Chiefs Sunday: For the Morning Chinwag

Chiefs Sunday: For the Morning Chinwag

by David Bell | November 11, 2018

In the past three articles and more, I have focused on just the problems of the defense and that is a valid need to understand the critical  nature of having one phase of the game considered to be a great weakness. On the other hand, we have a top offense and great Special Teams Play underway and this is creating a team that can be a juggernaut for the NFL this season and for years to come.

You may not appreciate that John Dorsey and Brett Veach worked closely together and that Veach benefited from that relationship when he took over control — but that did occur and my case in point was Brett’s pushing the drafting of Patrick Mahomes with John Dorsey. He convinced Dorsey to use picks and move up to take Mahomes. Think about that. Now after Dorsey departed, Veach had 4 years of insight into Dorsey’s view and that contained a vast amount of knowledge and experience. To start out then, Veach has his QBoF on Dorsey’s watch.

Let’s take a deeper look and withhold any analysis of the defensive side of the ball. What follows is my “personal” view of the growth of this ball club and it’s players.

I like what the Pats have accomplished. You may not realize it yet but Brett Veach has provided the Chiefs with players that “Fit” and that create a team with depth while adding a true weapon to the arsenal. He has added depth. It looks like the type of contagious attraction is coming out that exudes the BB era of Patriot football.

Cases in Point: Wide Receivers

During the offseason, the Chiefs added another top talent at Wide Receiver in acquiring Sammy Watkins. His yardage tally might yet eclipse 1,000 yards receiving. I would bet good money though, that he will have more than 900 yards receiving and he has two games thus far with more than 100 yards in catches and YAC thus far in 2018. He was a great addition. Yes, it put Chris Conley a step back as with Demarcus Robinson, but that means our depth has grown significantly to four deep at WR.

Cases in Point: Running Back Depth

Spencer Ware has re-emerged as a top RB for the Chiefs having been the feature back in 2016. Hunt came on board and took off like gangbusters. Brett Veach didn’t leave it there though. He acquired LSU RB Darrell Williams and also RB Damien Williams. All running backs are capable of being receiving threats as well. This is a deep group.

Cases in Point: The Offensive Line

I haven’t written much about the offensive line in the past few articles but I do wish to focus here on the OL. The OL is holding it’s own with two newcomers in the group, Austin Reiter and Andrew Wylie. They are getting meaningful NFL snaps and for guys not intended to be starters, it’s going far better than expected. On the left side of the front five, Cam Erving is doing a bang up job as a starter at LOG. Joe Thomas had a lot to say this week in support of Erving and just as I supported Fish who is going about delivering a solid season at LOT — and I must note that from the start — if you recall. I also supported Eric Fisher and the Doc: LDT has done a top job at LOG and we miss his play and his leadership up front. Over at ROT, Mitch Schwartz is having a more than All-Pro year. Why he isn’t recognized? Probably because he is doing it as a Chief. That will change this year I am pretty sure.

Case In Point: Austin Reiter 

Center Mitch Morse will be back soon. The staff is doing what it should and holding Morse out is protective of his health. Word out of the Kingdom is he wants to play, which Reid has indicated. Meanwhile though, a Brett Veach acquisition from Cleveland has emerged as a quality offensive line contributor. He is a substitute, true, but he has been tasked with substituting for Mitch Morse after Devey was forced to the IR with injury. So, understand: this is the Chiefs 3rd String Offensive Center. Austin Reiter, who had earned the starting job at Cleveland and then was forced out and became available, suddenly is back to the starting role that began in Cleveland but only lasted a single game due to a knee Injury. Reiter is gaining crucial reps as a starter and is performing well. The OL has not suffered greatly in the absence of Mitch Morse. Austin is playing well and his career is reaping benefit.

Case in Point: The Emergence of Andrew Wylie

I can’t say if LDT will be back but if he is, say by week 15 or 16, the Chiefs line will again be blessed. Meanwhile, Andrew Wylie is gaining the benefit of starting as the ROG. His career is reaping benefit but the BIG POINT is that suddenly, with the starters back, the depth of the offensive line has become one of experience and successful depth.

I am grateful for what Veach has accomplished with the offense and defense this past offseason, the draft, the signings and beyond. For that matter, with all the suffering that has gone on with the defense, I am grateful for Veach’s studiousness in having acquired players that show promise. That list includes Speaks, O’Daniel, Nnadi, Williams, Watts, Smith specifically but also we have to consider McKenzie though he has not dressed for the 44 as yet.

Seth Keysor’s View of Reiter and Wylie 

“Both Reiter and Wylie have good functional strength at the point of attack, and they did a nice job with their individual assignments throughout the game against Cleveland. They were able to handle a few stunts that came their way and were generally unnoticeable outside of a few hiccups. That’s really all one can ask for from backup offensive linemen in pass protection.

In the run game, Reiter and Wylie are both markedly less athletic than the starters they’re replacing, so the Chiefs have had to adapt what they ask both to do. However, they’re both strong enough to generate push at the point of attack and seal off blockers. So while their role is different, they are still effective in contributing to the rushing attack.”

“…The Chiefs will definitely want center Mitch Morse and guard Laurent Duvernay-Tardif down the stretch — Morse appears much more likely to return, and much sooner — but in the meantime, both Reiter and Wylie have acquitted themselves well.” – Seth Keysor

From this view you can see that both players will be tasked with hard development work with the weight room and diet to gain strength and muscle mass.

Len Dawson’s Interview

There will be an important interview of Patrick Mahomes preceding the Cardinals game this morning. At least on local KMBC TV of Kansas City. In this game, Patrick Mahomes will likely match and exceed Len Dawson’s franchise record of 30 TD passes in an NFL Season. Right now? He is one shy of 30. Dawson says he is ready to see it done. He and Mahomes have a budding relationship developing which I think is a very good relationship. Dawson is an astute student of the game and is in tune with the currency of the NFL High Powered offenses.

This ought to be very interesting. Drawback is, of course, it’s on KMBC TV and not national. Dawson is still working part time doing appearances like that at age 83. — !! It is certain to be re-broadcast or put on YouTube to be sure.

Nate Taylor’s Article quote from “The Athletic” today:

“Dawson still works during the season on a limited basis. His next assignment for KMBC-TV is for the station’s pregame show ahead of the Chiefs’ primetime game next week against the Rams in Mexico City. Dawson is scheduled to interview Mahomes in his segment.”

Last Comments 

Terez Paylor had an excellent segment on Patrick Mahomes on Wednesday and if you didn’t see it, get to Yahoo Sports to get his take. I am adding Nate Taylor to my must follow group of analysts, pundits and authors which now includes Craig Stout, Ryan Tracy, Terez Paylor and Seth Keyser… as well as being able to read sports news from the Miami Herald and the Cleveland Plain Dealer. All this and and then some — things to talk about, eh?

David Bell – Arrowhead One

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