Chiefs roster evaluation: Offensive line outperforms lingering concerns
By Scott Loring
Leading up into Free Agency on March 13, we will be reviewing each of the Kansas City Chiefs position groups. Here’s a look back at the offensive line, as well as what to expect in 2020.
Protecting the reigning league MVP is a tall task. Think about it. Every defensive coordinator you face is pulling out all the stops to try to find a way to disrupt and knock down the league’s single-most valuable asset. Your mission is to try to stop them.
The Chiefs utilize a good number of run/pass option plays that usually result in quick throws. So the Chiefs consistently have some of the lowest pressure rates on pass plays under 2.5 seconds (second in the NFL in 2019). Fortunately for offensive line coach Andy Heck and the Kansas City offensive line, one of the traits that makes Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes great is his ability to make plays on the move. So even when things break down, the field general is still as cool as a cucumber, because he’s comfortable rolling out.
Head coach Andy Reid and his staff excel at using creative means toward moving the chains, but eventually, you have to be able to line up and beat your man. Typically, Reid has preferred to employ offensive linemen that are versatile and can get out and move in space. By having linemen that can play two or three positions in the trenches, Reid feels more comfortable carrying seven active OL on gameday instead of eight, like many teams. This affords him another roster spot elsewhere. Reid uses the screen game as often as anybody, which is why he would prefer to have leaner men up front who can get to the second level, rather than “maulers,” which is really just a euphemism for offensive linemen who can’t move well.
The Chiefs knew heading into the 2019 season that they had a pretty good situation at tackle. Most commonly known as the key cog to any offensive line, tackle is critical because often times they are all alone on the edge against more athletic pass rushers. Left tackle Eric Fisher, one of the longest-tenured Chiefs, made the Pro Bowl in 2018. Right tackle Mitchell Schwartz has made either 1st team or 2nd team All Pro in all four of his seasons with the Chiefs. The two form a tandem that very few NFL teams can rival. The Chiefs also acquired second-year tackle Martinas Rankin from the Texans in a cutdown-day deal in exchange for running back Carlos Hyde.
Inside, the Chiefs returned two incumbents; left guard Cameron Erving and right guard Laurent Duvernay-Tardif. But when the latter missed significant time in 2018, reserve guard/tackle Andrew Wylie came on strong in his place. At center, the team allowed 2018 starter Mitch Morse to walk in free agency, instead promoting 28-year-old Austin Reiter to start.
Kansas City also had high hopes for 2018 rookie Kahlil McKenzie, a converted defensive lineman who the team had unofficially redshirted all of last year while he learned as much as he could. The Chiefs also added interior lineman Nick Allegretti in back end of the 2019 draft. The 23-year-old from Illinois played some guard and center while in college, and would also be counted on for depth in 2019. Veterans Jeff Allen, Ryan Hunter, and Jimmy Murray were among others vying for roster spots when the team broke for camp.