Chiefs: GOATS Я US – When you begin to write about the Kansas City Chiefs, it’s impossible not to mention Patrick Mahomes, Travis Kelce, Head Coach Andy Reid or even General Manager Brett Veach in one way or another. Anymore, they’ve each become synonymous with excellence in the National Football league and each has had the term “G.O.A.T.” associated with their names as a result.
G.O.A.T.: It Begins With Patrick Mahomes
With Mahomes, the term G.O.A.T. – Greatest of All Time – has been thrown around every since he had a breakout first year as a starter in 2018 with over 5,000 passing yards, 50 TDs and a league MVP. There’s no denying, if Patrick Mahomes continues his assault on the NFL’s career passing records, he’ll become the QB GOAT Chiefs Kingdom has been dreaming of ever since Lenny Dawson left the field.
2020 hasn’t been the best year for most of us, but that does not include Patrick Mahomes:
Mahomes has already, in his third year as a starter, changed the way the quarterback position is to be played:
NFL Passes Completed per Game Career Leaders
One way to measure a player’s worth is… his merch. 😁
Maybe a GOAT should be judged by his ability to croon a tune:
When speaking of Mahomes greatness, it’s difficult to discuss his assent without considering where he came from, and who helped him get here.
G.O.A.T.: GM Brett Veach, is Well on his Way
In 2017, Brett Veach kept pestering HC Andy Reid until Reid took a serious look at Mahomes. Sure, John Dorsey was the GM then, but it’s well chronicled the extent to which Veach wanted to get the player he calls, “The best I’d ever seen at the position.” Veach’ influence didn’t stop there of course. He has also drafted: DT Derrick Nnadi, WR Mecole Hardman, S Juan Thornhill, CB Rashad Fenton, OG Nick Allegretti, and most recently, RB Clyde Edwards-Helaire, LB Willie Gay Jr., OT Lucas Niang and as BJ Kissel has mentioned rookie standouts CB L’Jarius Sneed, UDFAs Tershawn Wharton and Tommy Townsend.
These rookie players who Veach drafted, as well as the UDFAs, are critical to maintaining a team in pursuit of their dream of establishing a NFL dynasty. However, Veach the work only begins once Veach is able to get these player under contract, because it’s the job of Andy Reid’s superior coaching staff that makes a huge difference. If there was a way to call a coaching staff, THE GOAT, I’d make that designation for K.C.’s coaches collectively. Absent of that possibility, I’ll take the naming of Andy Reid, a GOAT.
G.O.A.T.: The Perseverance of Andy Reid
The 62 year old Coach Reid has gotten similar GOAT notice by moving up the all time wins list and now sits at #6 overall with 220 wins and a .630 winning percentage. Only five head coaches have more victories than Reid in the history of the game. The coaches he’s passed on the list most recently include Marty Schottenheimer – most Chiefs fans remember him — Chuck Noll – it’s hard to forget his Steelers dynasty of the late 1970s – and Paul Brown – for whom the Cleveland Browns were named. Only five coaches are in front of Reid including:
1. Don Shula – 328
2. George Halas – 318
3. Bill Belichick – 279
4. Tom Landry – 250
5. Curly Lambeau – 226
Reid will surpass Lambeau sometime next October at his current pace and Landry a couple more years down the line. I know there will be those who argue that Reid is not even the best coach currently in the NFL, referring to one Bill Belichick. However, I would say it’s more difficult to see that coach getting the GOAT tag when he hasn’t even proven he can win without the help of a Hall of Fame QB. Sure, I think he’s also cheated his way — in multiple ways — to the top, but that’s another matter. In my mind, there should always be an asterisk next to his name and any coach claiming to be the best of All Time should not be able to be kicked in the asterisk. Besides, the real focus of this piece is tight end Travis Kelce.
G.O.A.T.: Travis Kelce Already the TE GOAT?
Yes, Chiefs Kingdom, we are witnessing a Legend right before our eyes. After Tony Gonzalez left town, I never thought we’d see another Tight End anywhere near to his level of performance, but Kelce is not only that guy on the field, but off.
