Can Rashee Rice Break Recent Kansas City Mold?

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Rashee Rice is the latest playmaker to join the high-octane Kansas City Chiefs offense. In just over a year, the team’s wide receiver room has changed drastically. Kadarius Toney and Marquez Valdes-Scantling are your top two wide receivers on the depth chart. Hopefully, Skyy Moore can take another step forward in his sophomore season during 2023. But for Rice, he is looking to break a recent mold in Kansas City as a rookie.

For as good as the wide receivers have been that the Chiefs have drafted recently, producing early has been a struggle. Spurts of good moments have still occurred. Yet, minor details and finding consistent footing has been a major work in progress for year one. Is that more on the receivers? Or, is that more on the coaching staff being willing to let them learn on the fly, so to speak? It could possibly be a little bit of both.

Rashee Rice has all the makings of being a well-rounded wide receiver. With his top traits being contested catch ability and yards after catch ability, it will be fascinating to see how quickly he can adapt to the playbook. Can he be productive right away? Let’s answer why that could be the case.

Rice Viewed As Running Back With Ball In His Hands

Rashee Rice is extremely mesmerizing with the ball in his hands after the catch. He is not necessarily an amazing athlete or a speed demon. At the same time, Rice can shock opponents with his slight density and thickness. The SMU product is also surprisingly adequate with power moves after the catch. Essentially, this is someone who can play physical, if possible, and will not shy away from contact in the open field.

As a result, it is exciting to see the numerous ways in which Rashee Rice attempts to add yards after the catch. He brings superb spatial awareness to the table. That does not just include angles against defenders or landmarks on the field. In fact, Rice appears to know what defenses are wanting to do against him before they even do it.

Meanwhile, Rice can be super difficult to bring down after the catch, due to his running style. He is more high-hipped than most may expect when watching him as a runner. Elsewhere, this wide receiver controls his speed with noticeably detailed tempo. Given that he is not a burner, speed-wise, this allows Rice to defeat opponents with smoothness when changing directions in the open field. His will to keep going up the field is not congruent for every incoming rookie wide receiver.

Rashee’s Versatility Should Fit Right In For Chiefs Offense

When it comes to wide receivers not producing right away in Kansas City, some players have been one-trick ponies, so to speak. That is not to say that recent rookie pass catchers have been unable to lean on their strengths. Yet, there has been a lack of quick development, due to entering the league with a narrower skill set. It does not appear that Rashee Rice will have to deal with that issue.

Certainly, the 2023 rookie receiver still has to clean up his hand technique and finish more often. Rice is impressive in being able to play bigger than what his size would indicate, though. He is also able to win many contested catch battles and jump balls. Overall, Rice should also be able to thrive from either the slot or out wide right away with the Kansas City Chiefs.

With his apparent versatility, Rashee Rice can fit right into the high-octane Kansas City offense. The Chiefs are known for mixing and matching different packages. Simply put, all wide receivers are given chances to move around the offensive formation. Compared to recent incoming rookie wide receivers, Rice is perhaps more equipped to handle the diverse roles that Chiefs pass catchers have had to handle.

Kansas City Must Trust Complementary Pieces

Going back to earlier, the coaching staff has to be willing to let some younger players learn on the fly. Rashee Rice may not be the most polished receiver right now. Though, finding him an immediate role is paramount to getting him further developed. Scheming up certain throws and touches should not be off of the table. You have to believe that Rice is likely entering the season as WR3 or WR4 on the depth chart. Therefore, the rookie wide receiver will have to cash in often on the chances that he is given.

On the flip side, Kansas City must trust that Rashee Rice can manage a healthy workload. The only way that he can learn, and grow is via live reps. If you look at someone like Skyy Moore, he was able to cash in on quick, instant touches. He even had a handful of crucial catches in a tight win over the Los Angeles Chargers in LA. But for whatever reason, Kansas City did not continue to give him increased snaps.

The Chiefs surely want to have Rice prepped and ready for the correct timing of an increased workload. However, Kansas City cannot waste too much time in having him wait to see the field. Rashee only continued to get better while in college. With increased time on task, this particular rookie wide receiver has the makings to break the recent KC mold of rookie wide receivers failing to produce right away. If this complementary piece gets enough opportunities, the Chiefs will avoid stunting early growth for Rice.

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.