Three Questions: Kansas City Chiefs Wide Receivers

November 17, 2013; Denver, CO, USA; Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Dwayne Bowe (82) walks off the field after the game against the Denver Broncos at Sports Authority Field at Mile High. The Broncos defeated the Chiefs 27-17. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

What kind of impact will Dwayne Bowe have within the offense?

Dwayne Bowe’s 2013 season was a significant disappointment compared to his normal standards. In his six seasons prior he had averaged 69 catches, 955 yards, and six touchdowns per season, with those numbers jumping to 71-1,049-8 from 2010 to 2012. Bowe may not be A.J. Green or Calvin Johnson, but given the quarterbacks he’s had to work with Bowe has been a very productive receiver.

This is why the numbers Bowe posted in 2013 were so shocking. By nearly every measure Bowe had the worst season of his career, especially when you compare his numbers to his other seasons that were not shortened by injury. More perplexing is that his worst season happened in a year where he would be working with the best quarterback he’s ever had to work with in his career and with the pass-happy Andy Reid scheme. What gives?

There is an element to the Reid offense everyone must understand now: Andy Reid loves to spread the ball around. Only four times in all the season’s Reid has been a head coach has a single receiver totaled 1,000 yards receiving. And at no point has a receiver ever caught more than 80 passes in a season.

Take a look at this chart of Philadelphia single-season reception leaders from 1999-2012:

Four of these seasons are by a running back, one by a tight end, and one by Kevin Freaking Curtis. It is clear that there has to be some sort of adjustment to the expectation of what a good season from a wide receiver is for the Chiefs under Reid.

What the Chiefs need from Bowe is not to be a primary wide receiver but to be a receiver who can do damage with the ball when he is targeted. Whether it is improving his yards after catch, creating more opportunities in the red zone, or being available in critical passing downs, the Chiefs need Bowe to be a better situational player as opposed to a player who is the fullness of the passing attack.

Will Bowe adjust to this role? He better, because the Chiefs need it.