I've yet to see him look consistently explosive and confident in his running with us as he did in that LSU highlight package. He's had his games and moments where he's flashed the ability, but he needs to do it every game, ever touch he gets.

Gallbladder surgery is a bigger deal than people realize, and for an athlete I can imagine it would be a total hinderance. This is his year to prove it, and I'll pull for him to show it.

Especially if he did get down to 160 pounds. That’s A LOT to come back from. I just want to see a healthy year where we can truly see what we have in him.

I was really impressed with him in his very first regular season game as a pro. It seems when he came back from that first injury (that looked truly horrifying to be honest) he had lost a step. He's clearly gotten a bit better over time and I hope this season he can be at 100% and stay there. He can definitely be a big weapon. He doesn't need to be a "feature back" and those barely exist anymore anyways. He just needs to make plays when he gets the opportunities. There should be plenty with this o-line in this offense.

****The Clyde Edwards-Helaire Thread*****
 

When Lil Chiefy himself says he won't hold his breath for a breakout year, you know a guy's been a disappointment.

I just can't separate the 1st round pick from this guy's name. Given on-the-field production versus what we gave up to get them, he's easily the worst running back we've had in like 20 years.

Guys like Spencer Ware, Charcandrick West and Damien Williams came here off the trash heap and produced at a higher level.

People here think Darrel Williams sucks but at least that ****er was undrafted.

If Clyde was a 4th round pick there wouldn't be high scrutiny. Alas he is thus, he needs to be putting out Jamaal Charles/Shaun Alexander production.

Excellent rebuttal!

God damn you’re stupid.

He was more productive in his rookie season than Ware, West, and Williams EVER were in a season. And that was with a bottom 3 run blocking OL. Your lack of objectivity couldn’t be any more blatant.

"Easily" the worst RB we've had in like 20 years?

You have a pretty awful memory. He's EASILY (there's that word again) in the top half of RBs we've had play for the Chiefs in the past 20 years if you go by stats and production alone. And that's being conservative.

The worst, eh?

I've shit on him a lot in the past.

He's getting another shot. The surgery is no joke.

I'm not going to hold my breath, though.

*cough*bullshit*cough

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CEH looked better in the playoffs then he did in the regular season, he was moving with more power it seemed like. Hopefully that continues.

Chiefs RBs of the past 20 seasons who were worse than Clyde Edwards-Helaire:

Mike Cloud
Jermaine Williams
Frank Moreau
Derrick Blaylock
Jarmar Julien
Omar Easy
Samkon Gado

A bunch of non-LJ brokedick/JAG Herm backs

Jackie Battle
Kolby Smith
Dantrell Savage

Okay, look, I'm getting tired of naming dudes, so I'm going to stop before the Pioli era sets in. But I don't think there's a single guy on that list where you'd look at and go, "Ehhh... I don't know.... he might be better than CEH..."

And if you say Derrick Blaylock because he flukishly scored 4 TDs in a game all by getting got Priest Holmes' leftovers, I don't really know what to tell you, because I don't know the best practices for communicating with the mentally challenged.

Ok, sooooo you didn't even read my post then.. cool.


I don't need a rebuttal. I said what I said, you got butthurt.

"Well well what about the surgery!" As if this dude wasn't a bum before the surgery lol

You're bitching about T3H FOIST WOUND PICK!!!!1111 like all the other morons whine about.

A missed pick is a missed pick. If we had traded out one ****ing slot and taken him at 33 overall on Day 2, people wouldn't have their periods about CEH nearly as much as they do.

You are acting like a complete ****ing moron lately. Like 10x worse than you’ve ever been. It almost seems purposeful too.

Congrats I guess?

He was hardly a “bum” his rookie year, and that was running behind a bottom 3 run blocking unit.

Duh, because it's relevant. Notice I've never complained about Demarcus Robinson and Byron Pringle's draft status.

Dude was a 1st round pick and there isn't a difference between him and a bunch of UDFA and scrap heap waiver wire pickups we've cycled in at the RB spot lately.

Spencer Ware, Charcandrick West, Jerick McKinnon, Clyde Edwards-Helaire, Darrel Williams. What's the difference between all of those guys?


CEH behind a bottom 3 OL: 4.4 YPC

CEH behind a top 5 OL: 4.3 YPC

When are you going to stop making excuses for this turd?

He had 2 good games. All the others were either decent or downright bad. 8 of his games were at 4 yards per carry or worse.


Can't believe you think posting a highlight video means anything.

