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There's nothing like Proclamation Season, with coaches and players hyping the potential of unheralded individuals at every turn. Typically, I just ignore these shout-outs, chalking them up to offseason fodder. But occasionally, some of the bluster -- when it's bold, but also sensible -- grabs my attention.
After hearing former Kansas City Chiefs edge rusher Tamba Hali raving about Patrick Mahomes on NFL Network's "Good Morning Football" this week, I'm beginning to buy into the hype that's swelling around the second-year quarterback.
"You're going to get a complete player," Hali said. "I mean, he's a smart player. He can throw the ball. Athletically, he's gifted. You don't have to coach it. In practice, I'd watch him just look guys off. Eric Berry, you look him off and complete the ball. He did it to Marcus Peters a lot. People don't know what's coming. I don't want to hype him, but I compare him to Brett Favre. He runs around the field and he throws the ball and he's just having fun."
Whoa!
I know Favre's name has been thrown out a few times, due to Mahomes' big arm and sandlot playing style, but most of the observers drawing that comparison haven't been on the field with the young star or competed against the Hall of Fame quarterback. That's why I'm wary of dismissing the five-time Pro Bowler's comments without at least digging a little deeper to see if Mahomes really has the goods to grow into a spectacular QB1 with extraordinary playmaking skills.
To be fair, I'm a little biased when it comes to Favre, based on my experience playing with him in Green Bay during the remarkable stretch when he won three straight MVP awards. The 11-time Pro Bowler posted a 112:42 touchdown-to-interception ratio while guiding the Packers to a 37-11 mark during that span. Although Favre never posted a passer rating above 100.0 during this time and only registered a completion percentage north of 60 once, he was a magical playmaker with an A+ game and a flair for the dramatic.
With that in mind, I think it's hard to put those kinds of expectations on a young gunslinger with only one career start under his belt. That said, I've been told by a few Chiefs officials that visions of Mahomes growing into a No. 4 clone did indeed impact Reid's decision to trade up for his new QB1 in the 2017 NFL Draft.
"[Reid] absolutely believed Mahomes had some Favre in his game," a former Chiefs staffer told me. "We constantly heard the comparisons, especially his ability to improvise and extend plays. He raved about his gunslinger mentality and big arm, and how he could fit the ball into tight windows.
"Reid wasn't bothered at all by the crazy throws that Mahomes would make into traffic. All of it reminded him of Favre."
Keep in mind: Reid was Favre's QB coach in Green Bay for part of his magical run. His first-hand knowledge of how the former second-round pick developed into a perennial all-star certainly made it easier for the Chiefs to pick Mahomes as their QB of the future despite the blemishes in his game. Mahomes was unquestionably one of the most naturally gifted prospects in the 2017 class, but it was hard to project his potential based on his sandlot game at Texas Tech. He rarely stayed on schedule in the Red Raiders' offense. His tendency to throw darts after unnecessary scrambles made highlight reels pop ... and evaluators cringe when grading his tape.
"The kid was one of the most talented quarterbacks that I watched," an NFC scout told me. "I love the arm talent and athleticism, but I had serious questions about how a coaching staff could harness his gunslinging ways. I haven't seen many gunslingers develop into controlled playmakers. ... It just doesn't happen at this level."
I'll admit to being a little slow to jump on the Mahomes hype train. Although I loved the raw talent, I thought he could become a turnover machine with his aggressive mentality and reckless approach.
But Reid is the perfect coach for Mahomes -- and he has assembled a supporting cast around his second-year QB that should help him thrive as a starter. The Chiefs' receiving corps features a bevy of playmakers with the kind of speed and explosiveness to take advantage of No. 15's big arm in a vertical passing game. Not to mention, Tyreek Hill, Sammy Watkins and Travis Kelce excel as catch-and-run specialists with the kind of running skills that can make Kansas City's screen game downright scary. With Reid adept at teaching quarterbacks to play the game the right way (see: Favre, Donovan McNabb, Michael Vick and Alex Smith, among others), it is quite possible that Mahomes grows into the spectacular playmaker that many envisioned when he entered the league a season ago.
In Week 17, he gave the football world a little taste of his remarkable talents, completing 22 of his 35 passes for 284 yards (with one interception) while earning the first victory of his career as a starter. Studying that performance, I was not only impressed with the arm talent and athleticism, but with his poise under pressure, particularly while directing a game-winning drive. Mahomes played a like a veteran. It's easy to envision him taking his game up a notch under Reid's further tutelage.
"What's working for him is that he's with, I believe, the best coach in the league: Andy Reid," Hali said on NFL Network. "So having Andy Reid as your play caller is definitely going to help."
If Mahomes heeds the advice of one of the NFL's most respected quarterback whisperers, in a few years' time, those comparisons to Favre might not be as outlandish as they seem right now.
[Reply]
Originally Posted by KChiefs1:
Pro Football Talk:
We're a better team with Mahomes than Smith. That's the bottom line. The downswing we would face in 2018 (if there is one) is going to almost certainly be related to our shitty defense and possibly injuries/schedule.
If Mahomes as the starter gives us an 8.5 according to gamblers, they're fucking retards to think our win total would be higher with Alex Smith.
[Reply]
Originally Posted by Hog's Gone Fishin:
How does one go about placing a bet on the 8.5 win Vegas idiocy ?
This is a better bet than that baseball daily scheme that was going on with a few here. I think we should all put some money in on the Vegas bet to make some easy money.
If I bet $1000 how much do I win if they win over that much? $1000?
[Reply]
Originally Posted by Kiimosabi:
This video is a giant clock tease.
Where is the guitar
We've all watched better hype pieces than that, but if nothing else it justifies my belief that Robinson is going to play a big role in the future... Pat never hesitates to hit him when the opportunity presents itself
[Reply]
Originally Posted by RunKC:
Mahomes high school baseball coach “he’s the smartest baseball player I’ve ever coached. It’s like having a coach out there.”
Woah
That comment isn't surprising since Mahomes is the son of a former MLB pitcher
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