ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (AP) Patrick Mahomes set just about every Kansas City Chiefs passing record last season and earned the leagues MVP award along the way, in large part because of his ability to find targets deep downfield.
It made the Chiefs one of the most electrifying, entertaining offenses in football.
And it may have been merely a taste of whats to come.
While few believe the second-year starter will surpass the 5,097 yards and 50 touchdown passes that Mahomes had last season, there are many reasons to believe the Chiefs quick-strike offense will be even more dynamic: the growth of their quarterback, the addition of speedy rookie wide receiver Mecole Hardman and the continued evolution of Tyreek Hill, Travis Kelce and Sammy Watkins.
Start with the mop-haired quarterback with the big arm.
Mahomes was an unknown quantity heading into last season, when he was given the reins of coach Andy Reids complex offense following the offseason trade of Alex Smith. But he quickly proved that he was more than just a system quarterback from Texas Techs air-raid factory, showing an uncanny ability to dissect defenses and make the proper read before unleashing one of the strongest arms in the NFL.
One year later, Mahomes has a full season of experience behind him. He has had time to look over game films, diagnosing and digesting how defenses began to counter him. He has poured himself into losing what he called baby fat, and he spent hours over the summer fine-tuning his footwork.
He knows its a great challenge, Reid said. You come out your second year, its a huge challenge. These great defensive minds in the National Football League had an opportunity to study you and the offense for that matter. Hes fired up about that and hes taking on that challenge.
One thing they probably learned is that safeties can never play deep enough.
The Chiefs had three pass plays of 70-plus yards, eight plays of 50-plus and an astounding 15 plays of at least 40 yards, which were distributed to five different targets. They had 52 pass plays of at least 25 yards, a full dozen more than the next-highest total of the high-flying Los Angeles Rams.
Seventy-six pass plays went for at least 20 yards, more than twice as many as three other teams.
As a competitor, Im going out there and trying to be the best quarterback I can be, Mahomes said. With the people around me, I think it is not about me trying to take a next step, it is about me just going within the offense and leaning on my teammates and letting them rise up with me.
So, what about those teammates?
The Chiefs drafted Hardman in the second round when they were still uncertain whether Hill would be available this season. The two have remarkably similar skills, led by their ability to blaze downfield Hardman ran the 40-yard dash at the NFL combine in 4.33 seconds, second among all prospects.
Hill, who has been out of practice with a bruised quad, continues to evolve into a complete wide receiver rather than a simple speedster. The two-time All-Pro set a club record with 1,479 yards receiving last season, a good chunk of it coming on his four catches of 50-plus yards.
