In the 2020 Season Finale, what ever went wrong was multifaceted. The Front 4 did not get to Brady. The DE’s didn’t set the edge and the outside run-game was effective for that reason.The Linebackers could not get to the edge to stop the run and short drops on Defense failed to quell what Brady does best. The Offensive line could not block for the run game nor could they protect Patrick Mahomes who was in flight almost all of the second half. The play-calling by Reid and Bieniemy did not adjust to the areas of short and intermediate range passes. I am sure the litany can be added to by almost anyone who is a NFL Football fan.
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Fast Forward: One thing about which we can be certain: The problems on the offensive line have been solved. The players brought aboard via Free Agent signings, a huge trade and draft picks inform us that the future of the starting five plus depth was the focus of the off-season & the draft. On Defense, the Chiefs brought in a sure bet success player for the linebacker group and they signed a DE to boot.
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Over-the-Top: Grade –> A+
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To review my previous take on the Chiefs Aerial game please visit…
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Photo: Denny Medley
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I don’t want to dwell on the deep ball, except to observe: the Chiefs have the talent and speed to beat any defensive back for passes that stretch the defenders with vertical routes (if Patrick Mahomes has time). Obviously Tyreek Hill is one of the top threats in the game followed a half a step by Mecole Hardman.
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Photo: withthefirstpick
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I am satisfied that the Chiefs have a deep threat x 2. When you consider Travis Kelce is added to this pair of WRs, the Chiefs are in the cat-bird seat. Does this include pass plays that call for a catch point for the deep ball of 20-40 yards or more? Absolutely.
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RBs & FB as Receivers: Grade –> B
Based on 2020’s usage
In 2020, Andy Reid and Eric Bieniemy, didn’t focus much on using Clyde Edwards-Helaire in the game plans as they could have. By Week 6, CEH lost two starters on the Offensive line — Osemele and Schwartz — in front of him. The offensive minds of the HC and OC didn’t focus on the short and intermediate game as they could have, although Clyde has demonstrated he could take a pass, be a receiver in the flats or the screen passes. He even lined up successfully split off from the backfield as a receiver. Word has it that the plan to use CEH in the aerial game far more extensively in 2021.
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Depth at RB is very good with Darrel Williams as the #2 RB, and a #3 RB yet to be identified. Those in the running (so to speak) include: Jerrick McKinnon, Darwin Thompson, Elijah McGuire and Derrick Gore. No matter who is in the game QB Patrick Mahomes will have gifted receivers out of the backfield as all 4 RBs have good hands as the #3. Credo to the use of CEH and Williams in this manner and the various roles and options that can be utilized.
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Note: To replace Anthony Sherman, absent for the first time in 8 seasons, Veach signed Free Agent Fullback Mike Burton, a 6th-year well-traveled Pro whose last stop was New Orleans. He had 15 receptions averaging over 10 yards per catch and is a bruiser for the run game as well. In Today’s NFL the FB role is quite overlooked but Burton adds back the dimension for when it is called upon for route running by a FB. Burton is a versatile player with good athleticism, well versed in route running, a good blocker and Special Teams Contributor. I am satisfied that though we all truly loved Anthony Sherman, Burton will fill the bill when called upon.
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Tight-Ends and H-Backs: Grade –> A+
The Grade is due to the superlative play by the best TE in football –> Travis Kelce! He blocks, runs all routes: short, Intermediate and deep. He does things that no other TE has ever done, running deep, making moves and catching the ball including climbing the ladder to fight for possession. Travis has also come to maturity and has donned a leadership role.
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The Chiefs have Blake Bell back in 2021 and also Nick Keizer. They added Noah Gray via the draft and Gray is my primary focus for the aerial attack. He can line up tight, wide or in the backfield so he brings something to help set the table of alternative route running. He must break in to the team, the playbook and NFL Speed but the tape looks quite good for how I think he will be used. We won’t know how soon Gray will fit the picture, until we see it. Evan Bayliss rounds out the competition at TE.
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The reason Bell is important is in the blocking game. Nick Keizer showed promise, but Gray appears to fit the hands/speed/route running that has been sorely missing from the TE picture. I would like to have added him as a Break-in candidate in my recent piece ,but I had too many potentials for the category and the piece was one where I was already struggling with brevity.
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To take a peek, see the article, here –> Chiefs: Stop! Call the Law, Break Out’s and Break-In’s are About to Happen!
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If you want to read more about Noah Gray as an important aspect of the upcoming season, you can review what I wrote on the Chiefs Renewed Focus for the Aerial Game, also mentioned above.
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Receiver Mode: Grade Card Day Part 2’s Focus
The Short and Intermediate pass game plan
Where the shortcoming existed for the teams with Mahomes at the helm has been the short-to-Intermediate passing game. This itself is a complicated topic because of the player mix and who will make the 53 man roster. Probably more important is the work in the off-season that Patrick Mahomes has been working on. In this regard, what I anticipate is that Mahomes restricts the depth of his drops to aid his offensive line and the number of times he flees the pocket. What I expect to see happen is a QB far more comfortable in the pocket, trusting the men in front of him and stepping up in the pocket allowing the pass rush to fly by as he does so.
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What I want to observe in Part 2 is the who, how and why of the short and intermediate route running and targeting receivers with greater attention to using these plays and targets quickly so the pass rush is unable to be fruitful even when a blitz is used. Part 2 will be out on Tuesday.
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David Bell – ArrowheadOne
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If you are viewing this in Apple News and would like to join the Discussion, [GO HERE.](http://arrowheadone.com/chiefs-receiver-mode-grade-card-day-part-1/#disqus_thread)
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