Four Thoughts Kansas City Chiefs Training Camp: Day Five

2. Travis Kelce and De’Anthony Thomas May Be Playmakers Chiefs Needed

One thing the Chiefs offense lack a season ago was the ability to create big plays from scrimmage. So much of the NFL now is being able to create matchups and exploit them at every opportunity possible. Kansas City has a great mismatch with Jamaal Charles but the problem is he is the only guy on the offense with such a label. Every defense is focus on Charles and the Chiefs didn’t have much of anything when it came to counter weapons.

2014 may be different.

Travis Kelce and De’Anthony Thomas have each turned heads in the first week of practice with their ability to find space and make plays down field. Kelce, who has been held back in practice in order to protect his surgically repaired leg, has been stretching the seam for big gains and finding space over the middle. Chiefs tight ends were targeted the least of any other tight end group in the NFL last year, so the idea of attacking the seam is almost all but forgotten for us. Kelce is going to change that.

Thomas’ speed is for real. So real that Dave Toub is comparing his speed and athleticism to Devin Hester. Um, that works.

What may be most impressive about Thomas right now, who is still seeing most of his action as a running back, is his ability to protect his body. Reid is helping his efforts to stay healthy by keeping Thomas on the edge and creating space with zone-reads. Imagine chasing Jamaal Charles for three quarters and then having to chase down a guy who is faster than him on screen passes in the fourth quarter?

Then there is this fun quote from Thomas in Tod Palmer’s quick piece about him for The Star:

"“They always talk about my size, but I feel like I have a big heart, and I’m not scared of anybody,” Thomas said."

There is an element of “edge” and “danger” coming to the Chiefs offense that hasn’t existed since Dick Vermiel left. Assuming the Chiefs can stay healthy and the offensive line can hold up, this offense could end up being more explosive than we may have previously thought.