The 2022 NFL season is formally on our doorstep and shortly we’ll get to see the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs in motion.
Earlier than that occurs our buddies over at Landing Wire sought to look into the most important query going through every of the 32 NFL groups. The Chiefs have undergone a ton of adjustments on either side of the ball this offseason, however given their historical past of dynamic offensive play, it’s not shocking that Doug Farrar’s query for Kansas Metropolis was concerning the offense. He merely desires to know: “What is that this offense going to appear like?”
My reply: It’s going to look fairly totally different, a minimum of so far as receiving expertise. The Chiefs are solely returning one broad receiver from final season, boasting 4 new members of that unit. All over the place else on offense, they’re returning key items.
“They nonetheless have velocity receiver Mecole Hardman, although Hardman’s chemistry with Mahomes has by no means been what Mahomes had with Hill. Mega-tight finish Travis Kelce remains to be round, although his “matchup nightmare” standing takes successful with Hill out of the image. Former Packers receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling is an enormous velocity receiver who can win to all ranges at occasions, and rookie Skyy Moore seems as marketed, however this passing recreation might be extra about sustaining issues versus ready for the large play to occur.” – Doug Farrar
Farrar is true on the cash with this, as steered by the three preseason drives that we noticed from the Kansas Metropolis first-team offense this 12 months. They have been two 11-play drives and one 12-play drive all ending with a landing.
“One factor that head coach Andy Reid and offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy undoubtedly spent this offseason determining: assist Mahomes in opposition to two-deep coverages. Final season, Mahomes accomplished 215 of 332 passes in opposition to two-deep seems (Cowl-2, 2-Man, Cowl-4, Cowl-6, Cowl-8) for two,532 yards, 1,401 air yards, 9 touchdowns, 9 interceptions, and a Optimistic Play Fee of fifty.3%. Solely Trevor Lawrence had extra interceptions in opposition to two-deep protection final season, and the Chiefs haven’t had the sort of operating again that may drive a kind of safeties again within the field.” – Doug Farrar
One other remark from the preseason: The Chiefs used personnel groupings to get groups out of these pesky Cowl-2 seems that brought on so many issues final season. Working the ball extra successfully will probably be one other a part of that, but when the preseason was any indication, the operating recreation will once more be an afterthought in 2022.
“If Kansas Metropolis’s offense seems a bit betwixt and between for the primary few video games, that’s to be anticipated. The actual query is, how explosive will all of it be when large performs are wanted down the stretch and within the playoffs?” – Doug Farrar
The offense nonetheless has the velocity to stretch the sphere with Hardman, Valdes-Scantling and even Justin Watson, however the purpose for the offense this 12 months is to not be so closely reliant on these performs. That was the case in 2022 and it was detrimental to the success of the offense in the long term.