From a Red Raider alum: Things you may not know about Patrick Mahomes II

[JDKinman]

The majority of what has been written and publicly discussed about Patrick Mahomes II has focused on his arm and his ability to make plays. As is usual, the national sports media rarely sees beyond their keyboard.

I have a vested interest in this because I consider Kansas City my second home and my adopted hometown. The three years we spent in KC were the best of our career and the good folks of Kansas City took my wife and I in and made us feel more welcome and at home than any other place we have lived. For that, we'll always be grateful and we truly love the city as if we were born and raised there.

Now to Mahomes II.

Those of us who are Texas Tech alumni and supporters see quite a bit more. In no particular importance, I want to share my observations and experiences with Mahomes from the past three years.

1. No off the field issues and probably never will be. Patrick is not just an outstanding athlete, but he is an outstanding young man. In Raiderland, we never had to hold our breath wondering what foolishness he was going to get into. He has a solid moral compass, solid values and his focus--both professionally and socially--is on being a role model fit for both young kids and old grandmothers alike. He will be excellent for the Kansas City community in the way that Derrick Thomas and Neil Smith were active, and he has the boyish personality and "boy next door" persona of Joe Montana.

This is huge for me given as how I'm a retired ad agency and brand guy, the leader of a team has to wear that not just on their sleeve, but in their heart as well. Mahomes will make Kansas Citians proud everywhere he goes.

2. He's smart. Book smart, athletic smart and career smart. This too has been overlooked by the media. During his time at Texas Tech, Mahomes was an Academic All-American. He didn't cut or skip class and have coaches cover for him. (Kliff) Kingsbury doesn't tolerate that. We've lost some good players due to their academic hijinks and/or failures.

Concern over Mahomes' ability to learn an NFL playbook? Zero. Concerns over Mahomes' ability to manage his money rather than letting it manage him and becoming a distraction to the team and city? Zero. Concerns over his hitting an intellectual ceiling so far as being a professional quarterback goes? Zero.

3. He has an uncanny ability to not just read the defense, but to read what is happening on the defense as the play develops--and exploit it. Much of what I've read by sportswriters criticizing Mahomes for a "lack of pocket discipline" has been amusing. Watching six minutes of game film highlights and then penning a story for the press does not give one anywhere near the correct perspective of what Mahomes saw and accomplished on the field.

Tech fans have seen this for three years. Mahomes will see what the defense is doing, audible or adjust the play and then make adjustments on the run. Yes, some of this will need to change in the NFL and he will need to learn when a play cannot be salvaged or saved, but see Point #2 regarding his intelligence. The bigger picture here is that the young man has not only the vision to see what a defense is adjusting or preparing for, but also has the ability to react and counter-attack during the play. In high-scoring Big 12 games, this is critical.

4. Mahomes has the best "full field vision" of any quarterback we've ever had at Tech. Period. If what they say about reincarnation is true, Patrick Mahomes was a bird-of-prey in a previous life. His eyesight and vision is other-worldly when it comes to seeing the entire field. In three years and thousands of yards of passing, we may never have any idea how many touchdowns and first downs were made because he saw the entire field and every single eligible receiver.

Broadcasters are always good at pointing out during a replay the receivers that were open that the quarterback missed. You can go back and review all three years of Mahomes playing at Tech and you won't have more than a handful of those remarks by the broadcasters. The kid has incredible field vision and--

5. He analyzes and decides like a super computer. Maybe faster. This was another thing that kept the Raider faithful enthralled on game days. Mahomes knew who his primary and secondary receivers were, but his ability to read and analyze a defense and then adjust, sometimes even on the fly as the play was unfolding, and then process what was happening and then shift who was NOW the primary and secondary receiver was mind-boggling. Even the Tech receiving corps would shake their heads at how fast he could go from one side of the field as they were covered, to finding them as soon as the defense mistakenly thought they had the play covered, and then find his next set of primary receivers and make the play to them with laser-like accuracy.

He is a zone defense's worst nightmare. Man-on-man coverage is up to the receivers, but defensive coordinators and defensive backs are going to lose a lot of sleep trying to out guess and out-react Mahomes.

6. He is a freakshow of an athlete.This has been touched on, but Mahomes' athleticism goes far beyond his right arm. He's a husky, big kid who is a gym rat and fitness fanatic. He has eye to hand coordination that can fake you out on the football field or dazzle you on the baseball diamond.

7. He's humble. I doubt you'll see entourages or "crews" hanging with every move. Mahomes is self-confident and assured. He's not a Manziel that needed hero-worshippers falling all over him every step of the way. Mahomes gives credit to his coaches and receivers and teammates before he talks about anything he might have done in the game. Too much of that gets edited out by the sports writers and broadcasters, but this young man is the consummate team player and a natural leader.

In conclusion, I wanted to share these thoughts, views and experiences from the past three years of thoroughly enjoying Mahomes in a Texas Tech jersey. That he is trading Texas Tech red for Kansas City red. . . Christmas came in April and is now running non-stop for as long as this outstanding young man calls Arrowhead Stadium home.

Best regards,

--JD

[wazu]

Originally Posted by Hammock Parties

HALLO BOYS AND GIRLS

ME AM TOUCHDOWN MONSTER

T IS FOR TOUCHDOWN

THAT GOOD ENOUGH FOR ME!!!!

[Chiefshrink]

What will be interesting is how much Reid wants cleaned up from Mahomes i.e. to his footwork because let's face it not only can he make all the throws standing as well as on the run but he is accurate the majority of the time when he does throw even if his footwork is not ideal in certain scenarios. Hopefully Reid will not try to fix too much that is not really broke if you get my point. Sometimes when a person is so athletically talented you have to let him play to his own natural ability, instinct, and intuition and know the difference when to intervene. This is what I hope Reid recognizes from his work with Favre as it translates to Mahomes.

