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Sophomore Surge: Clyde Edwards-Helaire ready to take big step forward for KC Chiefs

By Kole Berrey

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - NOVEMBER 22: Running back Clyde Edwards-Helaire #25 of the Kansas City Chiefs celebrates a 3-yard touchdown run against the Las Vegas Raiders in the first half of their game at Allegiant Stadium on November 22, 2020 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Chris Unger/Getty Images)
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - NOVEMBER 22: Running back Clyde Edwards-Helaire #25 of the Kansas City Chiefs celebrates a 3-yard touchdown run against the Las Vegas Raiders in the first half of their game at Allegiant Stadium on November 22, 2020 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Chris Unger/Getty Images) /
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Jan 3, 2021; Foxborough, Massachusetts, USA; New England Patriots guard Joe Thuney (62) blocks against the New York Jets during the second half at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Winslow Townson-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 3, 2021; Foxborough, Massachusetts, USA; New England Patriots guard Joe Thuney (62) blocks against the New York Jets during the second half at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Winslow Townson-USA TODAY Sports /

Improved Offensive Line

Kansas City improving their offensive line may be the most obvious reason that Clyde Edwards-Helaire takes a giant leap next season, but it also is the most important one. The revamped line should not only open up new lanes for success for the Chiefs young runner, but for the offense as a whole.

Mahomes has been extraordinary in his career when he has a clean pocket, and last year was no different, hovering in the top 5 in this statistic. I know this is about CEH and his potential in the offense, but it all starts and ends on the right arm of No. 15. It also stands to reason that if a new offensive line can keep Mahomes upright to see this kind of passing efficiency, the offense itself will open up and the running game will be more effective as a result.

Just who is this new and improved line? Well, it was re-made almost entirely from scratch. The Chiefs traded their first-round pick away for Orlando Brown Jr. They also signed Joe Thuney to a massive deal, pulled Kyle Long out of retirement, drafted Creed Humphrey in the second round, and welcomed back Laurent Duvernay-Tardif and Lucas Niang from the COVID-19 opt out list.

That is a lot of talent to infuse all at once, so the gelling of this unit may take time. The depth and talent are both there, however, and that is all the Chiefs may need to unlock CEH’s potential.

In Week 1, when the Chiefs had their entire unit healthy, Edwards-Helaire was all he had been hyped up to be. Dashing and cutting around the Texans in the rain, he surged for over 130 yards on the ground with relative ease and scored a touchdown on a gorgeous run. You can expect more of the same from Clyde the Glyde this year.

If Kansas City’s offense is able to maintain the sort of efficiency and ease in which they did when the front line was healthy, a heavy mix of Mahomes and company through the air and Clyde and the hogs on the ground could prove just what the doctor ordered to catapult this offense into historic territory. The talent is there, now it is time to put it all together.

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