Michael Travis Rose | May 27, 2019

Please allow me to introduce you to a new writer here at ArroheadOne: Michael Travis Rose. BTW… he goes by Travis. He comes to us via Twitter and has written for NFLFanBlitz. He lives north of the St. Louis area, is a Veteran of the U.S. Navy and has 5 grown sons. Travis has spoken of his admiration for Fran Tarkenton and Joe Montana but I knew he’d be a great fit here when he said, “I shall die a Chiefs fan!” quote, unquote. Please give Travis a hearty welcome to ArrowheadOne. -Laddie Morse, Editor

Earlier this week, I read an article, on another website, that declared that it was impossible for Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes to replicate his breakout 2019 season. The extremely well-written article laid out several reasons that a repeat of Mahomes was improbable. The writer laid out impressive well-researched facts and figures as to why this was the case.

These facts included:

Every passer who has ever thrown for over 5,000 yards has inevitably regressed that next year.

The loss of key players such as wide receiver Chris Conley, center Mitch Morse, running back Kareem Hunt, and the possible loss of wide receiver Tyreek Hill.

The Chiefs have not significantly upgraded last year’s 31st-ranked defense this offseason.

The Chiefs have a much tougher schedule this year than the 2018 campaign.

On the surface, these are all valid arguments with impressive statistics to back them up. However, they fail woefully short of proving the writer’s case. I contend that Mahomes will not only repeat his record-shattering season of last year, but will, in fact, surpass it, culminating in a season in which #15 will victoriously hold the Vince Lombardi trophy aloft in Hard Rock Stadium on February 2, 2020.

The loss of Conley, Morse, Hunt, and possibly Hill certainly stings, but will not significantly impact Mahomes’ success this season.

Damien Williams admirably filled Hunt’s shoes his first start as a Chief in week 15. He broke into the end zone twice against the Los Angeles Chargers, and then followed that up with 103 yards on 13 carries the next week against the Seattle Seahawks. Williams improved further on that in the divisional playoff win against the Indianapolis Colts with 129 yards rushing on 25 carries and a touchdown. One can only imagine how much better Williams will fare in 2019 as the starting running back and taking reps with the first squad. Coach Andy Reid and the Chiefs front-office certainly envision that as evidenced in their first four draft picks addressing needs on defense and an insurance policy for their wide receiving corps.

Speaking of Williams at last season’s end, Coach Reid endorsed his new starting RB, “He did a nice job for us, and we look at every position to fill, but he’s established himself now as a legitimate NFL player, and we feel good about that.”

Mitch Morse left the Chiefs this offseason seeking greener pasture$ in Buffalo, where he became the NFL’s highest-paid center in NFL history as a Bill. One must note, however, that his replacement, Austin Reiter, filled in admirably during a four-game stretch while Morse recovered from a concussion. The 27-year-old Reiter is no greenhorn to the league, with stints both with the Washington Redskins and the Cleveland Browns. The Chiefs also ensured depth at the position by drafting Illinois center, Nick Allegretti. Allegretti started 36 games for the Illini. He serves not only as an insurance policy at center, but quite possibly could challenge Reiter for the starting job this year.

Losing WR Chris Conley hurts, obviously. Conley was a fan favorite that accounted for five of Mahomes’ 50 touchdowns last season. However, Sammy Watkins will step up and negate the loss of Conley. Described as revitalized, focused, and healthy, Watkins tweeted earlier this month,

I will be the best this year mark my word I want it more now than I ever did before in my life im sacrificing everything to get to where I once was the world will now get to witness my greatness again..! #STARSHIP14 #LIMITLESS14 — King me (@sammywatkins) May 18, 2019

Also noteworthy is the fact that Mahomes has zero interceptions when targeting Watkins. Said Mahomes of his “resurrected” receiver, “You know that he’s primed and ready to go out there this season.”

