AP Photo/Jed ·Jacobson
Patrick Mahomes may look superhuman at times, but the Kansas City Chiefs are well aware that their starting quarterback shouldn’t push his physical limits.
The Athletic’s Mike Sandor talks to an NFC team executive who says Kansas City needs management Mahomes’ workload because of his lack of support on offense.
“Mahomes doesn’t show any sign of running games, they have to rest his arms like an MLB pitcher – damn nearly 70 times Pitching, he’s running around outside and doesn’t look like he’s even under pressure,” the executive said.
The 2018 MVP just had a 20-17 overtime win over the Tennessee Titans and he tried 68 times Passing, 14 more than his previous single game. This season, he has made 331 attempts in eight starts, averaging less than 41.4 times. If he continues at that pace, he’ll be third for the most passes (704) in a season.
As executive officer regulations, the Chiefs had no choice but to rely heavily on air strikes.
Kansas City ranks 23rd on offense with 103.5 yards per game, and for the backcourt, even that Might as well be a somewhat flattering number. Mahomes ranks third on the team in rushing (176). The threat he poses as a passer inevitably means that opponents sometimes put more defenders, which also opens up running lanes. Kansas City [email protected]
QB1 do it myself 😤 pic.twitter.com/I4UmCZxoqu
As long as Mahome With Stace on the roster, the Chiefs will never be a team that needs a Derrick Henry-style running back. However, the front office and coaching staff may wish they could get more out of Clyde Edwards-Helaire. The 2020 first-round pick is posting career-low yards per carry (4.2) and rushing yards per game (36.6).
Kansas City ranks second in total offense (415.3 yards per game) and second in scoring (30.4 points per game). As the saying goes, if it’s not broken, don’t fix it.
But head coach Andy Reed and his staff knew Mahomes would change like any other player get tired. Having him throw 60+ passes may not be the norm in the future.
