Three TE sets
 

By Adam Teicher | ESPN.com


KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- If you like the three-tight end formations used by the Kansas City Chiefs because of their potential, you’ll love them because of the results.

In their three games, the Chiefs have used tight ends Anthony Fasano, Travis Kelce and Demetrius Harris together on 15 plays. The Chiefs on those plays have rushed 10 times for a healthy 6.2-yard per carry average. Four of Alex Smith’s five passes were complete for 62 yards.

Thirteen of those plays happened in last week’s game against the Miami Dolphins. The Chiefs won their first game of the season, and don’t mistake as coincidence the correlation between using their tight ends, being efficient offensively and winning.

“We put that in in [offseason practice] and we ran it a little bit last week,’’ coach Andy Reid said. “We thought we could get a decent matchup.’’

They did. Three-tight end formations usually signal a running play, but they don’t have to because Fasano, Kelce and Harris are all decent or better receivers. Even Harris, a college basketball player, has developed into a decent blocker.

“They give us some flexibility because they’re all good receivers,’’ Reid said. “The thing that probably surprises you the most is Harris and his ability to block.

“You look at Harris and you look at the improvement he’s made and some of the physical blocks he made in that game. That was pretty impressive.’’

There’s no telling how much the Chiefs will use three tight ends in next Monday night’s game against the New England Patriots at Arrowhead Stadium, and beyond. It might vary from week to week because of matchups and how they’re being defended.

But tight end is a position group of strength for the Chiefs, along with running back. They certainly can’t say that about their wide receivers or offensive line.

So the Chiefs are best off making liberal use of Fasano, Kelce and Harris. They now have the numbers to prove that works.

Kelce is playing more like a WR at this point...and doing it better than our WR's. Whatever keeps him on the field, I'm good with. That guy is gonna be special if he can stay healthy.

Damn right!

Glad that Reid is seeing the light. Our WRs SUCK!

Harris, our 3rd TE, is at least as good of a receiver as Hemmingway and are other scrubs are, plus he can run and block as well and is a bigger mismatch due to his 6'7" frame.

It's no surprise that our offense became a lot more consistent when using multiple TE sets on a more frequent basis.

Stick to it Reid, don't get cute with your shit like the almost disastrous reverse sweep play. We may have some guys who are fast but they aren't anywhere near as skilled as Desean Jackson and Jeremy Maclin.

I said before that he reminded me of Jimmy Graham based on his speed and athleticism for a TE. Of course, CP called me an idiot.

Prior to reading this I was having trouble remembering that the Chiefs even had 3 TEs.

Offense improved with more receiving options?


i'm astonished


imagine if our WRs were actually ......... good.

Several of us were bitching about the TE's not being used enough the first two games, was so glad to see Reid start getting it right for a change.

I didnt think Harris would make it past his AWFUL preseason game, but maybe theres hope for him yet.

Miami often had 8-9 guys in the box, in our 3 TE sets. I kept waiting for a play action where Kelce and Harris went deep, but they never tried it.

Because the O-line couldnt hold up for that long

Did you see what happened when we tried a PA 7-step drop from the endzone? Despite having multiple extra blockers in on that play, we still ended up getting sacked because we had our FB trying to block a DT and our LG completely failed in his assignment as well.

Did you think that the OL was going to hold up without the TEs staying in on a passing play that takes longer than 2.5 seconds to develop?

After watching him in preseason I decided to pick Kelce up on my FF team.He's been doing a fine job for me in place of V. Davis (injured). As long as our WRs continue to suck I have a feeling he's going to be a better option than Davis most of the time.

Idiot








Jk

Kelce is Jeremy Shockey esk.

FB?

Oh you mean Knile Davis....he's the one who completely whiffed on that play. That sack was on Davis.

I like 3 TE formations, not just because our WRs suck.

These?

http://www.virginmedia.com/tvradio/b.../img/img_1.jpg

Works for me!

You seem nice

Demetrius Harris sucks though. He hasn't even caught a pass. Would rather have McGrath. I miss the old coot !

I'm not really sure why Reid keeps praising his ability to catch as a TE when he hasn't done squat in an actual game.

He has caught a pass for a first down though. It was against Denver.

He has only played on 16 snaps this entire season, most of those on run plays.

Don't blame Reid for the sweep, it was open for a big gain, the hand off was failed.

To the OP, I'd like to see more of the formation, like every first and second down run a few and build up the PA pass, put kelce in motion out wide, etc

I feel like this team needs an identity. Maybe that's it. Just go ****in' Jumbo when the opportunity is there; here we come, try and stop us.

Harris is enormous in person. Much much larger than Tony Moeaki who I have met both out at clubs and night venues

Run the ball and throw to backs and big guys!

Yep, why not... the pats made a lot of hay playing that kind of ball.

Receivers suck? then get your tight ends in there and run that ****ing ball.

I don't remember him catching a ball so that doesn't count.

He is 6'7" tall, close to Lebron James size. He also has 4.5 wheels (at worst 4.6).

The Dwayne Bowe Show needs to be cancelled and replaced with "My Three TE's".

If Kelce and Harris continue to develop, they have the potential to become every bit as good as the Gronk+Hernandez combo was on the field. Question is, does Reid have the ability to put something like that together at his age?

I'd like to see a 13 personnel redzone package and then motion Harris out and throw fades to him all day, he should win jump balls like that 95% of the time.

They lined up for that against the Titans and he got too excited and false started, lol.

Belicheck is known to take the opposing teams best player out by double teaming him. This will be tough for him because we don't really have one.

Swinging gate coming back into style?

Admirable interpersonal relationship skills to be emulated by all.

"We've been looking for the enemy for some time now. We've finally found him. We're surrounded. That simplifies things."

Simple, he's going to take away the run game and dare our WRs to beat the outside coverage and Reid is going to play right into his hands by not playing our TEs much. That's how we'll possibly lose this game.