Laddie Morse
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Armageddon. The end of all things. Well, the Kansas City Chiefs offense may not be the end of all things, but it’s getting close to becoming the be-all-end-all of NFL offenses. For years now, I’ve thought the ultimate offense would include a running QB. The problem with that theory is a guy like Lamar Jackson. He looks to run before he looks to pass and that leaves all of his WRs in no man’s land. Plus, that’s not exactly what I was always dreaming about. What Patrick Mahomes was able to do to the Tennessee Titans defense last Sunday evening, was the dream come true. Although I’m not a big fan of one-man football, because it remains a team game, the reality is, one man can — and did — make all the difference in the world. The incredible aspect of getting to watch Patrick Mahomes is… he knows it’s a team game, from the owner, to the GM, to the Head Coach, to his support staff, to his HoF Tight End, to this Offensive Line protectors, to his talented Wide outs, and supportive family. Everyone in his life and the organization, helps him win, and so what he was able to do on Sunday evening, was not only heart stopping, but it may be the best we’ll ever see, as long as we live.
Clark Hunt
If you are old enough, think back ten years to the time when the Chiefs could only muster two measly wins to go along with 14 losses. Romeo Crennel was the head coach and there was a website called, saveourchiefs.com (now defunct) and the war cry of fans was to fire GM Scott Poili. Many believed that Clark Hunt was not ready to pay out the necessary money to secure and maintain a winning franchise, but the hiring of Andy Reid as Head Coach and John Dorsey as GM, plus adding Eric Fisher, Travis Kelce and Knile Davis through the draft and trading for QB Alex Smith and FB Anthony Sherman… proved that theory wrong.
The biggest difference was the signing of HC Andy Reid. After only winning two games in 2012, Reid led the Chiefs to 9 straight wins right out of the gates, to open the 2013 season, and… the organization hasn’t been the same ever since.
Andy Reid
The patience of owner Clark Hunt has been ever present, especially when it comes to working with HC Andy Reid. An old friend of the Chiefs reporting community — Terez Paylor — [who passed over a year and a half ago] reported on the firing of GM John Dorsey and said it was his communications skills, or lack thereof which got him fired. That means Reid was not being communicated with each week. Paylor once wrote:
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“John does stuff and doesn’t tell people why. Dorsey’s
style of management could wear on people.”
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So, who do you think his communication style wore on most? While many have speculated that Andy Reid was majorly responsible for Dorsey’s ouster, it sounds more like it was Dorsey who got himself fired.
For those who support the idea that Brett Veach (who took over after Dorsey) has done an exceptional job — and I’m one of them — it’s hard to argue with the management set up that owner Clark Hunt had in place where both the GM and the HC report directly to him. Because… if the Chiefs were still using the age old framework of having the HC hired by, and reporting to the GM instead, we would likely still have Dorsey as the GM, and also still have only one Lombardi Trophy in the Chiefs Super Bowl trophy case, and that would be from the 1969 season.
The Athletic wrote about Andy Reid following Super Bowl LIV victory:
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“… an offensive innovator, had already built a potent offense when Mahomes became the starter two years ago. Mahomes, though, bolstered Reid’s offense with his rare collection of skills — arm strength, vision, mobility, creativity and improvisation — in racking up 50 touchdown passes in 2018. In his 29 years in the NFL, with 22 as a head coach, Reid has helped develop several star quarterbacks, including Brett Favre, Donovan McNabb, Michael Vick and Alex Smith.”
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What Andy Reid is best known for is his ability to design successful creative offensive schemes… which also means a huge offensive playbook. He’s equally a people person (which makes the tragedy that has befallen both of his sons even more tragic). That seems to align best with a QB like Patrick Mahomes who is not only a wonderful person but is sensational when it comes to remembering and learning from his own mistakes, but can carry out his coaches wishes without a glitch.