It’s almost like this is entirely the point of pointing out that the gallbladder surgery clearly had an impact.

See what I mean? You’ve gone full reerun.

I think the surgery is definitely a good point but I'm worried about his vision which isn't affected by that. He misses holes and that's annoying, especially with this run blocking unit

****The Clyde Edwards-Helaire Thread*****
 

I read your excuses. You're full of 'em.

Bad OL year 1, surgery year 2. What will be your excuse when he underachieves in year 3, Lil Chiefy?

They aren’t excuses, it’s just context that you’re willing to completely ignore because you’re being an asshat.

I’ve already said that I’m not holding my breath on a breakout year, but that doesn’t mean that there aren’t legitimate reasons for the disappointing start to his career.

Just showing that he could bust through the holes his rookie year.


He had a great rookie year talk of being OROTY until he got hurt week 13. You are selling his rookie season short but what ever you don't have to like him. I can't say he will stay healthy all season but I bet he plays great and really comes on strong for us in the playoffs. Doubters are going to doubt or haters going to hate. It wasn't his fault for being picked 32nd over all but he has the opportunity this season to be a big part of this offense and keep the chains moving that will help open up this offense.

Busting through holes in a highlight reel? So?


And who had him at rookie of the year going into week 13? How blind was this person?

Many refuse taking ownership of bad takes

Oh the irony.

No irony whatsoever, if they're is new definition of ownership because I took full ownership.

Whfile you get pissy when you get called out

You’re clearly misunderstanding my entire argument if that’s what you got from it.

Your reading comprehension is as bad as your math.

Yeah

Even if you agree with ThaVirus, your claim that I’m “refusing to take ownership of bad takes” is not at all accurate.

You’re talking out of your ass.

Nobody is giving CEH a pass. He’s obviously been disappointing.

That doesn’t mean that a terrible OL his rookie year, injuries, and in particular the gallbladder surgery, haven’t all played a role.

He at least deserves his first full NFL offseason before we write him off as a “bum”, which even to this point isn’t an accurate label.

A little projection there

Ok, as a DIE HARD LSU fan, I was excited that we drafted CEH. I really was but, HE IS A BUST! Nothing will change my mind on this - We PISSED away a 1st round pick that should have netted us Jonathon Taylor. Why do you think we brought in ROJO and drafted Isiah Pacheco plus added Ealy? It is what it is - a waist of a 1st round pick. Do not opt for his 5th year option and move on. Period.

Even you understand how stupid this is, right?

So he lost 40 lbs? Interesting...I am willing to give him one more chance and hopefully he can prove me wrong.

That's what I want too, I'm not wishing for failure for any Chiefs player/Coach.

If they're horrible it ****s the KC roster.

But what if he does do good this year? What if he kicks ass like when he rushed 160 yards against Buffalo. SO he is capable of having a break out year because his rookie year he went over 1000 yards in 13 games. Now I understand he is injury prone he owns that until he can prove he can stay healthy for the season and playoffs. I think he can do it and will kick ass this year. I absolutely know I can be wrong but I want to see him prove to everyone he was worth the pick spite the other two backs we could have had.

I'm looking forward to watch him play this year. Am also excited to watch Pacheco play and he will end up getting more time than Jones. Jones will be good for short yard plays. Mostly who really knows how a player is going to do . I can easily be wrong but I'm rooting for Clyde I'm rooting for the success of my favorite team the Kansas City Chiefs and as long as he contributes to winning then I'll be thrilled. If not then go to the next guy but he gets the opportunity to be successful or end up on the sidelines. There is always another guy waiting for their opportunity so Pacheco maybe that guy. If Jones wins the job during TC and Preseason games so be it. It won't hurt my feelings I just want the best guy out there but I will most always root for draft picks over FA.

I'm sure it effected him but he has never made cuts at the line consistently. Just runs into the backs of his blockers. Name me a successful RB in the NFL does that?

Get him in space and then he's a weapon. But, running between the tackles? Never going to happen.

CEH is a bust.

Hopefully this is the last yr of this experiment.

This is really the key issue. His ceiling just isn't very high. When I watch him play, I see a guy who is maxed out.. I don't like saying that. I've seen a few of his interviews and he seems like a good, nice kid.

He just lacks vision, speed and explosion and I don't recall ever seeing a good RB who didn't have at least a single one of those traits.

For anyone who thinks he will develop into a good player, what do you envision?

I have said a dozen times at least but CEH's longest run is 31 yds. That is pathetic for a starting RB, hell 80 year old Adrian Peterson did that a few times in the last few seasons and there is QB's that have run farther than that.

