Which offensive teammates were most important for Patrick’s early career?

[Chiefspants]

Watching Caleb Williams, Justin Fields, Bryce Young, Sam Darnold, et al struggle mightily in their early career has made me reflect on Patrick’s first three years with the Chiefs. I used to think the Legion of Zoom (and getting a rookie QB indulgence signing with Watkins) was the most important thing for him, but watching Patrick’s discomfort with his tackles the last two years has made think that Fish and Schwartz at the tackles may have been the most important teammates for Patrick, as they allowed him to take his 11 step drift backs to find Hill deep and he’s seldom been able to do that since.

So leaving coaches aside and being able to look back on a half decade of QB play, which teammates (categorized by position), do you think were most important for early career Patrick’s elite play?

[WilliamTheIrish]

This is a really great thread idea.

The tackles were instrumental. But even with them, PMII made his most famous regular season and SB throws under duress.

The bullet to Conley vs SF. The throw to Reek vs the Ravens with Judon bearing down on him. The WASP throw to Reek, he got hit pretty good on that too. But those were elite DL’s too.

In the end, for me? Reek. Kelce a very close second.

[DRM08]

I vote for Eric Fisher & Mitch Schwartz, but especially Fisher. It would be nice if Wanya Morris or Kingsley can provide stability at Left Tackle. Mahomes has been missing that stability for 4 years. Constant change at LT ever since Fisher’s injury. By comparison, Josh Allen has had a very durable LT protecting his blind side for 6+ years. I looked at New England and Brady had 10 years with one of his LT’s. 6+ years with the next guy as well. That’s a blessing.

[Chief Pagan]

I don't think it is either or.

Great tackles. Great receiving duo of Travis/Hill.

Don't overlook fairly crappy defense that meant he was fully justified in having a gunslinger mentality.

[Chiefspants]

Originally Posted by DRM08

I vote for Eric Fisher & Mitch Schwartz, but especially Fisher. It would be nice if Wanya Morris or Kingsley can provide stability at Left Tackle. Mahomes has been missing that stability for 4 years. Constant change at LT ever since Fisher’s injury. By comparison, Josh Allen has had a very durable LT protecting his blind side for 6+ years. I looked at New England and Brady had 10 years with one of his LT’s. 6+ years with the next guy as well. That’s a blessing.

I’ve always thought Fish was a bit underappreciated by some in Kansas City. He had a tough time with fans coming in due to his draft position and his rough start in the league. Through his career he struggled against elite power rushers, something that reared its ugly head on a national stage in a couple of playoff games. With that said, he was solid in a position where solid is indispensable and provided Pro-Bowl quality play for PM15. Hell, I dream for either Wayna or Kingsley to get to Fish’s level someday.

[Jewish Rabbi]

Half of CP still hates him for whatever reason, but it’s Alex Smith and it’s not particularly close. Pat has admitted as much multiple times.

[tredadda]

Originally Posted by Jewish Rabbi

Half of CP still hates him for whatever reason, but it’s Alex Smith and it’s not particularly close. Pat has admitted as much multiple times.

I was going to say something similar. Smith absolutely was critical to the success of a young/raw Mahomes.

[dlphg9]

Originally Posted by Jewish Rabbi

Half of CP still hates him for whatever reason, but it’s Alex Smith and it’s not particularly close. Pat has admitted as much multiple times.

This is the stupidest lie that constantly gets posted. The only thing Alex Smith did was prevent Patrick Mahomes from having the greatest rookie season in NFL history.

[cdcox]

Originally Posted by dlphg9

This is the stupidest lie that constantly gets posted. The only thing Alex Smith did was prevent Patrick Mahomes from having the greatest rookie season in NFL history.

I think the truth lies somewhere in between. I think Mahomes did benefit from sitting, mostly by sitting and observing. I don’t think Alex Smith was any kind of horse whisperer that somehow took a raw Mahomes and molded him to be the gunslinger that Alex Smith never dreamed of being. Mahomes giving special credit to Alex Smith is Mahomes being the gracious teammate. That said, I don’t think 2017 Mahomes leads the Chiefs to the 2017 AFC championship or beyond. It was a great situation to allow him to sit.

I voted the Tyreek led WR group slightly over Kelce based on memory of jaw dropping plays. But taking a closer look at stats over the first two years, Kelce probably contributed as much while opening up the downfield stuff.

The tackle group wasn’t nearly as important, given Mahomes’ distain for the pocket in his early years.

[threebag]

Originally Posted by dlphg9

This is the stupidest lie that constantly gets posted. The only thing Alex Smith did was prevent Patrick Mahomes from having the greatest rookie season in NFL history.

Trust The Process

[Wallcrawler]

Originally Posted by dlphg9

This is the stupidest lie that constantly gets posted. The only thing Alex Smith did was prevent Patrick Mahomes from having the greatest rookie season in NFL history.

Greatest rookie season for what? Gaffes?

There are multiple stories of Mahomes tossing dumptruck loads of interceptions in practice.

"Listen, the kid needs a lot of work" -Andy Reid

Getting to sit for a season and learn was his biggest help, and that's Andy Reid, and by default, Alex Smith.

It is what it is.

[FloridaMan88]

Originally Posted by Jewish Rabbi

Half of CP still hates him for whatever reason, but it’s Alex Smith and it’s not particularly close. Pat has admitted as much multiple times.

I don’t hate the player, I just hated his bubble screen game.

[ThrobProng]

Originally Posted by Jewish Rabbi

Half of CP still hates him for whatever reason, but it’s Alex Smith and it’s not particularly close. Pat has admitted as much multiple times.

I've always thought the importance of Smith to Mahomes' development has been greatly exaggerated, because Smith is such a nice guy and he was being pushed out of KC.

Mahomes sitting for a year was crucial, but what if another veteran QB had been the starter in 2017...would Mahomes be a lesser QB today? I don't think so. I picked Kelce.

[tredadda]

Originally Posted by ThrobProng

I've always thought the importance of Smith to Mahomes' development has been greatly exaggerated, because Smith is such a nice guy and he was being pushed out of KC.

Mahomes sitting for a year was crucial, but what if another veteran QB had been the starter in 2017...would Mahomes be a lesser QB today? I don't think so. I picked Kelce.

It’s possible though as Smith was an outlier because he actually mentored Mahomes. Most QBs would have given him the cold shoulder and refuse to help even slightly.

[VAGOMO 4 LIFE!]

It’s Smith and it isn’t even a question, Mahomes has even said so himself.