Can Chiefs Keep Defenses Honest With Mixed Offensive Personnel?

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As has been talked about heavily, the Kansas City Chiefs expanded their offense greatly going into this season. The wide receiver room was completely revamped. That started with the blockbuster trade of Tyreek Hill, sending him to the Miami Dolphins. Because of those moves, the Chiefs are attacking defenses somewhat differently this year. There are still a good amount of quick passes and screen passes. Yet, there are different designs, as to how Kansas City is producing explosive plays and chunk gains.

You are seeing Patrick Mahomes take what is given underneath or in the middle of the field more often. At the same time, the Chiefs pass catchers are generating a great amount of yards after the catch, as well as making defenders miss from time to time. It may not be as flashy as what we had been accustomed to with Kansas City. But, the Chiefs are arguably tougher to defend now than they have been in recent playoff runs. That is simply because of their new skill sets at wide receiver, the greater balance in the passing game and altering personnel packages. Defenses are forced to defend every blade of grass, in the end.

How could this new offensive mixing and matching benefit the Chiefs in the postseason? Overall, Kansas City may be able to keep opposing defenses more honest. Let’s kick it off.

Multiple Tight End Sets Create Mismatches

Kansas City unfortunately lost Jody Fortson to injury late in the season. However, the Chiefs saw Blake Bell return just before the playoffs. He missed all but three games of the regular season, following an injury suffered during the preseason. Bell adds substantial blocking prowess and an added security blanket in the passing game for Mahomes.

In general, the Chiefs have many options with which to work with when using multiple tight end sets. This is an offensive personnel package that Kansas City has begun to utilize more this season. Whether it is 12 personnel (one running back, two tight ends) or 13 personnel (one running back, three tight ends), the Chiefs have successfully created more headaches for opposing defenses.

All of Travis Kelce, Noah Gray and Bell can add issues for opponents after making catches in the quick passing game. Kelce has the wiggle and sneaky good short area burst to make defenders look silly. Gray can catch opponents off guard with his speed in the open field, as well as with his body control in contested catch situations. Finally, Bell is simply challenging to corral and bring down, if he can get rolling after the catch.

Kansas City can provide many different wrinkles with the use of multiple tight end sets. The Chiefs can catch defenses sleeping with the play action pass game out of this personnel. It essentially allows Mahomes to pick his poison. Elsewhere, there is a chance to force defenses to stop the run on the outer edges when opponents stack the box. With the power and speed mix of Isiah Pacheco and Jerick McKinnon, the Chiefs can place defensive backs in a bind while out in the open field against the run. That can all be opened up just by utilizing the multiple tight end sets.

Added Balance In Chiefs Running Game

Speaking of Pacheco and McKinnon, this may be the two best running backs that the Chiefs have had under Andy Reid. Pacheco may be the perfect style of runner for a Mahomes-led offense. For instance, his low cut, hard-nosed attack builds into disadvantages for defenses. So many plays can open up in different areas of the field, if defenses begin to focus their attention on Pacheco.

Whereas with McKinnon, he is a do-it-all player. We saw him become an x factor for the Chiefs in last year’s playoffs. This season, he has simply become a problem in every facet of the game. McKinnon ended the season as a touchdown machine. He can win with speed in the running game, with soft hands as a pass catcher and with sneaky good strength as a pass blocker. In the grand scheme of things, Kansas City must be able to trust in the balance that they have built from this year’s rushing attack. That is thanks to the unique skill sets of this duo, mixed in with the varied offensive personnel.

Gadgets Galore

With Coach Reid, you know there are going to be some tricks that no one expects. We saw some of that with a wild ring around the rosie play in the regular season finale. All told, Kadarius Toney has found so much confidence and comfort when on the field with Kansas City, after coming to the Chiefs before the trade deadline. Toney has been a perfect complement to wide receivers like JuJu Smith-Schuster and Marquez Valdes-Scantling. Essentially, he has helped take some of the attention and coverage off of their shoulders, so to speak. Toney can win in any way possible. Given the history of play designs from Coach Reid, including what we have seen used with Toney already, Kansas City has a chance to really leave defenses frustrated if the Florida product creates too many busts in the open field.

On top of all that, there is a chance that Mecole Hardman returns during the playoffs. Could you imagine seeing him and Toney on the field at the same time? Accounting for their speed is one thing. However, it is the change of direction skills, spatial awareness and suddenness that each of them possesses that truly leaves the Chiefs with options on end. There has always been gadgety stuff from Kansas City. Though, their greater mixing of offensive personnel and a more well-rounded offensive skill group has opened the doors for them even further entering the playoffs.

Be on the lookout for more FPC Chiefs articles and analysis throughout this week. For more great sports and NFL content, stay tuned to Full Press Coverage.

– Braden Holecek is the Kansas City Chiefs managing editor for Full Press Coverage. He covers the NFL. Like and follow on Follow @ebearcat9//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js Follow @FPC_Chiefs//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js and Facebook.