When to tinker and when to not tinker is Reid's goal here IMHO.

[Red Dawg]

That play makes me sick. We traded up for Mahomes because of plays just like that.

[mcaj22]

IN WITH THE MAHOMES FANS OUT WITH THE ALEX FANS

a great era of Chiefs football is upon us very soon

[Hog's Gone Fishin]

Originally Posted by Chiefshrink

What will be interesting is how much Reid wants cleaned up from Mahomes i.e. to his footwork because let's face it not only can he make all the throws standing as well as on the run but he is accurate the majority of the time when he does throw even if his footwork is not ideal in certain scenarios. Hopefully Reid will not try to fix too much that is not really broke if you get my point. Sometimes when a person is so athletically talented you have to let him play to his own natural ability, instinct, and intuition and know the difference when to intervene. This is what I hope Reid recognizes from his work with Favre as it translates to Mahomes.

When to tinker and when to not tinker is Reid's goal here IMHO.

I heard an interview with donovan McNabb the other day and he said he had to tell Reid "Hey, I'm not Brett Favre" so then Reid let him be himself. So yeah, the same thing crossed my mind. But Reid is a professional Coach so he knows the natural abilities a player has is why they're where they are.

[suzzer99]

Originally Posted by notorious

After watching Alex miss wide open receivers all over the field, this excites me the most.

When I saw this video, that play was the final final nail in the coffin for Alex for me.

[Rasputin]

Originally Posted by suzzer99

When I saw this video, that play was the final final nail in the coffin for Alex for me.

I was so pissed we traded for Alex Smith DID NOT WANT

[ExtremeChief]

Just to see a quarterback continue to look downfield as pressure comes will be a welcome damn change from what we have now.

[Hog's Gone Fishin]

Originally Posted by KC Tattoo

I was so pissed we traded for Alex Smith DID NOT WANT

Been said a million times but what was our other option ? Matt Cassel?

And 11-5 and 12-4 made football a lot more bearable.

[DRM08]

Originally Posted by wazu

Finding it increasingly hard to believe this guy shouldn't start this year.

No, he does need some time to learn behind the scenes. His talent is off the charts and he would have been the #1 overall pick if he was actually ready to start. I hope Alex can stay healthy so Pat is not thrown to the wolves too early.

[TigeRRUppeRRcut]

Originally Posted by Hammock Parties

HALLO BOYS AND GIRLS

ME AM TOUCHDOWN MONSTER

T IS FOR TOUCHDOWN

THAT GOOD ENOUGH FOR ME!!!!

Any guy Clay assesses, the opposite happens. Let's not forget.

[JDKinman]

Originally Posted by notorious

My God, imagine how well Reids short passes will work with the defense backing off to cover Maclin and Hill deep?

That is what made our (Red Raider) offense so potent for three straight years. We've always been "Receiver U" since Mike Leach took the program and installed his Air Raid offense. So with multiple deep threats, a LOT of short and middle ground opens up. Big 12 defenses tried blitzing Mahomes, which was liking drinking gasoline and whizzing on a brush fire so bad did they get lit up.

The Chiefs have the offensive bombs, bombardment and smart bombs in place. We just lacked the necessary aircraft to deliver them.

That is no longer a problem.

Originally Posted by milkman

This all sounds great, but the fact is, clearly his decision making was questionable at times, and that, along with his footwork, has to be cleaned up.

He's a bit raw with a high ceiling, and there's a lot of work to reach that ceiling.

As much as I love the kid, I will never question that he made some decisions that had me wanting to unload an Uzi at my big screen tv. But what you RARELY saw, was him making the same bad decision twice in a row or even in the same game.

Again, this is where his intellect, discipline and focus comes in.

Kliff Kingsbury will be a very good coach for us at Texas Tech in the years to come. But at the end of the day, he and his assistants are still very green and in the early learning curves.

That is not a problem we have with Andy Reid and his staff.

I think a year of preparation will be all that Mahomes needs. Will be reach a Super Bowl in his first starting season? Maybe, but maybe not. But we will be in the playoffs and I would wager as the AFC West Champion.

This is the guy (Mahomes) that has the focus, determination, confidence and skills to get in a gunslinging game with the likes of a Tom Brady or Aaron Rodgers and have the Vegas oddsmakers sweating like a Saigon harlot on GI payday.

--JD

[Messier]

Originally Posted by KC Tattoo

I was so pissed we traded for Alex Smith DID NOT WANT

I'm glad Alex was here. I liked the last 4 years, but it's time. If Mahomes looks outstanding in preseason, we may see him sooner than later. I hope he gets tons of playing time, maybe a whole game in the preseason.

[TigeRRUppeRRcut]

So Mahomes 1 year out of college is going to immediately be superior to that of Carr, Mariota, Brady, Luck, Big Ben, Rivers, Flacco and Dalton...and people say I'm the one that's delusional? Am I missing something that people see that give reason to hype him like he's coming out of the gates and going to be successful like Russell Wilson?



Pump the brakes, kids.

[TigeRRUppeRRcut]

Originally Posted by Messier

I'm glad Alex was here. I liked the last 4 years, but it's time. If Mahomes looks outstanding in preseason, we may see him sooner than later. I hope he gets tons of playing time, maybe a whole game in the preseason.

It wasn't long ago that we were hyping another QB because of preseason play, and God knows what team he plays for now. Reid and Dorsey aren't going to **** up this kid's development. Bray is the backup for this season. Get used to it.