Chiefs: Isiah Pacheco Has Wheels!!! – Phil Maxwell
I borrowed that title from a Seth Keysor quote….. actually, the exact quote was:
“ Watching Isiah Pacheco highlights is an excellent reminder of how many talented Running Backs fall in the draft. That dude has some wheels!”- Seth Keysor
He wasn’t exaggerating either, I watched Isiah’s highlights and then had to rewatch them again. In what I can only describe as an interestingly unique running style, Pacheco Bobs and Weaves in what resembles a prizefighter dodging punches. All the while doing it at a remarkable speed.
Here is a little ditty that immediately piqued my interest: Isiah Pacheco ran a 4.37 40 at this year’s combine, which turns out to be the fastest time ever recorded by a Running Back at the combine. (tied with Pierre Strong) We all know Andy Reid and his “need for speed” in his offensive designs.
Well, Pacheco runs like a Mack truck with no brakes going down a 7% grade.
Possessing lightning speed is not the only thing that stood out about Pacheco in his young football career to date. He happens to be an outstanding blocker, some have said, one of the best blocking Running Backs in this year’s draft class, and he admittedly enjoys it. He has been quoted saying:
“ For me to play with Mahomes and protect him…Imma go block my behind off.”
Nothing will get this kid playing time faster than learning to pick up the blitz and executing the block well. The Chiefs Offensive Line will have its hands full with some of the Super Duper Dynamic Pass Rushing units that our AFC counterparts have assembled in the off-season in what was clearly a blatant attempt to try and disrupt and get to Patrick.
The one thing that seems to be a collectively unanimous opinion on Pacheco when reading scouting reports, articles, and such, is he runs hard….and faster example, when asked why he never takes a play off and why he runs at full throttle on every play, his reply was, “ The reason I go hard on every play is because I never knew when it could be my last.”
There is a profoundly emotional history behind that quote. Isiah’s older brother Travoise was his biggest fan, often seen on the sidelines during Isiah’s games, cheering and yelling, “That’s my brother, that’s my brother!” Sadly, when Isiah was 16, his older brother was senselessly murdered one night, leaving Isiah heartbroken. One short year later, Isiah’s sister Celeste was also the victim of murder. She was like a second mother to Isiah, who was quite a bit younger than his sister.
When he runs hard, he is running hard for them.
During his freshman year at Rutgers University, he took an 80-yard kick return to the house against Michigan, he looked up to the stands to where his mother was seated and blew two kisses in her direction. One for his brother and one for his sister.
“My family had a lot of ups and downs. When my brother first passed and then my sister passed a year later, it really hurt my mom deep inside. I’m the youngest one out of all my brothers and sisters, and I kind of bring that smile to my mom’s face when I’m out here on this field just grinding away, taking care of my schoolwork, and showing what I have to do to get to that next level.
Earlier this year, Rutgers head coach Greg Schiano informed Draft Bible that Isiah Pacheco is the toughest Running Back that he has ever coached. Take a moment when you get the chance and look up some of the names that Greg has coached. You will be shocked, and then you will understand why such a statement speaks volumes about Isiah Pacheco’s work ethic.
Isiah received offers from other programs such as Boston College, Louisville, North Carolina State, Iowa, Maryland, Syracuse, and Pittsburgh. Still, he wanted to stay loyal to his home state of New Jersey.
“ He wanted to be loyal to his home state of New Jersey, just like he was loyal to his hometown of Vineland…..and that’s just how he is wired.” Said his high school coach.
So I don’t know Chief fans, but it certainly looks like there is a possibility Veach did it again when drafting Pacheco. There is a good possibility he found another diamond in the rough in the late rounds that got overlooked due to particular circumstances. Here is a link to an article that details Isiah’s Pro Day Performance, showing his personality in the piece as well: https://rutgers.rivals.com/news/isiah-pacheco-shines-at-pro-day-talks-upcoming-private-workout-and-more
Isiah didn’t leave four years of college football with world-beater numbers. The reason is widely due to the fact that the Rutgers squad was commonly seen playing from behind, had an offense that was a detriment to Pacheco’s success, and often had to bail on the ground game. This is very similar to what we have seen by the Chiefs having to bail on the running game and go to the air. That, on top of the fact that the Rutger Offensive Line was truly offensive.
To see Isiah as a complete player is to see his success in the aerial game. He had that contribution to Rutgers as well.
Pacheco finished four years in the Rutger backfield with 2,442 rushing yards and 18 touchdowns. Those numbers didn’t help his argument to be drafted in the early rounds. Those anemic numbers alone played a significant factor in why Isiah didn’t end up on any of the NFL team’s wish lists. But one NFL General Manager tends to see what others won’t or can’t see. What was that again, Laddie, “the Veachinator?
Playing under Andy Reid’s tutelage, along with this young man’s natural talent and desire to play at 100% on every play, could be exactly what the doctor ordered to set Isiah’s career on fire. He played both Quarterback and Running back in High School, and coach Greg Schiano took full advantage of those skills in various wildcat and option formations. Something Andy Reid AKA “The Mad Genius,” might enjoy deploying Pacheco. He is another player drafted by Brett Veach who has a “chip on his shoulder.” Darian Kinnard has a similar view to being drafted so late this year, as did Trey Smith in the 2021 draft. There is a good article about it — see it here: https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/nfl/running-back-isiah-pacheco-is-another-chief-carrying-a-chip-on-his-shoulder/ar-AAX4Ui8?ocid=uxbndlbing
Only time will tell, but I hope this draft pick turns out to be one of those picks that we Chief fans here at ArrowheadOne will sit and brag on Brett Veach about for years to come.
Phillip Maxwell – ArrowheadOne