How does Le’Veon Bell’s addition to Chiefs affect Clyde Edwards-Helaire?

Why isn’t Clyde used in the passing game more?

The reason for the lack of trust exhibited for Edwards-Helaire in the passing game likely has more to do with blocking for Mahomes on those third-down situations. Considering the receiving abilities he put on display in 2019 at LSU with great hands, along with the short-area quickness to beat linebackers and safeties in coverage, it doesn’t seem likely that his ability as a receiver is what is holding him back.

However, Andy Reid has yet to dial-up much for his rookie back in the form of the passing game. Almost all of Clyde’s work in the passing game has been the last resort sitting in the flats. It’s been rare for him to run many routes outside of that, which brings questions as to why? Reid has drawn up more for Darrell Williams in the passing game than he has for the rookie who specializes in that category.

Edwards-Helaire didn’t just catch balls out of the backfield for LSU’s legendary 2019 offense. He spent a good amount of time split out wide or in the slot. That hasn’t been the case since coming to Kansas City. Against the Las Vegas Raiders this past weekend, CEH lined up out wide initially only to move into the backfield to read the Raiders coverage pre-snap. Being on the field for 27 passing downs in Week 5, the rookie was targeted eight times and brought in three for 40 yards.

That stat line would look as if he struggled in the receiving game against the Raiders on paper. In actuality, CEH was not provided any favors. Most of his targets were as a last resort as Patrick Mahomes was eluding pressure and off-target. Several passes were thrown at his feet or away from him.

The first attempt to target CEH was after the Tyreek Hill touchdown was called back. The rookie motions into the backfield, giving Mahomes a pre-snap ID of the defensive coverage. Mahomes clearly wants to target the deep but pulls it back in and dumps it off to the flat. Edwards-Helaire was wide open for easy yards after the catch but wasn’t looked at until the last second. The ball was thrown at the ground and incomplete.

Another ball is thrown at the feet of Edwards-Helaire, but he is able to scrape it up. Spinning out of the first two tacklers, the rookie is able to pick up 20 yards on the play. If he had been targeted sooner, it could have been more.

One of the few times that Clyde ran a route not directly into the flat against the Raiders was this play in the red zone. Coming out of the backfield and working vertically up the seam, Edwards-Helaire blows past Littleton. It would have been an easy touchdown. Instead, Mahomes is focused on Tyreek Hill coming across the middle.

When Hill is unable to get open, Patrick Mahomes‘ internal clock starts going off, and he gets happy feet. Instead of remaining in the pocket, he starts to bail to the right, which leads to him scrambling around looking for a receiver.

It will be interesting to see when Andy Reid starts to dial up more plays for his rookie running back. Having Bell in the running back room will give Edwards-Helaire from whom to learn, someone who has had tremendous success as not only a runner but a receiver. Unfortunately, it could also mean that the time it takes for us to see our first-round pick be trusted in more receiving roles is even longer.