With many reasons to not be thankful for a season in which the Chiefs lost three of their first five games, we here at ArrowheadOne are thankful for the many blessings this team has to be thankful for. Here are but a few:
Laddie Morse on Sam Madison and Dave Merritt
I’m very thankful for the Chiefs coaches and specifically: Sam Madison and Dave Merritt. When you think about what these two have molded out of mid-to-low round picks, it is nearly miraculous. L’Jarius Sneed, a 2020 4th round pick, Rashad Fenton, a 6th round pick in 2019, plus the way they’ve brought along Charvarius Ward, who the Chiefs traded OL Parker Ehinger for. Note: Ehinger has played for the Cowboys, the Jags, Cards, Ravens, and Raiders before signing with the Lions last month. Thank you Sam and Dave for your expertise in coaching up the Chiefs DBs.
Shawn Sorter on Clark Hunt
This Thanksgiving the part of the Chiefs organization I’m most thankful for is Clark Hunt. His dad was a founder of the AFL. The Super Bowl was a name that Lamar came up with. When Lamar passed away Clark stepped in and took this organization to new heights. The moment Andy Reid was let go in Philadelphia Clark was on the phone arranging a meeting. He identified one of the greatest coaches of all time that had just become available and went out and got him. Clark allowed Andy to run things the way he wanted and this included bringing John Dorsey and Brett Veach on board. If you add enough talented people around you great things will happen. Veach identified Patrick Mahomes, Andy and Dorsey signed off on drafting him, and the rest is history. Without a great owner leading this organization we are just another average football program. Clark Hunt also seems to be a high character individual, and when the man up top believes in doing what’s right those around him will follow suit.
David Bell on Travis Kelce
Travis Kelce is the glue that holds the aerial game together. He is all of that. So, if he deserves a middle-of-the-road evaluation, there is no other Tight End in the business that exceeds the mark he sets. Right now, at his current pace, this middle-of-the-road player will exceed 1,000 receiving yards once again… for the 6th time in a row! Let that sink in. He may not be averaging quite as many yards per catch, nor has he had the number of targets he has had in preceding years. Still, if I had to vote for a player who, week-in and week-out, performs at an All-Pro Level on this roster, it is Travis Kelce. If you examine the all NFL Tight Ends, Kelce exceeds all other TE’s in Total Yards Receiving by 124 yards (that player is Mark Andrews of the Ravens who is having a very good year). Next in the ranking is Kyle Pitts of the Falcons who has 606 yards and Travis towers over Pitts by 141 Yards. If just using TD’s scored? Hunter Henry has 7 TDs to Kelce’s 5. The current numbers, Kelce’s YPC is 12.0. Kyle Pitts leads in that category with 15.0.
Taken as an aggregate? Kelce is the top TE in the business. When Patrick Mahomes must have a pass that gets a first down in a crucial situation? Travis Kelce is his primary target. If this is a player who is barely above Journeyman level of play, barely exceeding the NFL Average performer in the TE role? I want him on my team until he retires.
Michael Travis Rose on Thanksgiving
While I have a lot to be thankful for this year, personally, I’m also thankful for the absolute genuine goodness of the players whom the Chiefs see fit to represent their organization. From Patrick Mahomes’ 15 and the Mahomies Foundation, to the work Tyrann Mathieu does, such as giving out 500 turkeys just earlier this week and his Tyrann Mathieu Foundation, to Tyreek Hill’s Tyreek Hill Family Foundation. Even future Pro Bowl tight end Travis Kelce is on the charity bandwagon with his Eighty-Seven & Running organization. There are countless other Chiefs players, who give back to the community, as well. These guys not only are sterling representatives of the Chiefs organization, their philanthropic endeavors and spirit serve as an example to all NFL players and average Americans alike. After all, there’s nothing that shows thanksgiving better, than giving your time and money to those less fortunate.
David Bell quotes Seth Keysor on Patrick Mahomes
From a piece by Seth Keysor called, “Bad Narratives Patrick Mahomes, and the Chiefs offense vs Green Bay“
“But narratives are what they are, and the discourse this week has been that Mahomes is finally back. And while the narratives lack accuracy in terms of what he’s looked like for much of this season, there’s one thing that’s absolutely true; Mahomes was exceptional against the Raiders, in one of his most ruthless performances of the season. Which is going to make this week’s film review all the more fun.” –Seth Keysor
Laddie Morse on Andy Heck
I’m ever so thankful for Offensive Line coach, Andy Heck. In the past, I’ve become aware that many NFL teams have offensive line coaches in name only, meaning, they do very little actual coaching of their players. Instead, they are just tasked with getting then ready each week to execute their game plan. Not so in Kansas City. Andy Heck has a positive reputation as one of the better OL coaches in this league and the fans should be singing his praises… a lot more than they do right now.
David Bell, More on Andy Heck
The Chiefs Offensive Line has three legitimate Pro Bowl Contenders: Thuney, Humphrey, and Smith! The Chiefs IOL is the trend-setter of all NFL Units.
Laddie Morse on the New Offensive Line
This ties in to Andy Heck… I’m thankful that the Chiefs were able to completely rebuild their offensive line in one offseason. The trade for Orlando Brown had me doubting this deal early in the season but Brown is coming on strong and should prove to be one of the best moves K.C. has ever made. Joe Thuney is lights out one of the best, if not the best, OG in the league. Center Creed Humphrey has turned out better than I thought he would be, and may be making a Pro Bowl by year three. Ditto for RG Trey Smith who was tabbed this week with Hall of Fame potential by Brin Baldinger. Right tackle has been played well by both Lucas NIang and Mike Remmers. Andrew Wylie had a bad game hen a good game… but overall, the transition to a brand spanking new OL has been amazing.
David Bell on Willie Gay and Brett Veach
I am thankful for Brett Veach drafting Willie Gay, Jr.. Everything has finally fallen into place for the Chiefs second year linebacker. It took some time for Gay to get back into playing football and practicing daily in the Pro Ranks. He had missed considerable football time prior to his being drafted. Now, Gay is all over the field and is making plays. His reads on the opposing teams play execution have nearly become Renowned as he plies his trade, sideline to sideline. At the same time, Gay’s ability to defend against the pass is showing his steady growth. Finally, the Chiefs have a LB to play outside Hitchens and that is helping Hitch’s game improve at the same time.
Steve Spagnuolo has two LB’s he can count on which is showing up in the defense’s play over the past 6 games, even in the loss to the Titans. The Linebackers have benefited with the addition of Melvin Ingram at the same time. While it’s true he needed time to get back in the swing of things due to the injury he incurred in the Chiefs win of the Hunt trophy, when he returned to the starting lineup on October 10th, the defense itself began to improve. In the game against the Giants, Gay figured in on 9 tackles and he had an interception and a Pass Defense in that game to boot.
While I see Willie Gay’s ability to correctly diagnose an unfolding play as a work in progress, he made two very successful plays versus the Cowboys, figuring in on stopping gains and stopping the Cowboys from converting on 3rd down. He teams well with either Hitchens or Bolton when they are Mike. I noticed particular confidence when paired with Bolton while Hitchens was out due to injury.
Laddie Morse on Team Identity
While I’m thankful that the 2021 Kansas City Chiefs are still majorly identified by offensive players, Patrick Mahomes, Travis Kelce, and Tyreek Hill, I’m also grateful this team now has a defense with players like — Chris Jones, Tyrann Mathieu, L’Jarius Sneed, and Willie Gay — who fans want to watch whenever they’re on the field, beginning with me.
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ArrowheadOne Staff Writers
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