Tyler Bray, not Patrick Mahomes, is the Chiefs’ No. 2 quarterback so far

[Deberg_1990]

When the Chiefs selected Patrick Mahomes II with the 10th overall pick in the NFL Draft — after trading a 2018 first-round pick to do it — it would have been easy for backup quarterback Tyler Bray to mentally go in the tank.

The 25-year-old Bray spent the previous four seasons learning coach Andy Reid’s offense, and the Chiefs still opted to sacrifice premium draft capital to select another young quarterback with traits to mirror Bray’s cannon for an arm and love for the deep ball.

But Bray, an undrafted free agent in 2013, is no stranger to competition. He beat out 2014 fifth-round pick Aaron Murray for the backup job a year ago, though he had the No. 2 spot usurped from him by veteran Nick Foles during training camp.

And Bray functioned as the Chiefs’ No. 2 quarterback ahead of Mahomes this week during the Chiefs’ first three of 10 voluntary offseason practices. Bray knows that as long as he has a job in the NFL, he has a chance to play.

“It’s the same thing every year — you’ve got to come out there and compete,” Bray said. “We’ve drafted a guy every year … you can’t just sit back (and say) ‘Aw, here we go again.’ I mean, it’s the NFL. They’re going to bring in guys every year that are competing to start.”


Reid emphasized Thursday that Bray again has an opportunity to hold onto the No. 2 job, despite Mahomes’ presence and the fact Bray is slated to be an unrestricted free agent after the season.

“He’s going to compete — I would tell you that’s what he does,” Reid said of Bray. “He’s earned the right to be in that position and now he’s got to maintain it.”

What could complicate things for Bray is that the Chiefs’ No. 2 quarterback only gets a handful of practice snaps with the starters during the regular season. If the Chiefs are committed to getting Mahomes some snaps, it might make sense to install him as the top backup so he gets meaningful reps with the top offensive players.

But Reid also noted Thursday that young backup quarterbacks can still get on-field practice work during the regular season.

“Where they get their reps is on the scout team,” Reid said. “Then you try to tie that in to what (the first-teamers) do the best way you possibly can.”

Which makes the mental reps the backups take — when they watch starter Alex Smith run the offense — as important as on-field reps. And given the way coaches and teammates have complimented Bray’s improved knowledge of the playbook, it appears he has taken advantage of those mental reps.

For instance, Bray wasn’t asked to execute all of the Chiefs’ offensive concepts in practice last season. But Reid said that is no longer the case.

“For the most part, this is the first time he’s had the whole thing thrown at him and been expected to do it,” Reid said. “He’s doing a nice job with it. Tyler is very much improved from where we initially got him.”

Bray says he’s at the point where he’s able to point out when teammates are lined up incorrectly, even slightly.

“Just detailing where guys are supposed to be lined up,” he said. “Getting them to where they need to be and not just being like ‘Oh, he’s close enough.’”

Reid also praised Bray’s instincts and vision.

“There’s more than just the playbook,” Reid said, “there’s doing the things at the line of scrimmage that we ask him to do and adjustments we ask him to make, and he does well with those things.”

Bray and Mahomes aren’t the only quarterbacks in line behind Smith. Joel Stave, 25, was signed to the practice squad in November and re-signed to a reserve-futures contract in January. He’s 6 feet 5, 230 pounds and has a strong arm.

“He competes … he’s a smart kid and he’s learning,” Reid said. “Is he ‘there’ yet? No, but he’s showing improvement and that’s all you can ask of him until he gets a few more snaps under his belt.”

Stave says he’s primarily working on his footwork, decision-making and knowledge of the offense.

“It’s just a matter of continuing to understand the offense as well as I can,” he said, “and then playing as fast as I can.”

http://www.kansascity.com/sports/nfl...152686414.html

[WhiteWhale]

The only thing I found funny was when Reid was like "We're finally giving him the whole playbook, with all of the concepts!"

He's been here for FOUR SEASONS and he finally has the playbook figured out!

Yay!

[RealSNR]

I remember when Tyler Bray was supposed to be a consolation prize for the Alex Smith trade.

"I'm terribly sorry sir, but we're fresh out of the filet mignon, so we got you a Hot Pocket instead. To make up for it, we took a dollar off the price of your caesar salad. Enjoy!"