But trying not to be negative so I am willing to give him 1 more chance.

This is one reason why I've never really cared all that much about having a "home run hitter" at RB. I just don't care that his longest run is 31 yards. That's good. I mean sure, eventually you'd like to have a guy bust one out for 60 and a TD. But that's just not likely in the run game unless you have a burner.

The issue with having a burner is usually he's searching out HR's. With that being the case, you have alot of "strikeouts".

Give me a RB who consistently churns out runs. 4-5 yards a time, then eventually hits a crease and goes for 20. I don't care about getting big plays in the run game as much with having Mahomes at QB. Those will come in the pass game.

I need basically what McKinnon did in the AFC champ game first half. Take what's blocked up.

Mike Cloud - Hell yip!

Mike Cloud has a ring!

I must've been drunk the year Samkon Gado played

He hasn't looked like the same RB from LSU since the first injury.

We'll see if he's 100%, maybe he starts to look like that guy again.

But at this point, it looks like he can't stay healthy, and that's a big problem.

I've often been confused as to why he's not been the receiving back that he was at LSU. He really seems like a guy that should be catching 50+ passes per year as a 3rd down back, but it just hasn't happened.

Maybe having Justin Jefferson on one side and Jamar Chase on the other and catching balls from Joe Burrow opened the game up for CEH?

If you haven't noticed, Pat Mahomes isn't much of a checkdown player.

Totally disagree, you need a RB that can break long plays it keeps defenses honest. Also the problem so far in CEH's career is that he can barely get 3-4 yds a carry with hardly any that go for over 20. He just lacks being explosive\quick.

Hell last year behind this bad ass line his longest run was 17 yds. Shit Mahomes did that every game.

Those are all backup RBs. CEH is our starter. In the past 20 years, we've gone from Priest to LJ to Jamaal. There were a couple of years when we had West and Ware before Hunt arrived. I would rather have prime Ware than CEH but not West. If he's not the worst starting RB we've had in 20 years, he's probably the second or third worst.

any shot we can bring Mike Cloud back on the cheap?

The issue you end up running into is they start searching out those long runs instead of taking what's blocked up. If you have a shit OL, sure, that happens.

But with this OL and offense, no reason to not churn out runs against light boxes.

So you are saying you would rather have 3-4 yd CEH over Henry or Charles or Taylor? I don't believe you.

I mean sure, I'd rather have the HOF'ers over CEH. But that's not really the argument I'm making here.

Give me the guy who's consistent. I don't like the "2 yards 2 yards -2 yards 50 yard" run guys. That's not what any of those guys really are either though, they're consistent then have the breakaway ability to turn a 15 yarder into one bad angle and a 60 yarder.

That's the thing I don't care as much about. I mean, yes, if I can choose give me AP in his prime. But this ain't Madden.

You're way over thinking it... Why would you not want a guy back there that is a threat to break it on any given play. That kind of presence would not hinder the offense at all. Those backs are usually very instinctive with great vision. They wait for the right opportunity, and when it presents itself, they take it to the house. Often enough it's something small, that they see, and they react and they make the defense pay. The results can be game changing. CEH is not that guy.

Because they start searching for that opportunity instead of just using their vision to find it. Chris Johnson is a perfect example of that. You end up in 2nd and 13's because he was trying to string out a stretch play.

Charles was so good because he didn't search out those he just let them happen. But that's rare.

Your opinion of Charles is exactly my point. When the moment comes, they seize it and take it to the house.

I know my example was on the extreme but CEH is certainly consistent on the low end. Herm would love CEH and his 3 yds and cloud of dust.

Is there a starting RB in the NFL currently you would take CEH over them? If so who? He is by far the worst in our division not even close.

I'm not advocating for CEH necessarily here. I'm speaking more in generalities on my preferences and such. I don't think breakaway speed for a RB is a necessity.

Obviously, you'd love your guy to have it. But if not, it's not and end all be all. Look at a guy like Ekelar. Isn't a burner, but still a very good RB.

I'm not into spending assets searching out for a game breaking RB. If I find one, great. If not, there's good solid RB's everywhere.

Generally I'd agree, but if you're going to have a back who isn't particularly fast, he needs to do some other things well to make up for it.

Priest Holmes and Kareem Hunt weren't very fast, but no one cared because Priest had insane vision/patience and Hunt had elite balance and lower body strength. Ekeler is probably the best receiving back in the NFL.

