PHOENIX — Three years ago, when the Kansas City Chiefs won the Super Bowl, Laurent Duvernay-Tardif patrolled the right guard. The Chiefs have had to rebuild this crucial unit to protect Patrick Mahomes, although some would say he’s good enough to get by.
Mahomes’ exploits don’t just fascinate fans, several players and coaches surveyed Monday night at media night still share that admiration.
But to ensure its sustainability, Chiefs leaders have rejuvenated the offensive line. The bet involved risks in the early stages of the process except that it no longer shows.
In addition to Joe Thuney, the veteran and two-time Super Bowl champion who came to solidify the guard position on the left, the Chiefs have bet on the next generation. Orlando Brown Jr. was acquired to become left tackle, Creed Humphrey inherited the center role, Trey Smith replaced LDT and Andrew Wylie moved to right tackle.
“Our leaders find good athletes, but above all good people. Young people who like to work and invest in their profession. We have a system and a standard that the guys adopt with pleasure,” said Andy Heck, the offensive line coach, who was happy to hear a touch of French accent in the question.
Crossed at different places on the floor of the Footprint Center, Wylie and Smith agreed with their position coach.
“We get along really well together, I have a lot of love for these guys,” noted Wylie, who had walked with the Colts, Browns and Chargers in 2017 before obtaining the confidence, which will have been decisive, of the Chiefs.
“These guys are wonderful. From last year, in my first season, the group of veterans was brilliant in teaching me how to behave. I still have a lot of work to do, but I’m grateful,” Smith expounded with his impressive six-foot-six, 321-pound stature.
This giant has demonstrated that he can handle the task of a starter. Also, as an offensive lineman, the fact that he misses very few games works in his favor.
“Oh, he’s an incredible player. Few athletes have such an impact at his age in this position. He’s a physical specimen, I’m having a lot of fun around him,” Wylie said.
“He’s so physical, he cares a lot about other people and his performance. It’s a workhorse that gets high every day. That’s a great recipe for a football player,” Heck said.
Smith returned the compliments to him without even having had time to tell him what he had said.
“It starts with the good work of Coach Heck. I take what he teaches me and integrate it into my repertoire. I also believe that it is explained by my desire to impose myself, to be one of the best”, mentioned Smith who identifies Thuney as a great inspiration in his team.
Thuney had some of the best years for the New England Patriots. The idea of joining the Chiefs therefore made a lot of sense to him with the presence of Mahomes and the first-class organization orchestrated by coach Andy Reid.
As a young left tackle, Brown Jr. relishes “his consistency that inspires him to do more.”
Thuney welcomes this compliment with pleasure, but he is quick to point out that it is a pleasure to evolve alongside him.
“Orlando was a wonderful partner, I was lucky he also came to KC. He is very smart and talented. We’re still trying to progress together and it’s very pleasant to work with him,” said Thuney, identifying him as the funniest of the quintet.
Still, this offensive line wouldn’t look this good without Mahomes’ unfair talent. It wasn’t the first time that Travis Kelce was happy to brag about it with great affection in front of the media.
Thus, we rather retained this statement of an adversary.
“In terms of talent and what he can do, he ranks among the best. But at this point in his career, I don’t know if we can classify him with the greatest in history. He does things no one else can do. I remember one game, I believe it was against Seattle, when he came out of the pocket, he found his way back into it, and in a split second, he had spotted Kelce once from more…”, narrated Haason Reddick with a hint of discouragement.
On Sunday, Reddick will be at the very heart of the strategy to limit such small miracles from Mahomes.
