Is the element of competition not important for Damien Williams?

Are the Chiefs losing something when they gift Damien Williams with the starting running back role instead of creating a real sense of competition this summer?

Let’s create a hypothetical that I hesistate to bring up because I’d rather my boss not get any good ideas. But for the sake of this column, let’s go ahead.

Just for a moment, imagine this scenario: my boss decides it’s worth paying two people what I am going to make in a month covering the Kansas City Chiefs, leading our team of writers and all the work it takes to run Arrowhead Addict. In that month, the other person learns the ropes and shows at least some idea of what the site would resemble under new leadership. At the end of the month, my boss would then choose who would get to run the site from there on out. Competition would tell the story.

If that scenario occurred for any of us in our current places of work, I’m going to assume you would be like me and suddenly find another gear entirely for your work. I feel like I put a lot of hours into my job. It’s writing and editing. It’s a lot of reading and re-reading. It’s recruiting and training, organizing and brainstorming. It’s hand-holding and correcting. By and large, I pride myself on doing a good job. But if competition entered the picture, I’d somehow still find a new gear.

This serves as a bit of a lengthy intro but I think it’s important to think about the importance of competition and what it brings out in any of us before we apply it just yet. Most NFL players have gotten to where they are for good reason. Most players are likely motivated already to stay in great shape. They know what it takes to be the rare percent to actually play professional football and they’ve developed the discipline and work ethic to see it through. Otherwise they wouldn’t be there.

Then again, competition brings out the best in us—or at least allows fear to do that work. NFL teams know this well as they try to create competition at every position on the roster hoping the best man will win. Andy Reid has created a truly level playing field with the Chiefs. No matter how a player was acquired, once on the field, Reid has no problem going with best player comobinations on the field. If that means a highly regarded rookie or expensive free agent ends up sitting, that’s the way it has to be. Winning is the only thing that matters.

Perhaps this is why the gift of the starting running back spot to Damien Williams is so surprising. The Chiefs announced the news in the spring, not only weeks but months before any such declaration needed to be made.

Yes, Williams was an excellent substitute at a key moment for the Chiefs as they were shocked by the loss of Kareem Hunt. Yes, he did an even better job in the postseason when given the chance to shine. Yes, he deserves every chance to earn the starter’s role in training camp. He was a surprising revelation for a team that needed one and the Chiefs rewarded him with a two-year extension in Deceber.

Unfortunately, the Chiefs already announced Williams is the starting back for the Chiefs. Even if someone else breaks out in training camp, the job belongs to Williams. What if Williams looks subpar in camp? Will they go back on their word or wait until he falters when it matters? Even more, is there a gear for Williams that he’ll never reach because no one challenged him to find it?

This isn’t at all a slight on Williams. He was a major boost for the offense when they needed him most. His presence coming into this year will help the backfield stabilize even as new faces arrive. He deserves to potentially be the guy who gets his number called most, but it makes no sense to give him the snaps now. There’s nothing at stake. Competition could have watered the soil at running back, but now the Chiefs have no idea what could have grown there.

Williams might end up just as hoped, with a full season of strong numbers, without or with competition. However that’s hard to believe that the position would not have been in better shape if Darwin Thompson, Darrel Williams and Carlos Hyde weren’t given the same shake as Damien Williams in the first place.