Over the past three seasons, the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs have struggled to run the ball. Regardless of the Chiefs continuously dealing with gentle packing containers from opposing defenses, the offense has struggled to punish them with the speeding assault.
There are a number of explanation why the run recreation has fallen off over the previous few years.
The offensive line hasn’t been constantly wholesome or a power for the Chiefs. The inside offensive line has all the time been nice, however the revolving tackles have damage the run recreation.The skill-position group, significantly at tight finish, has not been impactful in run blocking. The Chiefs have lacked a blocking tight finish who can play inline. Noah Grey and Travis Kelce need to be hidden within the run recreation, which limits the forms of runs the Chiefs can name.Scheme. The Chiefs like to make use of run-pass choices as a lot as anybody within the NFL. Whereas the specter of the go does stretch the sector horizontally, RPOs also can damage your run recreation. The offensive line can’t block vertically for the reason that quarterback can throw the ball. RPOs are additionally known as from the shotgun, which limits sure run-blocking angles.
Regardless of these causes, I might argue that the largest cause the run recreation has fallen off is the shortage of operating again expertise. Kansas Metropolis hasn’t seen satisfactory operating again play over the past three seasons.
After the 2022 season, it appeared like Isiah Pacheco was the long run at operating again after an ideal rookie marketing campaign. Sadly, Pacheco by no means fairly returned to the extent he performed at as a rookie. His 2023 marketing campaign was up and down, however he nonetheless had good moments all through the season.
What appeared to set Pacheco again was the leg harm he suffered early in 2024. Pacheco was restricted to seven video games that season. He had solely 310 speeding yards and one landing on 83 carries. Pacheco seemed nowhere close to as explosive as he did previous to his harm. Pacheco had all the time been an up-and-down participant due to his lack of imaginative and prescient, however his skill to generate explosive runs made it value handing him the ball.
After the harm, that skill by no means got here again. Solely one in every of Pacheco’s runs over the past two years lasted 20 or extra yards. In the course of the 2023 season, Pacheco generated six runs of over 20 yards.
With Pacheco not an efficient possibility, the Chiefs have turned to Kareem Hunt because the lead again over the previous two seasons. Hunt was good at sure issues: he was among the best short-yardage backs within the NFL. Hunt’s imaginative and prescient and power allowed the Chiefs to make brief yardage nearly automated, which lifted the ground on an offense that couldn’t generate explosive performs. Nevertheless, Hunt wasn’t very efficient exterior of these situations. Over the past two seasons, Hunt completed with two 20+ yard runs.
Groups have dared the Chiefs to run the ball over the past three seasons with gentle packing containers. In idea, with fewer our bodies within the field, there needs to be extra room for explosive runs, however the Chiefs’ operating backs have been incapable of utilizing that area.
As a result of the backs couldn’t take what was given to them, it made each different facet of their offense harder. The group had had sufficient of that downside this offseason. The entrance workplace addressed the operating again place by signing Kenneth Walker in free company.
KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI – JUNE 09: Kenneth Walker #9 of the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs carries the ball throughout obligatory minicamp at The College of Kansas Hospital Arrowhead Coaching Complicated on June 09, 2026 in Kansas Metropolis, Missouri. (Photograph by Aaron M. Sprecher/Getty Photos) Getty Photos
Walker was introduced in to unravel the shortage of explosive runs. Final season, Walker was fourth within the NFL in 20+ yard runs with 10.
Walker’s pace and explosiveness are components the offense simply hasn’t had since Hunt was drafted. Walker doesn’t want a runway to construct up pace. He’s explosive from the second he has the ball. He can slide previous defenders angling for him, highlighting his skill to vary tempo.
One other thrilling aspect of the Walker signing is that that is the most effective offensive line he’s ever performed with
The Seattle Seahawks’ offensive line was a weak point till this previous 12 months, and even then, they have been nearer to common. When the Chiefs’ offensive line is wholesome, it’s simply a top-5 unit. There might be much more alternatives for Walker to get into area and create huge performs.
There’s little question that Walker’s skill to generate explosive runs will elevate the ground of the run recreation.
The query is, can the Chiefs construct an elite run recreation with Walker at operating again?
There’s cause to consider he might be. Walker may have the lightest packing containers he’s ever had taking part in with Patrick Mahomes. Groups will all the time play two-high safeties towards the Chiefs. There received’t be visitors within the field. The offensive line can create motion even with out having additional tight ends or blocking personnel on the sector. There’s a superb probability the Chiefs may get extra out of Walker than Seattle did.
Nevertheless, there’s a probability that Walker’s presence received’t create an elite run recreation. Whereas Walker’s greatest performs are electrical, he does play with inconsistency. His imaginative and prescient will be up and down. He’ll bounce runs unnecessarily, which might result in extra adverse performs. As flawed as Hunt was because the workforce’s lead again, he not often had adverse runs. There may be extra variance in Walker’s recreation.
One other concern is that Walker hasn’t been a heavy-usage participant in his profession. His profession excessive for carries in a season is 228. The opposite three years have been 215, 221, and 153 (he performed 11 video games). The Chiefs did deal with operating again depth with Emmett Johnson and Emari Demercado, however the offense ought to nonetheless anticipate greater than 220 carries from Walker subsequent 12 months. Can he maintain up?
I even have some questions concerning the scheme match. Walker can run from the shotgun, however he prefers under-center runs, the place he can learn the bottom and make one vertical reduce. There’s a affordable worry about placing him in shotgun; his worst tendencies, to bounce runs and never observe blocks, are baited in shotgun.
Total, I’m very optimistic concerning the Walker signing. It might be arduous for the Chiefs’ run recreation to worsen, and having a reliable operating again will change the offense. The query is concerning the diploma to which Walker adjustments the offense.
With the Chiefs not addressing a go catcher and Mahomes coming off an harm, there’s a heavy load on Walker and the offensive line to ship. For the Chiefs to have a Tremendous Bowl ceiling, Walker must be a transformational piece. He has the potential to try this, however he’ll have to ship.
