Touchdowns, DC Headaches, and Cheetahs… Oh, My!

Tyreek Hill: Cheetah

I, like many Chiefs fans am tired of talking about him and the all-too-public drama in which he and the mother of his children find themselves embroiled. This article isn’t that.

Instead, our focus is on Tyreek Hill, the football player. Tyreek Hill, the wide receiver. Most of all, I want to talk about Tyreek Hill, the Kansas City Chief. About what he means to this team, how Hill being on the field not only makes the Chiefs a better team but also a solid Super Bowl contender.

I’ll not opine on Hill’s current domestic troubles other than to say life has taught me that there are usually three sides to every story; his, hers, and the truth.

News on whether Hill will be suspended for violating the NFL’s is expected any day now, with most anticipating anywhere from no suspension to a four-game suspension. Regardless, Hill is expected at Chiefs training camp set to begin in under two weeks.

“I was skeptical going in. There are fast guys everywhere. We had fast guys when I was there. But he isn’t just a fast guy. He’s got moves. He can catch. He’s a lot bigger than I thought … he’s kind of ripped up. I was extremely impressed with him the first game. I didn’t know what to expect going in, but he’s the real deal. I think he’s going to be a player that could win a game single-handedly if they give him enough touches. I could not sing his praises enough. He was everything he was billed-up to be.”

—Clint Chelf, former OSU QB

“The fastest player I’ve ever seen.”

—Mike Gundy, OSU Head Coach

“A freak of nature.”

—Mitch Morse, former Chiefs center

Hill can almost single-handedly change the entire direction and tone on a game with just a single play.

Tyreek Hill has wowed the league since being drafted by the Chiefs in 2016. The memory of his majestic NFL hat-trick, a three-touchdown performance, against the hated Denver Broncos comes to mind. As a rookie, in week 12 of the 2016 season, the Cheetah became the first player to record a rushing touchdown, a receiving touchdown, and a kick return in a single game since rookie Gale Sayers, the Kansas Comet, did it against the Minnesota Vikings, almost fifty years prior on October 17, 1965.

Tyreek Hill now has 13 career touchdowns of at least 50 yards (six receiving, four punt-return, two rushing, one kick-return) in 32 career NFL games and is tied with Gale Sayers and Devin Hester for the most 50+ yard touchdowns in a player's first 35 career games in NFL history. — Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) September 10, 2018

In his 2016 rookie year, Hill scored a total of 12 touchdowns (6 receiving, 3 rushing, 1 kick return, 2 punt returns) accounting for 35% of the Chiefs 34 total touchdowns during the 2016 campaign. Hill followed up his inaugural NFL season with fourteen total touchdowns (7 receiving, 1 rushing, 1 punt return) which accounted for 21% of the Chiefs 38 touchdowns that season.

Then, last year, Hill showed no letup in a spectacular touchdown frenzy of a season. Of the 66 touchdowns that the Chiefs scored during the 2018 regular season, Hill was the guy in the endzone 14 times (12 receiving, 1 rushing, 1 punt return). He again accounted for 21% of the Chiefs touchdowns.

Amazingly, Hill has 34 touchdowns in his first three years in the league. For comparison, the Cleveland Browns newly acquired wideout Odell Beckham, Jr. netted 35 touchdowns in his first three seasons with the New York Giants.

In his three years as a Chief, Hill has been a Pro-Bowler all three years, and First Team All-Pro two of those years. His 34 touchdowns, garnered mainly through receptions, but also kick returns, punt returns, and rushing attempts account for 24% of touchdowns scored by the Chiefs in the past three years (138 Chiefs total touchdowns).

As if his sheer scoring output was not enough, there are also the intangibles to consider. Defenses are often times so worried about Hill, that they sleep on the likes of Travis Kelce, Sammy Watkins, Damien Williams, usually resulting in points, first downs, and/or huge yardage gains. Much to the chagrin of defensive coordinators in 2019, this season, we add Darwin Thomas and Mecole Hardman to that list.

I sure hope that the DCs are stocking up on the Tylenol because with Hill running routes, headaches are inevitable in their line of work.

“There’s only one cheetah in the league, just know that. You can’t be a cheetah and run a 4.48, or whatever you run.”

—Tyreek Hill

There’s no way to predict how this season is going to play out. However, with Hill in the starting lineup, the odds are heavily in the Chiefs favor. I’m just glad that he’s a Chief in 2019. His presence on the field will prove vital in the Chiefs Super Bowl struggle.

I’m also glad for Hill that this troubled chapter in his life appears near its end and that the Chiefs and his teammates allowed him the time and offered him the support necessary to navigate this troubled time.

Most importantly, however, I’m glad that his son is in a better environment and has a solid support system to ensure that he does not fall through the cracks.

As Hill himself has said since the onset of all of this “mess” (for lack of a better word), “My son’s health and happiness is my #1 priority.” Football, baby-mama drama, and even our beloved Chiefs aside, that’s what matters the most.

Bonus Fun Fact: Actor John Amos, of “Good Times” and “Roots” fame, received a contract from the AFL Kansas City Chiefs. A few weeks later, Coach Hank Stram sent Amos packing (for the second time) with the admonishment, “You’re not a football player, you’re a man who is trying to play football.” So grateful was Amos, that Stram encouraged him on from a football career and to follow his writing and acting dreams, he even named his son, K.C. and is a lifelong Chiefs fan.

Michael Travis Rose — ArrowheadOne

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