Originally Posted by The Franchise (Post 16928794)

I really think that they're splitting Juju's snaps into two spots. Rice is going to take all of those outside snaps and Moore is going to work from the slot. MVS will be the deep threat and Toney is who they'll move around a ton.

Originally Posted by DJ's left nut (Post 16928792)

Moore's grasp of the system will be what determines how much production we get from Rice.

If Moore really did just have a 1st year 'red shirt' process where he needed to learn the system, he should be ahead of Rice and should be able to come in and get a lot of the reps/looks that JJSS left behind.

If Moore just doesn't have it, you'll see Rice get a lot of reps early and eventually take over that spot.

But with the addition of Toney to the room (vs. last August) as well as James coming in as a veteran receiver w/ experience in the system, Rice will have to force the issue to get reps. And the reps he gets between the 20s likely come at Moore's expense. If Moore is playing well - he won't get many.

I think at this point I'm more inclined to view Moore/Rice as a single entity and say that between the 2 I think we ought be able to get 1,000 yards. If that's 700 from Moore plus 300 from Rice - okay. That's fine. MVS, Toney and James can get 2,000 between the 3 of them, IMO and then Kelce gets his 1K+ w/ the RBs getting another 5-600.

This group can support another 5K yard passing season.

Originally Posted by DJ's left nut (Post 16928800)

Which is why I just never felt the urgency to go ham replacing JJSS. He just shouldn't be terribly hard to replace.

A combination of Moore/Rice should be able to do so fairly easily. James backfills for the production of Moore/Hardman in their roles last season and you're at/above where you were last year, ESPECIALLY if MVS and Mahomes can develop a little more chemistry and Toney can give us even 12 healthy games.

This is a solid group. Not the best in the league but in the middle 1/3 somewhere, IMO.

Originally Posted by emaw1979 (Post 16928377)

I've been very vocal about my discontent with the Skyy Moore pick at the time and during the easy, and I feel partially vindicated by his lack of production last year. However, when Moore was in there he was almost always open and he flashed the few opportunities he had.


That being said, I hated the Rice pick even worse. They traded up for a player that's likely there if they waited and may have been there in the 3rd. and if not, there were better options. I'd be surprised if he finishes his rookie contract. WRs that can't get open and have bad hands generally don't last long in the league. You want a comp for Rice? Jehu Chesson. The Chiefs moved up for him too and he lasted one year. Similar scouting reports.

So of the two? Moore is an NFL WR. He can be a productive one IMO. Rice.

Originally Posted by The Franchise (Post 16928802)

Exactly. With the addition of James and Rice, I'm not as worried as I was before.

I think for all the talk about Hyatt....we'd be sitting here trying to figure out where he would be getting snaps as a deep threat. He would have just been a replacement for MVS next year. I like Rice's fit better in this offense.

Originally Posted by DJ's left nut (Post 16928805)

And there's always another Hyatt.

You need a replacement for MVS next year? Cool - look for him next year. In the meantime, you've taken a guy in Rice that can anchor your WR group as a set and forget X receiver relatively quickly. With Moore in the Y role and Toney as the Z. You need a burner - find one in 2024.

Originally Posted by The Franchise (Post 16928794)

I really think that they're splitting Juju's snaps into two spots. Rice is going to take all of those outside snaps and Moore is going to work from the slot. MVS will be the deep threat and Toney is who they'll move around a ton.

Originally Posted by DJ's left nut (Post 16928800)

Which is why I just never felt the urgency to go ham replacing JJSS. He just shouldn't be terribly hard to replace.

A combination of Moore/Rice should be able to do so fairly easily. James backfills for the production of Moore/Hardman in their roles last season and you're at/above where you were last year, ESPECIALLY if MVS and Mahomes can develop a little more chemistry and Toney can give us even 12 healthy games.

This is a solid group. Not the best in the league but in the middle 1/3 somewhere, IMO.

Originally Posted by staylor26 (Post 16928806)

DJ, how do you feel about Rice's splits in man vs. zone? I found that a tad bit concerning, even though I don't think it's a big deal by any means.

Originally Posted by smithandrew051 (Post 16928811)

I think we might really love James by the end of the season.

His catch rate was ridiculous last season. All we ever ask for from that 4th/5th WR is to be reliable. Even better if they can occasionally have a big game.

Guys like Demarcus Robinson could have the occasional big game, but you couldn’t count on them to not **** things up occasionally.

I think that signing may be one that is sneaky good.

Originally Posted by DJ's left nut (Post 16928812)

I noticed that some of the plays he did make in man were SUPER difficult catches. I think beating man requires such good timing/precision from your QB that when you have bad QB play (and man did Rice have bad QB play last season) it's really hard to know how well you actually did it.

The measurables don't point to someone who can't beat man, nor does the will - he absolutely plays big and battles for the ball. But when you've got a guy missing his mark by 4-5 feet and throwing the ball late out of your cut, you really can't demonstrate it very well.

I think he'll be okay there. Do I think he'll be a short area monster? Not at all. Nor do I think the Chiefs expect that. But I think he'll be a guy who can catch a ball quickly against man and use his physicality at/after the catch point to turn those into big 1st downs.