If there is one thing you have to give the Chiefs credit for, they have a plan and execute it to perfection. When Kansas City drafted Clyde Edwards-Helaire in the first round of the 2020 NFL Draft, head coach Andy Reid already knew how he wanted to use him.
Reid saw a better version of Brian Westbrook. So far, he’s probably right. Clyde Edwards-Helaire (CEH) is already a home run pick by the Chiefs and feels like the missing piece to an already loaded roster. On a team with Patrick Mahomes, Travis Kelce, and Tyreek Hill, the addition of CEH makes it feel like the Chiefs are unbeatable.
Edwards-Helaire hasn’t even really gotten going yet. On 55 carries, CEH has 240 yards and one touchdown. He also has 11 receptions for just over 100 yards. However, that doesn’t tell the whole story.
CEH has amassed 189 yards after contact, so far. That means CEH has mostly been created on his own. That mark ranks 4th in the NFL. CEH is simply forcing missed tackles at a high rate. His 15 forced missed tackles rank second in the NFL at the position. The Chiefs got a good one.
Much of what made Edwards-Helaire dominant at LSU has translated to the NFL. There’s a lot of Maurice Jones-Drew to his game, which is who I compared him to heading into the draft. At 5-foot-7, it’s easy for Edwards-Helaire to get lost at the line of scrimmage. Then watch him scatter for a big run.
CEH also has incredible balance and strength. His broken tackle rate is not a fluke. He has a remarkable ability to bounce off tackles and find a way to pick up extra yardage. It’s only a matter of time before Reid starts to use CEH more creatively in the passing game.
Damien Williams was incredible during the Chiefs run to a Super Bowl crown. CEH looks like a significantly better version. If that’s the case, are the Chiefs beatable? After a 34 point spanking on a great defense like the Ravens, Kansas City looks poised to repeat. CEH has only made them more formidable.