CEH doesn't compare to any of these names. Best thing I can say about him is he does hang onto the football (which is great) and occasionally he will drag a defender for an additional couple yards after contact. That's also cool but then I realize that he ran through a chasm between Thuney and Brown Jr and any other back would have taken that same carry for at least 10 more yards.

Gotcha and Ekelar would be perfect in this offense.

Yeah, I'd love to have Dalvin Cook or Kamara or (insert RB). But I don't wanna pay for them for sure.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">the #1 producing RB was 25 yrs old or younger every yr since 2014<br><br>&#39;21 Jonathan Taylor: 22<br>&#39;20 Alvin Kamara: 25<br>&#39;19 CMC: 23<br>&#39;18 Saquon Barkley: 21<br>&#39;17 Todd Gurley: 23<br>&#39;16 David Johnson: 25<br>&#39;15 Devonta Freeman: 23<br>&#39;14 Le&#39;Veon Bell: 22<a href="https://twitter.com/LordReebs?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@LordReebs</a> explores:<a href="https://t.co/r2uFzESJ30">https://t.co/r2uFzESJ30</a></p>— Warren Sharp (@SharpFootball) <a href="https://twitter.com/SharpFootball/status/1528435287046725632?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 22, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Ugh, Kamara in this offense would be incredible, but yeah, agreed. RB is a luxury we simply cannot afford with this current team structure.

We really should just be churning and burning these RBs. Personally, I wouldn't advocate spending anything higher than a 3rd on a RB, which is another issue I have with the CEH pick.

That's exactly what I was about to say. We should be churning RB talent through but we don't. You're discrediting the FO by assuming we wouldn't be able to retain an RB if he turns out to be an all pro talent though

Let someone else pay the RB. Find another one.

Sure would be.

Bottom line - this is Clyde's "prove it or lose it" year. He's had injury problems, and now a significant health problem, but by all accounts, he's as healthy as he's been since he's been here. Let this kid go out and show he can do it or move on from him at the end of the season.

LOL RB's

Disagree...find rbs try and keep the good ones. The Chargers locked up ekeler for his prime years and still drafted an RB pretty high this year

I think they could retain anyone they want to. I'm saying I don't think that spending big money on a RB is a prudent use of our limited resources. For that reason, I don't think it's smart to invest in the position heavily.

Best case scenario, you burn a high pick on a RB and he exceeds expectations. Four or five years later you've earned the right to sign him to a $17m AAV deal just as he's leaving his prime..? Not a good deal most times. We've seen that play out with literally every big money contract handed out to elite RBs over the last 5 years or so. Every time, people say "well this time is different". They did that with Zeke, then Bell, then it happened with CMC. Every time, the guy doesn't really live up to the hype.

Like O.city said, churn 'em and burn 'em. Get your four-ish years out of the guy then let someone else pay him.

This is the kind of hyperbole about CEH that just becomes ridiculous.

The reason there are huge holes that don't turn into home runs is the exact same reason Tyreek was often neutralized. What part about flooding the defensive backfield escapes everyone when it comes to the running game?

CEH ain't Jamaal Charles, but he isn't the festering turd CP likes to say he is. Not unlike Frank Clark, the manner in which he was acquired has poisoned the well. He'd have to be all-world to back it up, so "average" is interpreted as "atrocious."

FYP

This would be my philosophy as a GM. The fans would hate me, but we would never ever have down years due to the cap.

It's really not ridiculous. That's what happens when you field a slow RB with bad vision- he leaves a ton of yards on the field.

I don't think he sucks; I just don't think he's very good. He's certainly not good when you consider what we spent to get him and who we missed out on when taking him.

It's all about value. Value gained, lost etc.

Taking a guy in the first round that plays a position that's easy to find, will bring expectations that he be better than those guys found elsewhere later in draft.

He isn't at this point.

Of course, I'd never draft a RB earlier than the 3rd round but that's just me.

I have no problem paying elite players elite contracts if they play at said elite level.

Just not RB's. Ever.

I understand the sentiment but you've got nearly $200m in cap space to spend.

You'd have let Kelce walk? Tyreek? You wouldn't have brought in Mathieu? Brown Jr? Thuney?

Yet 3rd stringer Derrick Gore broke off a 50+ yd and had other longer runs.

Gore broke off a run against some backups.

Again, I'm no CEH fan, not stanning for him here. I'm just going against the "doesn't break long runs" narrative. I just don't care too much about it. It's why, to me, RB's 40 times don't really matter to awful much.

The same people that complain about CEH’s lack of speed don’t see the appeal/value in giving RoJo a shot on a 1 year prove it deal.