Rookie RB Clyde Edwards-Helaire impresses Chiefs in multiple ways

Native Kansans and Missourians know the power of a mid-August heat. In the Midwest, late summer can produce some of the hottest, sweetest days of the year – and if they are not careful, newcomers may catch up.

That’s what happened to the Kansas City Chiefs rookie running back Clyde Edwards-Helaire on Sunday, who broke most of Sunday’s practice on the sidelines after being dehydrated. The native Louisianan could only shrug his shoulders and laugh.

“It’s hot everywhere right now.” Edwards-Helaire told reporters after the practice. “That’s exactly what it is, and we work outside.”

Like the weather, Edwards-Helaire’s name has been hot this August – mostly because of the chance he’s going to be a key, direct contributor in his first season. With all the talk about his skill in ball transport, head coach Andy Reid made sure to emphasize another important aspect of his game.

“He’s a really smart kid, so he picks it up,” Reid told reporters of his pass protection skills. “He’s strong – he’s short, but he’s strong. He gets himself in good position with his speed and his high pressure and does a good job with protection; he has a pretty good base with what’s up with it. ”

The ability to sail a flashy defender – if starting quarterback Patrick Mahomes buys a few seconds in the pocket – is essential to being a Chiefs running back. Players earn playing time with protection skills – but once the ball is in their hands, they still need to be weapons.

John Sleezer / Kansas City Star / Tribune News Service via Getty Images

Mahomes in particular made an observation about Edwards-Helaire’s rushing style which helps his case to be an all-down player.

“He’s gone in, learned the offense, doesn’t make a lot of mistakes, plays fast, and he has incredible vision,” Mahomes pointed out. “That’s the biggest thing so far, the way he can run the ball, find the routes to run it in and get it out of the backfield – [to] step up and make plays happen. For him to do that so early is a great sign. ‘

Compliments on his vision are not new to Edwards-Helaire. In fact, he has embraced it for most of his football career.

“I was told at a young age – maybe six or seven – the one thing you can not learn is eyes … what I see when I walk the ball or the things I see running the route, that’s mine remember to do his own thing and make his adjustments right out of the charge and understand the concept of the game calls. ‘

Photo by Steve Limentani / ISI Photos / Getty Images

Edwards-Helaire will get a greater chance to show this skill after he started running Damien Williams chose for the season.

“As soon as I heard the news, I wanted to get his phone number from (running back coach) Deland [McCullough] and send him a text, ”Edwards-Healire recalls of his reaction to the news. ‘Because of course, when a man chooses that route, it’s more than meets the eye.

‘I’ve always been a guy who needs to be 100% attuned from the start. I do not need to turn switch, and now said it’s time. Since the day I was drafted, I felt like I would get this playbook, roll and do my work. That it was never a shocking moment for me. ”

Like many other high school adults, Edwards-Helaire used his connections with his alma mater to gain mentorship for his professional career. Fellow running back Darrel Williams shared a dressing room with Edwards-Helaire at LSU – and their relationship has grown in Kansas City.

“The man I’ve always been looking for is Darrel,” he explained. ‘He was in my room at LSU, and he’s in the room with me now too – and he’s been in this mess. As for anyone I’m used to in the first place is Darrel. ‘

As the Chiefs move on to covered practices, things could get even easier for this year’s first-round selection.

“These last two days putting the pads on, for me, it felt like everything was slowing down,” Edwards-Helaire admitted. “Just because of the nature of football, everything slows down pads just because of contact.”

Playing from a position that requires a big-time starter, Edwards-Helaire continues – and appears more than capable. If taking over from him really gave the Chiefs an upgrade on the position, it does not tell how dynamic the crime can be.