Embed from Getty Pictures
The Kansas Metropolis Chiefs offense had as tough of an ending as you could possibly have probably imagined on Monday evening. For the third straight sport, Kansas Metropolis went scoreless within the second half. Many drops by the Chiefs extensive receivers ended drives abruptly and took away simple scoring alternatives. In the meantime, the crew didn’t faucet into the operating sport as typically as they’d within the first half. These errors by the Chiefs offense solely put extra strain on Kansas Metropolis’s protection, consequently.
In yesterday’s response article, we highlighted the drops by extensive receivers, the penalties and the turnovers. However past that, there are extra prevalent points for the Chiefs offense. They’ve the flexibility to iron a few of these out going ahead. But, discovering pure consistency goes to be a continuing query mark all through the remainder of the season. That might be what defines the final word ceiling of this Chiefs crew in 2023, besides.
What are the extra noticeable schematic Chiefs offensive points to watch after Monday’s loss? Plus, is there a transparent situation with the lack of an offensive coach? Let’s kick it off.
Passing Offense Restricted With Lack Of Belief
Now we have heard the dearth of belief that Patrick Mahomes has on this cross catching group all through numerous factors of the season. As Mahomes has seen his profession develop, you’ve gotten seen him take extra of what the protection is giving him. However in different cases, the Kansas Metropolis sign caller is holding on to the ball seemingly extra now than he ever has been. And as he talked about after the loss to the Philadelphia Eagles, he’s going to proceed to maintain firing it and giving his guys probabilities to make performs. Nonetheless, Mahomes’ lack of belief is so clear, that it makes you surprise if any belief will really materialize this season.
And it’s extra than simply the problem of not getting open and creating separation, as we talked about in yesterday’s article. The extensive receivers are merely not on the identical web page as Mahomes. In final yr’s prolific season for the Chiefs passing offense, Kansas Metropolis extensive receivers appeared to have a greater understanding of their function. However in 2023, there is no such thing as a substance to what the cross catchers try to perform.
We see Mahomes and his numbers are a bit down this season when throwing the ball deep. Although, this isn’t at all times a Chiefs offensive situation of him simply misfiring. He’s anticipating a few of his extensive receivers to achieve a sure space or landmark on the sector. Kansas Metropolis’s cross catchers have been unable to regulate to search out the mushy spots of the sector. The identical might be mentioned about failing to assault leverage and failing to work crisply, moderately than rounding the route stems.
Outlined Roles Nonetheless Not Clear
The Chiefs have lengthy been identified for spreading the wealth, so to talk, throughout the Mahomes period. Many alternative cross catchers and weapons are concerned and obtain probabilities. However in 2023, there was an absence of outlined roles inside the cross catching room. A part of that is because of youth and inexperience for a couple of names. Then again, Kansas Metropolis is failing to search out rhythm within the cross sport, due to minimized alternatives all through a full sport.
Rookie receiver Rashee Rice has simply been one of many higher gamers at his place. However for no matter cause, the Chiefs fail to make the most of him within the second half. He isn’t going to be taught and work by kinks by standing on the sidelines. The actual fact he solely performed 45 of 79 offensive snaps on Monday is puzzling.
Elsewhere, we see somebody like Kadarius Toney present a spark when he makes a catch and strikes the chains. As soon as once more, his function has been lowered for no matter cause. Toney was working again from an harm to open the season. However now that we’re in late November, it’s needed to present him greater than 22 offensive snaps, like he obtained Monday.
Merely put, the Chiefs offensive points on this space isn’t essentially concerning the incapacity to make performs. It’s extra concerning the lack of constant taking part in time and lack of alternatives in key moments. All informed, Kansas Metropolis should permit the gamers which have shined essentially the most to see the sector routinely for the complete sport.
Run Sport Wants Extra Alternatives
Embed from Getty Pictures
It’s at all times onerous to need to take ball out of the fingers of somebody like Mahomes. However in so lots of the Chiefs’ newest outings, the dearth of alternatives for the run sport within the second half is troubling. Kansas Metropolis has an unimaginable run blocking offensive line. We noticed them have success with counter and entice run calls earlier within the sport in opposition to the Eagles. In fact, the bodily, powerful operating fashion of Isiah Pacheco goes to be a ache for opponents in late moments. Sadly, he has been unable to get many probabilities late in video games.
The Chiefs offensive points embody an absence of steadiness in sure conditions. We noticed this come again to chunk them within the loss at Denver a couple of weeks in the past. And on this most up-to-date loss to Philadelphia, Pacheco solely obtained seven dashing makes an attempt within the second half. He has the flexibility to put on down opponents, as we noticed in numerous factors of final yr’s Tremendous Bowl.
Exterior of extra touches within the run sport, Kansas Metropolis can develop lazy with their run play calls. You will notice them bust out artistic blocking designs occasionally. We additionally see the Chiefs offense turn into difficult to convey down out in house, operating to the skin perimeter. The handoffs of attempting to run instantly in between the tackles or up the center can solely take you up to now.
Accountability Changing into A Issue?
Is there a transparent lack of accountability inside the KC offense? We all know and listen to that somebody like Mahomes isn’t going to throw his extensive receivers beneath the bus, as he has continued to place strain on himself when speaking to media. On the similar time, Travis Kelce is one other participant who is simply going to speak about himself needing to be higher, moderately than make it about others, as we noticed after Monday’s sport. It isn’t like head coach Andy Reid or offensive coordinator Matt Nagy are incapable of rallying the troops. However basically, there’s a lack of motivation and hard love coming from the offensive teaching workers at present.
That’s one thing that you could possibly at all times depend on with former offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy. Whereas Bieniemy is understood now for a way he’s operating the Washington Commanders offense schematically, his expectations have been essential for Kansas Metropolis. The present Chiefs offensive points wouldn’t have grown to this ugly of some extent, have been his phrases and knowledge nonetheless within the locker room. Once more, Reid and Nagy can nonetheless assist in the gamers being extra environment friendly and never changing into lazy. Now we have simply not seen that actually occur up to now within the yr.
Be looking out for extra FPC Chiefs articles and evaluation all through this week. For extra nice sports activities and NFL content material, keep tuned to Full Press Protection.
– Braden Holecek is the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs managing editor for Full Press Protection. He covers the NFL. Like and observe on Follow @ebearcat9//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js Follow @FPC_Chiefs//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js and Fb.