Travis Kelce has not only matured in recent years, he’s become a team-first guy and a Kansas City loyalist wanting to spend the rest of his career here. Many Patriots fans like to claim that Rob Gronkowski is the best tight end ever. So many NFL fans don’t realize that Kelce has five 1,000+ yard receiving seasons and Gronk has four. The biggest difference is, Kelce 1,000+ yard seasons are five in a row and Gronk could only ever produce 3 in 4 years. Pats fans also claim Gronk “is/was” a great blocker, but Kelce is no slouch in that department. In fact, I say it’s such a bunch of B.S. (Banana Shenanigans) because Kelce is not only a good blocker, but a very good one!
In a piece by Seth Keysor called, “Travis Kelce’s blocking: myth vs reality” (subscription required – thank you David Bell, for purchasing one for me) he shares a GIF of Kelce while blocking… all the way back in his Cincinnati University days:
For those underprivileged in pigskin linguistics, that’s called a “Pancake Block”… and not because they served pancakes on his block before the game. It could be that, when you’re so good at one thing — like catching the ball, such as Kelce is — you must be less talented at any other aspects of your game. Au-contraire François! (btw, no bias nor ill will is intended towards anyone who is of French descent, who may be reading this). Okay Monsieur Trashtalkere… TK isn’t merely the best at contagieux the ball, among all tight ends ever… but… he’s one of he better TEs at the blocage game as well. [Remarque… er… Note: one language down… 6,499 others to convince]
Keysor makes the point, that Kelce is often asked to get out in space to make a block. Now, that’s something that’s very difficult to do when you’re being asked to block slippery linebackers, cornerbacks or safeties. Above, Kelce shows his aptitude for hindering defenders by making two top level stops on one play, resulting in a TD against one of the better teams in the NFL.
Keysor makes another great point about why Kelce’s blocking may be getting a bum rap:
Kelce rarely looks to pancake or lay big hits at this point in his career, particularly when taking on bigger defenders. If I were to guess, that’s a major reason [why] the narrative that he’s an “unwilling” blocker could be spread.
Also, Kelce is so shifty and quick, that Reid often uses him as a chessboard piece he can scheme and maneuver, much like Tyreek Hill is used as a decoy, forcing an opponent’s defensemen to shift away from a play’s primary movement. In this way, Reid uses Kelce, who is notoriously depended upon in the red zone, as a magnet for misdirection. The GIF below illustrates this perfectly. What’s important to remember here, is that this does not make Kelce a bad blocker. It means his game is multifaceted and it also means Andy Reid is taking advantage of the various skills Kelce brings to the table. A table much larger than many other tight ends to ever play the game. However, I must admit, Kelce is only 1-for-3 in his career in passing, for a terrible 33% completion rate.
At least I’m not alone in my assessment that Travis Kelce is a very good blocker…
… as well as the best tight end, ever.
“GOAT of YAC, like he’s a one man petting zoo!” Ha ha ha, he he he!
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Jeffri Chadiha, normally a huge critic of the Chiefs, now says that the Travis Kelce-Tony Gonzalez debate is a legitimate one in Kansas City.
If they gave out an award for GOAT off the field, Kelce may end up with that as well.
So, who does Travis Kelce think is the TE GOAT?
Now, WR Tyreek Hill is putting together a nice career. Sure, he could one day reach the Hall of Fame, but it’s hard to see him ever being called the WR GOAT. That’s been reserved for Jerry Rice… or maybe Randy Moss… or Terrell Owens, another Andy Reid protege…. or Don Hutson… or Raymond Berry… or Steve Largent… or Calvin Johnson… or Marvin Harrison… or Cris Carter, or, or, or. At the very least, Hill should soon be in the running for the best Chiefs WR of All Time. In the time being, I hope Kansas City Chiefs fans can appreciate what, or who, they’ve got in house: possibly Four GOATS. Time will tell.
Laddie Morse — ArrowheadOne
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