Don’t sleep on Martinas Rankin’s potential with KC Chiefs

Rankin’s Potential

At first glance, it is obvious that Rankin is not a polished or refined player. In fact, coming out of college, analysts questioned his technique and quickness. Having problems with hand placement and a lack of quickness is typically a recipe for disaster at the NFL level. Rankin, however, has tremendous upper-body strength that is difficult for defenders to deal with.

Another interesting part of Rankin’s game is his instincts. Typically the term “instinct” is associated with defensive backs that anticipate where the quarterback is going to throw the football before he has actually done it. Having instincts as an offensive lineman is just as important and is a skill that is impossible to teach. In college, Rankin played tackle which is he is unlikely to be suited for in the NFL. In the Chiefs offense, Rankin is well-suited for the guard or center position.

Andy Reid loves to throw the football, especially with Patrick Mahomes. The Chiefs threw the ball an average of 36.2 times per game, even with Mahomes missing two games. With an abundance of combinations between deep dropbacks and RPOs, Kansas City asks their offensive lineman to play a unique role.

Despite the massive learning curve, Rankin was quickly thrown into the offense and had immediate success. Although he was not very effective in the run game, Rankin was a very serviceable pass-rusher, which is the most important aspect of being an offensive lineman in Kansas City.