Most of the blame for the Kansas City Chiefs’ 31-9 Super Bowl LV loss to the Bucs fell on the Chiefs’ offensive line for failing to protect Patrick Mahomes.
Mahomes was often left scrambling and making ridiculous throws on the run in an effort to get the Chiefs’ offense moving but failed to do so.
But perhaps the former MVP and Super Bowl champion did not need to that as often as he did.
Mahomes has meticulously studied the Super Bowl loss, re-watching the game twice this offseason, and believes that he did not trust the offensive line enough.
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“Sometimes, when I get hit early, I don’t trust staying in the pocket and going through my reads,” he told Kevin Clark of The Ringer. “I kind of get back to that backyard-style football a little too much. And you could definitely see that in the Super Bowl. I mean, there were times that pockets were clean and I was still scrambling.”
While Mahomes may be taking the fall — it was perhaps the worst game of his career, failing to throw a touchdown to two interceptions — he was playing behind a decimated line that was missing veterans Eric Fisher and Mitchell Schwartz and was sacked three times for 27 yards.
It was clear the Chiefs’ offensive line was less than ideal, and the team spent much of the offseason refortifying it to give Mahomes the protection he needs.
GM Brett Veach has done just that, trading for Ravens tackle Orlando Brow, signing free agent guard Joe Thuney, drafting Oklahoma center Creed Humphrey in the second round and bringing Kyle Long out of retirement.
Even with a new offensive line, Mahomes feels as if he can get better and that is what he is working on this training camp.
“I’ve been going back [working] on that,” he told Clark. “Making sure that I trust the guys around me and trust the pocket, make the read within the pocket and not try to make the big play happen.
Mahomes also said he talks to guys like Aaron Rodgers and Tom Brady for advice.
“I think people don’t realize all us guys talk,” he said. “I talk to Aaron, I talk to Tom and they’re willing to give me advice. I’m still a young guy in this league. I’m still trying to learn how to continue to have success every single year and so being able to talk like that with the guys is definitely a good thing.”
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