I will state that the RB group does not have a “Shock and Awe” member of the cast, nor does the group deserve such a designation. Perhaps it will its stripes in the future.
The Ground game is not the Chiefs game. Kansas City is a team built around the Aerial attack. The offensive line will make protecting Patrick Mahomes, Job One, and they will do it well. The line players gelled last season with only one position for which a starter needs to be determined. We can safely guess the Chiefs will use play-action sets with Mahomes under center far more frequently. I’d suppose that we will see perhaps a 10% increase in plays calling for the run. All the Running Backs are capable blockers and receivers. I am delighted with Mahomes passing the ball to any of our Running Backs.
The Players
I will state that the RB group does not have a “Shock and Awe” member of the cast, nor does the group deserve such a designation. This observation is valid because none of the players are complete studs regarding their playing history. I am not denigrating the guys either, but stats are stats, and we have no RB who matches up to the cream of the crop.
The players who likely will make the active Roster are Clyde Edwards-Helaire, Ronald Jones, II., Jerick McKinnon, Isiah Pacheco, and Tayon Fleet-Davis. I think TF-D will be assigned to the practice squad, and the Chiefs will utilize four players on the active roster.
Since Clyde Edwards-Helaire was drafted, I have been waiting to see the break-out season for the LSU RB. If you recall, when Clyde was drafted in round one, it took me by surprise. I spent time till 4 AM, researching him, watching game film, and trying to see his value as a round-one draft pick. Ultimately, I could see why Clyde was high on the Chiefs draft board. However, I still cannot see why he was a first-round draft pick.
Clyde’s break-out season hasn’t happened though perhaps it will happen in 2022. Everything I hear about him physically being ready to play is positive. At the same time, Clyde has had injury problems in his first two seasons. That does not mean he is injury prone–at least it’s not a ‘read’ I would make yet.
Daniel Harms of RGR football is a big booster for Clyde. He anticipates CEH with perhaps 1500 all-purpose yards. That’s a pretty lofty goal in itself, but I can see it. It is not outside the realm of possibility for CEH to have his first 1,000-yard rushing season. I don’t think that is a reach if he stays healthy since the NFL now has a 17-game season. So that is how I view his upcoming season in a very positive light. With the Chiefs rolling with more play-action play sets, CEH’s opportunities should be boosted significantly. Let’s hope he follows through.
If he struggles, the Chiefs added former Tampa Bay Buc’s Ronald Jones II to the RB Room. That was an excellent addition by Brett Veach. RJ has, in the past, caused the Chiefs defense fits. His best year stat-wise was 2020: 978 Yards Rushing and 7 TDs. RJ can be explosive. Like Clyde, he has excellent hands, and between the two, they combine to make a formidable 1-2 punch for the ground game.
Next up is Jerick McKinnon, 2021’s late-season RB with “Juice.” Many A1 followers were calling for GM Brett Veach to get McKinnon re-signed. It then happened. I am sure it was because we were all hollering about.
What I like about Jerick is that his style is different than CEH and RJ: His feet and the ability to make cuts and change direction quickly make him an asset. If he gets to the second level, he can break long gains and even score running away. McKinnon is indeed fast and very agile with his feet. At the same time, he is a good receiver out of the backfield. McKinnon will never be a feature back. However, he provides a great change-up for defenders to face.
Last on the list is Isiah Pacheco out of Rutgers. You have to like the young player. He is another addition to the roster who will play with toughness, a mantle that he acquired due to family tragedy and also springing from the fact that he was drafted so late – another player with a chip on his shoulder. I have visions of Isiah springing a surprise on NFL Defenders in 2022.
For a late draft pick, Pacheco was an insightful selection. I see no reason not to call him the “Dark Horse” of the RB group and probably for the offense overall.
Still, my bottom line about the RB room is that it is not a “shock and awe” group, nor are there any players in it that can be designated as such. I think the group will be effective. If a player is going to join the elite group of “Cornerstone” players(a “Shock and Awe” player), then they will have to prove it in 2022.
David Bell – ArrowheadOne