chiefs: A Solid IOL Away from the Best Offense Ever?

Chiefs: A Solid IOL Away from the Best Offense Ever? – Now that the Kansas City Chiefs General Manager, Brett Veach, has orchestrated another coup by signing stellar RB Le’Veon Bell, it may be time to take stock of just how good this 2020 offense could be? Now, HC Andy Reid has all the skill position players at his disposal that he could ever wish for. Imagine the little boy Andrew Reid in his PJs, in bed, as a child, with a dream bubble bobbing above his head, with all these player in it:

Right Tackle Mitchell Schwartz is thought of by most as one of the best in the game. So, no one should question whether or not he is a mainstay on the Chiefs offensive line. Even at age 31, Schwartz can handle the best defensive ends and outside rush linebackers in the game. Sure, he had a tough time with Joey Bosa, but who doesn’t?

At Left Tackle the Chiefs still have journeyman and one time Pro Bowler, Eric Fisher. Fisher has served well over his career there and although many have had high expectations for him due to his being the 1^st overall selection in the 2013 NFL Draft, he’s been a solid performer, with very few flaws to complain about.

The Challenge for the Chiefs comes at Left Guard, Center, and Right Guard. With Nick Allegretti, Austin Reiter, and Andrew Wylie manning those positions, the weak links are obvious and may be standing in the way of this offense becoming the best to ever take the field of football in the history of the game.

Faster Than Fast

So many great teams have their own claim to greatness. For these Kansas City Chiefs, it starts with a great quarterback of course and the Chiefs have the best one going in Patrick Mahomes. To further distinguish themselves, look no further than the singular speed of one Tyreek Hill.

Being able to stretch the field as Hill does, give HC Andy Reid all the time he needs to create his offense that takes great advantage of everything underneath. Until you’ve stood near Hill, like I did a couple years ago at training camp, and watched him take kick returns back, you can never fully appreciate just how quick he is. Speed is one thing, lateral quickness is a whole other category of football player. So, Hill is not only fast – the fastest in the NFL – but he is quick beyond description.

The Ginormous Target Over the Middle

Travis Kelce provides the kind of target that Patrick Mahomes can’t miss. His fluid routes and mysterious mind-meld with Mahomes makes it improbable for defenses to stop.

Patrick Mahomes is crazy good here, but Kelce doesn’t even show up in this picture until looong after PMII releases the ball. How on earth?

Yes, at wide receiver, there’s the swiftness of Mecole Hardman and the speedy-ish moves of Sammy Watkins, and the deftness of Demarcus Robinson, but now rookie RB, Clyde Edwards-Helaire has a running mate in Le’Veon Bell. Phillip McGruder points out that Yards After Catch — YAC — are an important part of any passing game, which both CEH and LBell will be a big part of:

Not only does Le’Veon Bell bring another dimension to the Chiefs running attack, but he will help in YAC on pass receptions. Dan Guinn raises the question of balance in the Chiefs offense: run v pass?

Both Clyde Edwards Helaire and Le’Veon Bell, are exceptional receivers from the running back position so bolstering the running game is not the only benefit of signing this Bell cow. Although I’m sure Bell understands that CEH is the lead dog pulling the Chiefs running game sled, he should be seen as a RB#1B.

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Just How High Can This O Go?

The Chiefs offense has the potential to be one of the best ever. No matter who is in at the running back position, the Chiefs will be amazing. No matter who is in at wide receiver, the Chiefs will be amazing. We already know Patrick Mahomes is amazeballs so it just comes down to the offensive line. As mentioned above, both tackle positions are steady as she goes. The only positions of questions now come as we discuss the hull of the ship: the Interior Offensive Line positions.

I mentioned in yesterday’s piece that LB Practice Squad players on other teams should be considered as targets by Brett Veach and company. The same holds true for the IOL. Our resident genius Berttheclock has suggested we pay attention to Bill Barnwell’s possible trade target: Center, Billy Price on the Cincinnati Bengals. Price is listed as their backup Center right now after being drafted 21st overall in the 2018 NFL Draft. Sounds like Veach’s cup of tea.

Connor McGovern was a 3rd round choice for the Cowboys in 2019. He’s listed as a Left Guard for them and is currently a backup so draft capital would need to eb used to pry him loose from Dallas. Matt Hennessy was drafted this year in the third round out of Temple by the Falcons. He’s someone I liked a lot and may be available for a trade since they are going nowhere this year with a 0-and-5 record but once again, draft picks would need to be involved. Calvin Throckmorton — now a Practice Squad player — was a top rated UDFA this year for the New Orleans Saints. He is a Tackle who could slip inside to the Guard position, but he’s another player I like coming out of Oregon this year.

When I think back about some of “the best NFL offenses ever”… the 2000 St. Louis Rams comes to mind, with RB Marshall Faulk and WRs Torry Holt, Isaac Bruce, and Ricky Proehl, and then QB Kurt Warner, but it’s Warner sitting back there in the pocket well protected being able to hit those stellar wideouts that stands out in my mind. The same goes for the 1970’s Dolphins and Steelers… and the 1980s San Francisco 49ers with Joe Montana and Jerry Rice… and the Dallas Cowboys of the early 1990s.

One of the best Chiefs offenses ever — in the early 2000s — had QB Trent Green pitching passes to: TE Tony Gonzalez, WRs Eddie Kennison, Dante Hall, and Johnny Morton, with RB Priest Holmes coming out of the backfield. Although Patrick Mahomes seems to be otherworldly, those teams were very similar to this team… except… Green had perhaps the best OL in the history of the NFL to throw behind with: WIllie Roaf (NFL HoF), Brian Waters, Will Shields (NFL HoF), John Tait and Casey Wiegmann.

With so much leverage that the 2020 Chiefs have wedged into the skill positions, it’ll be regrettable if they can’t shore up their offensive line to take advantage of all that talent, in time for another Super Bowl run. Not only this year… but to infinity and beyond.

Laddie Morse — ArrowheadOne

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