By Laddie Morse
Michael Travis Rose is taking the day off, so I’ll take over the grading process today. Actually, he’s having modem woes, and we’ve all, been there, done that, so… let’s get it on!
The Kansas City Chiefs were back in Arrowhead Stadium with a near capacity crowd, 256 fans shy, but there was nothing shy about this crowd. It was a playoff atmosphere according to sideline reporter Kay Adams, who also hosts Good Morning Football, and she also added, “I don’t know who’s taking them out.”
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Quarterbacks: A+++
This game against the Vikings was just that, a playoff atmosphere and what was supposed to be Patrick Mahomes and the first team offense playing the whole first half, was two highly successful drives then he sat… well, stood… but he never entered the game after that.
Mahomes was 8-of-9 for 117 yards passing with 2 TDs and a perfect passer rating of 158.3, all before the first quarter ever ended. No need to see any more from him. Patrick’s performance in this one earned the QB position all those pluses at the back end of the A.
After Pats sat, Shane Buechele took over and was very good. Buechele was 20-of-33 for 231 yards and 2 TDs as well. His only glitch was an INT to the Vikings Parry Nickerson.
348 yards passing in this game by K.C. wins an A grade.
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Running Backs: B+
With both Clyde Edwards-Helaire and Darrel Williams not taking snaps in this game, the test pilot RB was Jerick McKinnon. McKinnon looked sharp on the Chiefs first two series’ and used his superior speed and one-cut ability to gain 23 yards on 4 carries for a 5.8 YPC average. The Chiefs look to be well put together in the run game this year.
Derrick Gore turned a screen pass into a 56 yard catch and run TD. He may not have been placed on the 53 man roster, but he has cleared waivers and is back on the PS.
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Darwin Thompson had 3 carries for 11 yards and a 3.7 YPC average. D-Train cleared waivers and was picked up by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and placed on their Practice Squad.
The running back overall gained just 67 yards, earning a B grade, but this stat in this game was mostly meaningless.
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Wide Receivers/Tight Ends: A
The first drive ended a 5-play drive with a 35-yard pass to Tyreek Hill for a TD. The second drive of the game ended with Mahomes pass to Blake Bell as he snatched it off his shoe tops before it hit the ground, then turned and twisted his way for a score.
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Bell’s TD was reminiscent of a Kelce type TD and garners credit and raises hopes for the future of the TE position. Especially now that we know four TEs will be kept on the 53-man roster.
Marcus Kemp had 3 catches in this game, but was waived, then returned, to the 53-man roster when it was announced that Tyrann Mathieu was in the Covid protocol.
Daurice “Reece” Fountain also had 3 receptions in the one, and he has made the final 53.
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Offensive Line: A+
The Chiefs OL was excellent against the Vikes and for the third week in a row gave up zero sacks. I’ve been wanting the Chiefs to build a “juggernaut” OL for years and they might have achieved what I only thought possible over a several year period.
The first unit of Orlando Brown, Joe Thuney, Creed Humphrey, Trey Smith, and Lucas Niang may be the best OL unit after a couple of years together, and there’s not reason to believe they won’t stay together that long. Five years I hope.
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Defensive Line: A
The Chiefs use the preseason games as a tune-up for the regular season and that’s no more apparent than the play of the DL. They were largely responsible for holding the Vikings to 3 points in the first half on drives:
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- 3-pt FG
- Punt
- Punt
- Punt
- Punt
- Missed FG
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Helping to stake the team to a 21-to-3 halftime lead tell you all you need to know. Backups, Tyler Clark and Austin Edwards, were the main clogs in the works in stopping the Viking on a goal line stand. Both players have been re-signed to the Chiefs PS.
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Linebackers: A
The Chiefs Linebacking crew in 2021 will be much improved and their performance in this game is proof in the pudding. Willie gay had 3 tackles. Two tackles each for: Anthony Hitchens, Nick Bolton, Darius Harris, and Omari Cobb had one tackle.
Darius Harris made the 53-man roster while Omari Cobb is back on the PS. I would have flipped these two, but that shows how little I know.
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Defensive Backs: A
When Armani Watts made his INT, he likely sealed his place on the roster. Watts has had an outstanding preseason and indeed made the final 53-man team.
With seven passes defensed in this game, the DBs played a very good game, well deserving of an A grade. I’m much more impressed with the CBs than I though I would be, but this just the preseason were talking about. Let’s see how they do against real competition, like Jarvis Landry and O’Dell Beckham can offer in 9 days.
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Special Teams: B
Mike Hughes had one punt return for 13 yards. It looks more and more like he’ll be the primary punt returner.
Harrison Butker made all of his Point After attempts (4).
Tommy Townsend had 5 Punts for a 42.4 average. Sterling Hofrichter, Atlanta’s punter, averaged 42.5 yards per punt in 2020, and that was the lowest in the league. The reason for the B grade.
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Grade Report Summary
So, the position groups get nearly straight A’s this week, but the Special Team’s unit must become more consistent and specifically, Tommy Townsend. He had one great coffin-corner kick this offseason and we’ll need to see more like that out of him.
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What do you think?
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Laddie Morse — ArrowheadOne
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