[Jiu Jitsu Jon]

Originally Posted by BlackOp

Kelce makes that catch on a perfect throw..its a different game. I mean..that was a perfect pass...inside the 10.

Are you going hate on Mahomes for losing a close game when Kelce drops another pass?

I realize that admitting the throw was on money detracts from the Alex hate...big time teams make big time plays. Kelce is small time when it matters...KC has been small time as a unit...and its not just Smith.

The only "big time" gamers are Hill and Peters...IMO

What the hell are you talking about? Weren't you the one that said that the NFL was scripted and controlled by the Jesuits? In that context, how does any of your post make sense?

[BossChief]

“He’s going to compete — I would tell you that’s what he does,” Reid said of Bray. “He’s earned the right to be in that position and now he’s got to maintain it.”

[ROYC75]

2017 Chiefs, I can see it now, Alex goes down, Bray is inserted and leads the Chiefs to the SB. All of CP will be calling for PM2 each week and even after the SB.

I know,it's far fetched, but if it was to happen it would only be fitting, well it's CP and ChiefsNation.

[BlackOp]

Originally Posted by Jiu Jitsu Jon

What the hell are you talking about? Weren't you the one that said that the NFL was scripted and controlled by the Jesuits? In that context, how does any of your post make sense?

Not a single holding call on Pittsburgh...on the road, for the entire game. You would think Arrowhead would be pretty loud during a playoff game.

The above play is nearly impossible not to get a PI call on....the guy isn't even trying to find the ball.

Chiefs should never have been in the position to let the officials dictate the outcome...and take points of the board. Called a penalty they had all but ignored throughout the game.

That game was fixed...big time.

[KChiefs1]

Originally Posted by BlackOp

Not a single holding call on Pittsburgh...on the road, for the entire game. You would think Arrowhead would be pretty loud during a playoff game.

The above play is nearly impossible not to get a PI call on....

I hate games controlled by the refs.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[jd1020]

Looks like a quality throw.

[BlackOp]

Originally Posted by KChiefs1

I hate games controlled by the refs.

Steelers penalties vs. the Bengals the week prior (wild card) 10-146...against KC 4-53.

[jd1020]

Originally Posted by BlackOp

Steelers penalties vs. the Bengals the week prior (wild card) 10-146...against KC 4-53.

So the NFL wanted the Bengals to win? Even though they werent in the playoffs?

[BlackOp]

Originally Posted by jd1020

So the NFL wanted the Bengals to win? Even though they werent in the playoffs?

My bad...I think that must have been week 17.

In KC's game, there was only ONE holding call...it happened in the 1st quarter on Morse.

Refs waited almost 3 quarters to call another....on the most critical play of the game.

[jd1020]

Originally Posted by BlackOp

My bad...I think that was week 17.

In KC's game there was only ONE holding call...that happened in the 1st quarter on Morse.

Refs waited almost 3 quarters to call another....on the most critical play of the game.

And in the Patriots game the refs called 3 penalties for 19 yards on the Steelers.

Blaming the refs is what losers do. You are crying conspiracy over a still frame picture of a Steelers player interfering on an underthrown ball by a fraction of a second on a non reviewable call. Excuse me if I don't join you in the witch hunt.

[mdchiefsfan]

Originally Posted by milkman

That Colt playoff game, along with the comeback game against the Chargers, is the reason that Alex Smith is so frustrating.

Those games demonstrate that he has the talent and ability to be a big time QB, but he simply lacks the balls to play at that level consistently.

And yes, the drops, the mistakes, the breakdowns by other players all contributed to the losses, so the losses are not all on Alex Smith.

However, all those mistakes combined don't match the number of missed opportunities that Smith fails to take advantage of.

well said.

[mdchiefsfan]

Originally Posted by jd1020

Looks like a quality throw.

He presents a valid point in regards to the PI not being called. The quality of the throw SHOULD be irrelevant; the fact it isn't, is unfortunate.

You've have made several valid points as well. I just feel you're digging your heels in with this statement.

[mdchiefsfan]

Originally Posted by jd1020

So the NFL wanted the Bengals to win? Even though they werent in the playoffs?

Originally Posted by jd1020

And in the Patriots game the refs called 3 penalties for 19 yards on the Steelers.

Blaming the refs is what losers do. You are crying conspiracy over a still frame picture of a Steelers player interfering on an underthrown ball by a fraction of a second on a non reviewable call. Excuse me if I don't join you in the witch hunt.