Face it, the potential loss of the lightning-quick Hill pulling in passes in 2019 will be devastating for the Chiefs. Devastating, but not catastrophic. The Chiefs selection of WR Mecole Hardman in the second round of the draft will certainly minimize the potential impact. While Hardman’s 4.33 second 40-yard dash is not quite as fast as Hill’s best record of 4.21, the rookie receiver is doing and saying all the right things while gearing up for his first NFL season. Moreover, Hardman is making a favorable impression on his MVP quarterback.

During OTAs earlier this year, Mahomes excitedly spoke of his new receiver, “He’s a great player. Obviously, he’s very fast, but he’s working on everything – route running, getting accustomed to the offense. I was very excited.”

Mahomes also ribbed Hardman via Twitter earlier this year, responding to one of Hardman’s tweets.

Mahomes responded, “Yeah as long as you keep running and stop slowing down…”

Yeah as long as you keep running and stop slowing down 😂😂 https://t.co/szKBwuLJlq — Patrick Mahomes II (@PatrickMahomes) May 20, 2019

It would be downright dishonest to pretend that a Hill-less Chiefs team won’t hurt Mahomes chances of replicating or surpassing his MVP season of 2018. After all, with twelve touchdowns, Hill accounted for over one-fifth of the Chiefs receiving touchdowns last year. Nonetheless, I am firm in my belief that a revitalized Watkins, a speedy and determined rookie, and the veteran leadership of tight end Travis Kelce (whose best years are still ahead of him) will lessen, if not negate, the potential impact. So, Hardman replied:

😂 I’m still getting accustomed to catching something out of a cannon 😒 https://t.co/RqAIGsBRz2 — Mecole Hardman Jr. (@MecoleHardman4) May 20, 2019

I won’t go into much detail as to the supposition of our defense not being significantly upgraded since last year. But, really?!?! We were ranked 31st! We only have one place to go, really, and that’s up. Chavarius Ward and Kendall Fuller seem to only get better each game that they play. Frank Clark and Tyrann Mathieu are a huge boost to this once anemic defense, not to mention the draft pickups. I dare say that the Chiefs defense will rank in the top ten this season.

Patrick Mahomes thinks the 2018 goal for his #Chiefs is obvious. pic.twitter.com/xND2oWrnAW — Arrowhead Pride (@ArrowheadPride) May 4, 2018

As for the argument of strength of schedule in 2019, I won’t even address this assertion, except to say that the only purpose of the strength of schedule is a hindsight excuse used by teams that miss the playoffs or fall short of their goal.

The biggest reason that Patrick Mahomes will eclipse his performance of last year, this season, is Patrick Mahomes, himself. It’s not just the intangibles that he brings — the no-look passes, the scrambling ability, the cannon arm, the left-handed passes, etc… No, it is Mahomes’ single-focused goal of winning the Super Bowl.

“Just winning the Super Bowl is my only goal, honestly. I feel like that was my goal last year and I feel like that’s my goal this year and it will be every year. When you look back on the season at the end of the season, you’re not going to look back at what your stats were or what all that stuff was, you’ll look at whether you’re holding that trophy at the end of the season or not.”

“It’s not talked about a lot about not winning that game, but it’s talked about we need to take that next step. We need to get to the Super Bowl. That’s the goal. There’s no other goal. It’s finding ways to win games. It’s finding ways to position yourself the right way and finding ways to get to that Super Bowl and finding ways to win that when we get there.”

Mahomes cares little, if at all, about statistics, accolades, adoration, or the like. Visions of Super Bowl glory dance through our quarterback’s head. Moreover, he has the talent, the drive, and the team to make that vision a reality. Many will call me a “homer,” merely a die-hard Chiefs fan, sporting rose-colored glasses. Hardly! I am neither a pessimist nor an optimist, I don’t see the glass as half-full or half-empty. Rather, I see the glass in need of a refill.

Pour up, Pat!

Travis Rose — ArrowheadOne

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