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The verdict on the Kansas City Chiefs drafting Patrick Mahomes

By Stacy D. Smith

Sep 10, 2016; Tempe, AZ, USA; Texas Tech Red Raiders quarterback Patrick Mahomes II (5) against the Arizona State Sun Devils at Sun Devil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 10, 2016; Tempe, AZ, USA; Texas Tech Red Raiders quarterback Patrick Mahomes II (5) against the Arizona State Sun Devils at Sun Devil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports /
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FORT WORTH, TX – OCTOBER 29: Patrick Mahomes II
FORT WORTH, TX – OCTOBER 29: Patrick Mahomes II /

Before we get down to brass tacks, I’d like to offer a pair of disclaimers. For starters, I’m a novice at film analysis. I think some bloggers make the mistake of overstating their ability to parse game film. I’m no Mike Mayock. I’m a reasonably knowledgeable writer about the nuances of the game, but I’m not here to pretend I have something to offer, in the way of analysis, that can be characterized as professional. I’m also a fairly tech-savvy guy, but my notes were taken the old-fashioned way (with an ink pen and an inexpensive composition book). I’ll transcribe them in their original form because most of them communicate the visceral reactions I had to what I saw.

One last thing before we begin. What struck me, the more film I studied, was how often I was watching and analyzing the talent around Mahomes. You’ll see what I mean in the next several minutes. In fact, some of this could double as a scouting report for one of his receivers (who I’ll now be watching and clamoring for the next couple of years). I came in expecting Mahomes to be the singular star of that Air Raid offense. Turns out there are a number of players on that team with NFL talent. More on that later; for now, if all hearts and minds are clear…

Opponent: Louisiana Tech

Photo Credit: Michael C. Johnson-USA TODAY Sports

  • Improvises well and slides in the pocket to buy himself time
  • Will carry the ball low-and-loose while doing so (sliding in the pocket)
  • Throwing motion seems to vary between a 3/4ths and over-the-top delivery
  • Has some slick and convincing ball fakes
  • Can fling it effortlessly
  • Footwork looks sludgy in the pocket at times
  • Can quickly get going (scramble) to avoid pressure
  • His game appears to lack attention to detail
  • Some of his pitches (to running backs) look lazy
  • Thinks/reacts quickly in the face of a negative play
  • Threw a BAD pick (that was called back) due to pressure
  • Mechanics are REALLY inconsistent
  • Bad touch on a screen pass
  • Freezes in the face of pressure quite often (three times in this game)
  • Throws off of his back foot a lot
  • Doesn’t step into his throws enough
  • Often doesn’t tuck the ball away when leaving the pocket (on a scramble)
  • Seems he’s regularly flat-footed in the pocket
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