Reid once said in response to being asked about the heart of his coaching philosophy,
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“… tell me what I need to do to get better
at what I’m trying to accomplish.“
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I once schooled a drama student who always — and I mean always — asked me to give her notes after every practice and performance. That told me they were trying to get better at every possible turn. That kind of attitude is what fits like a glove with Patrick Mahomes who grew up in baseball locker rooms with his father, Pat Mahomes, who played in the big leagues. Mahomes was around so many MLB players who were — all trying to get better — all the time, that it became a way of life for him.
Patrick Mahomes
That baseball influence was not only a perfect fit with Andy Reid’s coaching style, but it also informed Mahomes about how he could play the game of football differently than any QB before him:
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“Playing baseball I used to do side arm, you see all the different type of stuff where I’m throwing it from different arm angles…. That definitely applies to my football game.”
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HC Andy Reid also said this about Patrick Mahomes:
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“… you get this kid that wants to be the best, is willing to
work at it, wants you to give them information and
is very intelligent.”
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Travis Kelce
I really thought Travis Kelce would be a dud when he hurt his knee and spent his rookie season on the bench. Nothing could be further from the truth. Travis Kelce has established himself as the best Tight End to ever play the game. However, he recognizes how fortunate he is to be playing with the best QB of all time.
Kelce has been special. Period. He shared this when asked: “When did you realize that he [Mahomes] was going to be special?“
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“It was probably during the practice week his rookie year. During that season, he was absolutely tearing the defense in terms of the scout team. He was doing it in a way that almost looked like he was toying with them. At that point, you could tell that he had a natural feel for the game that was unlike a lot of other players. And sure enough, with the leadership of not only coach Reid and the offensive staff we had, but also Alex Smith, a guy that’s very professional. With all of that at his disposal, it just looked like it was going to be an awesome transition into Pat being a Hall of Fame type player, even though it’s so early. If he keeps this up, which I think he will (laughs), he’ll be in a gold jacket for sure.”
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WRs and OL
When the Chiefs traded away Tyreek Hill to the Miami Dolphins many believed it would mark the end of the Chiefs dynamic offense. It has been dynamic enough for new to the system WR, JuJu Smith Schuester, to gain 582 receiving yards so far this season (after 8 games)… and… if you divide that by 8 then multiply it by 17 (games in the season) you get 1,272 receiving yards. Plus, newby WR Marquez Valdes-Scantling will have over 800 yards receiving if he remains on his current pace for 2022.
For the Offensive Line, which was fixed a year and a half ago, many are unhappy with Orlando Brown Jr. and in some cases, rightfully so, but the OL as a whole has been excellent, especially at protecting their QB. Only five (5) teams in the NFL have allowed less sacks (16) than the Chiefs OL. So, if you are spending a lot of time complaining about the OL, you might want to rethink how you’re spending your time.
Not only has the Chiefs offense flourished, but it has brought out the best in Patrick Mahomes who has learned even more about how to notice what defenses are lined up as, during his pre-snap analysis, but he’s also given himself the complete permission to run with it when necessary. That’s part of what happened last Sunday evening. With his offensive line improved dramatically since the Super Bowl LV loss to the Buccaneers, Mahomes has set himself apart as the clear cut MVP of the league at the (near) half way point of the season.
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This is obviously not a piece about the Chiefs defense but if you’ve noticed, Steve Spagnuolo’s crew appears to get better as each game goes along. The other stats that is helping to make the Chiefs defense notable is that they are currently fifth (5th) in the league vs the run. So, while the offense is becoming an unstoppable force, the defense is doing it’s part to put the ball back in Mahomes hands. In the meantime, the Chiefs offense has only Punted the ball 25 times this year, which ranks K.C. as the third (3rd) best team in that category. Plus, Tommy Townsend is #1 in the NFL in Net Average Punt distance. With the progress Patrick Mahomes has made over the past four+ seasons as the starting QB and face of the Chiefs, as well as the face of the NFL, it won’t surprise me in the least, if the Chiefs don’t lose another game this season.
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Laddie Morse — ArrowheadOne
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