In a season filled with uncertainty for the Kansas City Chiefs' wide receiver room, rookie Rashee Rice has emerged as a standout performer. With explosive plays and a reliable presence on the field, Rice has provided a much-needed boost to the team. Let's dive into how Rice's skills and chemistry with quarterback Patrick Mahomes have propelled him to success.
The Impact of Screen-Run Options
Exploring how the Chiefs utilized screen-run options to get rookie wide receiver Rashee Rice involved in the offense.
One area where the Chiefs found success in getting Rashee Rice involved was through screen-run options (SROs). By utilizing these plays, the Chiefs were able to get Rice the ball in space and take advantage of his explosive ability after the catch.
Typically, Rice excels at flying upfield and generating yards after the catch, making him a valuable asset in SROs. The Chiefs had been using run-pass options (RPOs) throughout the season, but it wasn't until this game that they incorporated more attachment with a run, which proved to be fruitful.
When the defense gives the right look and numbers to quarterback Patrick Mahomes, it becomes an easy bubble or smoke screen to Rice. His dynamic playmaking ability allows the Chiefs to generate explosive plays on early downs and keep the defense guessing.
Thriving Outside of Structure
Examining how Rashee Rice's ability to work with Patrick Mahomes outside of the play's structure has contributed to his success.
One of the challenges for any new wide receiver joining the Chiefs is building chemistry with Patrick Mahomes outside of the play's structure. Mahomes' unique scramble rules and improvisational skills require receivers to be on the same page.
For Rashee Rice, it has been a learning process to work with Mahomes outside of the designed plays. However, in this game, he showcased progress in that aspect. On a particular play, Rice made a smart decision to drift upfield behind a linebacker, providing Mahomes with a clean throwing window.
Plays like this not only earn Mahomes' trust but also open up more opportunities for Rice to get the ball. As Rice continues to develop his chemistry with Mahomes outside of the structure, his role in the offense is likely to expand even further.
Utilizing Rice's Dynamic Ability
Highlighting the Chiefs' efforts to get Rashee Rice the ball in space and take advantage of his explosive playmaking ability.
The Chiefs have faced challenges in getting their playmakers the ball in space, particularly due to the limited dynamic ability of their wide receivers. However, Rashee Rice has emerged as their best option for generating explosive plays after the catch.
One strategy the Chiefs employed was getting Rice on the move horizontally, using his speed and agility to exploit gaps in the defense. By setting picks with deeper concepts, they created space for Rice to go downhill against retreating cornerbacks, allowing him to showcase his explosive ability and gain yards after the catch.
This approach not only puts pressure on defenses to reconsider playing man coverage but also creates opportunities for Rice to excel against zone coverage. As the Chiefs continue to utilize Rice's dynamic ability, they can expect to see more big plays and a more balanced offensive attack.
Expanding Rice's Role on the Outside
Exploring how the Chiefs have expanded Rashee Rice's role by utilizing him on the outside and giving him free-access throws.
In this game, the Chiefs made a strategic decision to play Rashee Rice more on the outside, deviating from his usual slot position. This change allowed them to utilize Rice as a free-access outlet for Patrick Mahomes.
By positioning Rice on the boundary, the Chiefs created opportunities for free-access throws to the outside. This involved running different routes such as slants and fades, giving Mahomes the option to target Rice if he liked the matchup or coverage against a particular route concept.
Although there were a few drops in this game, the Chiefs' willingness to explore Rice's potential on the outside shows their confidence in his abilities. As Rice continues to grow in this role, his impact on the offense is expected to increase, providing the Chiefs with more options in their passing game.