Chiefs Rooms: Running Back
5 repliesKenneth Walker III
Arriving in Kansas City fresh off a Super Bowl MVP and a incredible postseason run, Kenneth Walker III enters the Chiefs backfield carrying both massive expectations and quiet anxiety from the Kingdom. The worry among some fans is real: was that magical playoff tear simply lightning in a bottle? Did that lightning already flash and dump its voltage to ground? Prior to that championship surge, Walker’s career was marked by explosive flashes interspersed with stretches of inconsistency and a few injuries. Pairing that history with Andy Reid’s notorious habit of abandoning the ground game when his passing itch flares up creates a valid question: what happens now?
Now we get excited because the upside is downright intoxicating, like Arrowhead tailgating for first-timers. If unleashed properly, Walker has the tools to dominate in thunderous ways that Arrowhead hasn’t witnessed in many, many seasons. Kansas City hasn’t featured a complete, devastating weapon in the backfield since the golden rushing eras of Jamaal Charles, Larry Johnson, and Priest Holmes. At his absolute best, Walker blends elements of all three: the home-run breakaway speed of Charles, the punishing pad-level violence of Johnson, and the patient, vision-driven cutback mastery of Holmes. Do you remember Priest diving into the end zone? I do! If Reid commits to the marriage of feeding him, Walker won’t just be an insurance policy—he will give this offense an unstoppable dual identity and that’s without even mentioning his sidekicks that have the potential to be lethal like Chuck Norris’.
Emmett Johnson
For the massive pocket of Chiefs Kingdom residing northwest in Nebraska, Emmett Johnson’s arrival is a dream match that struck love. Understand that Husker red love will transfer between fanbases like a direct portal into Arrowhead, from sea of red to shining sea of red. Beyond the geographic loyalty, Johnson brings an infectious personality and an active social media presence that instantly connected with fans online. He’s magnetic, charismatic and is ready for the prime time game and fame. The question is can he play in the NFL?
Despite an ultra-productive collegiate career racking up tough yards and displaying elite vision, Johnson slipped to the fifth round on draft day. He felt slighted, but he didn’t waste time making the league pay for that mistake up to this point. A stellar, highly efficient preseason performance forced Brett Veach’s hand, directly leading to the release of veteran hopeful third-down running back, Emari Demercado. Johnson’s hard-nosed downhill style, combined with soft hands out of the backfield, makes him a seamless fit in this offense—especially with Eric Bieniemy back in the building setting the tone. His future burns as bright as the lights over Arrowhead during a Sunday night game.
Brashard Smith
The former college receiver-turned-running-back Brashard Smith looked exceptionally sharp during exhibition play, proving he is a legitimate NFL-caliber playmaker every time the ball touched his hands in space. It’s absolutely true, naysayers, he is never going to be a bruising, between-the-tackles workhorse who runs through an All-Pro linebacker’s chest. That’s just not his game.
Instead, Smith is precisely the kind of sneaky, dynamic weapon Andy Reid loves to deploy on screens, swing routes, and jet sweeps. When he hits the edge, he runs like monsters are chasing him in a horror movie—frantic, explosive, and gone in a hurry before a defender can even get an angle. Chiefs fans just need to use their imagination with Smith. He can line up out wide, exploit mismatches in the flats, and make an immediate impact on special teams as we witnessed during the preseason. Fitting, because the kid might just be special.
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The new RB room is probably the biggest change for the offense. I’m really looking forward to these guys getting into a groove.
My concern is that they aren’t bowling ball type power backs. They are strong but their game is being shifty and quick and breaking a tackle or two along the way. Perfect for the screen game. Not so perfect for short yardage situations when you need a guy like Kareem Hunt. Hopefully I’m wrong.
Also a bit worried about Walker being able to make it through a full season as RB1. Hopefully I’m wrong on that too, and he can take it and run.
You may have a point about short yardage situations, although a good deal of that can be mitigated if the OL’s good enough, and the interior of ours is about as good as it gets. The OTs are the question, and nothing for that but to play. Then we’ll see.
As for Walker, that’s also mitigated by Reid’s system. He could double the use of RBs as the primaries in play calls and I’m pretty sure Walker’s load would be lighter was it was last year. Even more so if E$ Johnson’s preseason promise pulls through, and if that’s the case Walker could go down and we might not lose much as all in the run game.
As for screens, we haven’t seen very many of them since EB left. Now that he’s back and we have 3 RBs that should do well, if not excel on screens, I’m crossing my fingers looking ahead. Back in the day we were very good in that department, I think top 3 or better. I’m not up to hunting down the number on that, though.
My take on it all is cautious optimism, but NFL coaches aren’t known for doing things the way the fans want them to.
You’re probably right. We hope to run the ball a lot more, but it is Andy Reid we’re talking about. If that’s the case, which it almost certainly will be, then the wear and tear aspect lessens.
Been hawking for a Tolbert / Alstott Type RB foe the Chiefs for Years … ; (
Up to the standard I’ve come to expect from you, excellent.