http://arrowheadaddict.com/2017/03/2...trick-mahomes/
Opponent: Louisiana Tech
Improvises well and slides in the pocket to buy himself time
Will carry the ball low-and-loose while doing so (sliding in the pocket)
Throwing motion seems to vary between a 3/4ths and over-the-top delivery
Has some slick and convincing ball fakes
Can fling it effortlessly
Footwork looks sludgy in the pocket at times
Can quickly get going (scramble) to avoid pressure
His game appears to lack attention to detail
Some of his pitches (to running backs) look lazy
Thinks/reacts quickly in the face of a negative play
Threw a BAD pick (that was called back) due to pressure
Mechanics are REALLY inconsistent
Bad touch on a screen pass
Freezes in the face of pressure quite often (three times in this game)
Throws off of his back foot a lot
Doesn’t step into his throws enough
Often doesn’t tuck the ball away when leaving the pocket (on a scramble)
Seems he’s regularly flat-footed in the pocket
Opponent: West Virginia
Ball sailed the result of not stepping into a throw
Threw a horrible pass that almost got picked
Athleticism gets him out of trouble half of the time
FANTASTIC downfield throw despite pressure
Touch on certain kinds of throws just isn’t there
Sells the read-option REALLY well
His offensive line STINKS!
Makes A LOT of plays for leaky pass pro
GREAT arm (TD on 3rd & 29)!
Ball zips when his mechanics are good
Throws outside the numbers take a while to get there
Struggles to throw the fade route
Quick screens are usually thrown high
Makes some WTF throws sometimes when pressured
Throws well on the run
Almost got receiver decapitated on a crosser
Trying to create a play out of nothing often gets him sacked
Love all that I’m seeing in receiver Keke Coutee!
Opponent: Arizona State
Mahomes’ offense bears a resemblance to Reid’s west coast system
Doesn’t always know when to pitch the ball in read-option situations
I like Derrick Willies!
Has trouble resetting his feet when sliding in the pocket
Has trouble sensing pressure coming from his back side
Bad mechanics caused two picks
Opponent: Oklahoma
I LIKE Sadler!
Mahomes should NEVER throw across his body
Did he just throw a pass left-handed?
Touch on deep throws is questionable
Throws lack velocity due to poor mechanics
Makes too manym near-pick throws
Retreats in pocket waaaaaay too much
Keeps his eyes downfield when trying to make a play
Fantastic job of selling read-option
Questionable accuracy on deep balls
Can be baited into picks by a defender
Did I say how much I like Coutee?
Ball placement is suspect
Has tough time putting the ball around the numbers
Can improvise when necessary
DIME to Davis for a TD
I LIKE Giles!
This many throws in the NFL would lead to a ton of turnovers
Mahomes has trouble sliding when he scrambles (doesn’t look smooth)
Has skill players who make a TON of plays for him
Opponent: Baylor
Throws into a group of defenders a bunch
Retreating into the pocket will be a BIG problem at the next level
KEKE COUTEE! Great adjustment on the TD
FANTASTIC TD catch (Dylan Cantrell)
Mahomes has some great weapons who contribute lots of chunk plays
Quan Shorts! TD! Wow!
KEKE COUTEE! (Expletive redacted) He’d be GREAT in Kansas City
Giles BUCKLED a defender with a move in the open field WOOOOOOOOOW
Weapons showed him up in this game!
Intentional grounding was ATROCIOUS
Coutee concentration on a tipped ball!
Threw a dime on a would-be TD to Wesley
Great back-shoulder throw on Cantrell TD
Coutee is a FREAK!
Wesley with TWO end zone drops?
Third Quarter scramble was IMPRESSIVE
Coutee FROZE a man with a move to earn more yards
Touch on fades and corners? YUCK!
Opponent: Kansas
Swing passes are consistently poorly thrown
Cantrell bailed Mahomes out with a magnificent grab in the first quarter
Giles has wheels (first quarter TD)
Cameron Batson’s a playmaker!
WTF INT to Smithson
Giles is FAST!
Pressure just causes Mahomes to panic
Back foot throws are the rule (not the exception)
Derrick Willies made a GREAT catch in traffic to avoid Mahomes’ pass being picked
Batson’s damn good in the open field
Coutee with a ridiculous second quarter TD catch
Slant throws typically high
SICK catch for TD by Willies to end the half
3rd and 9 sack in third quarter was AWFUL! He lost 22 yards!!
Great play on a QB draw!
Opponent: Oklahoma State
Throws to sidelines? WOOF!
Ran into a sack
Cantrell having a day!
Long, wind-up delivery
SICK ball fake on a read-option play
One-handed grab by Cantrell!
Great contested catch by Batson
So many wayward throws
Mahomes line is GAB-BAGE!
Fourth Quarter near pick in the redzone was TURR-IBLE (Charles Barkley voice)
Giles can go with the ball in his hands!
Opponent: Texas Christian
It’s unbelievable how rarely he sets his feet and steps into his throws
Delayed blitzes/stunts/twists cause Mahomes BIG problems
Batson makes plays out of no play
Great throw on the run to Reginald Davis III for a TD
Batson bailed Mahomes out on what would have been a sure interception
Costs receivers yardage with high throws
With time, he can still struggle to find an open receiver or throw one open
Hangs on to the ball TOO LONG TOO MUCH
Overtime scramble for a TD! WOW!
Opponent: Texas
Good catch by Willies with defender draped all over him
Willies is a tough receiver who runs well after the catch
DIME to Giles late in the first quarter
Giles tiptoed the sidelines beautifully on early TD grab
Maybe the best game I’ve watched Mahomes play
Flashes the potential to succeed at the next level in this game
3rd & 15 Houdini escape act (second quarter play)
Keeps cool despite collapsing pocket (third quarter play)
Great throw on a fade route (would-be TD to Cantrell)
Batson tough run after catch for a TD
Like how he keeps his eyes downfield with chaos around him
Willies has the look of an NFL receiver (big guy who can run)
LASER to Cantrell (fourth quarter play)
DIME to Giles for a near TD
GREAT touch to Cantrell on shallow cross
Mahomes has a tell (dips the ball below his waist just before delivering it)
Cantrell having another day!
Tough pick to nullify a great comeback
Opponent: Kansas State
Giles with good move to sidestep defender and get a first down (first quarter play)
GOOD catch by Giles on a high-throw (first quarter play)
DIME to Lauderdale…over-the-shoulder
INCREDIBLE ball fake on the keeper play (TD)
Mahomes throws often get his receivers blown up (recognition issue?)
Play fake, TERRIBLE pick-6 (RECOGNITION?)
Coutee’s so good. Great vision! Great open-field runner! SPEED! TD catch and run!
Second Quarter TD run of 16 yards. SUPERB! (audible WHOA)
Deep throw to Coutee – 45 yards in the air
Coutee climbed a ladder to haul in a tall throw from Mahomes (second quarter play)
Lauderdale is talented. Will be good if he continues to improve.
DUMB sack on 3rd & 11 (third quarter play)
Tough third down conversion by Willies!
Great deep sideline throw to Giles
Tough third down catch-and-run for first down to Giles
Beautiful throw on would-be TD to Cantrell (called back)
Coutee FIGHTS for extra yards!
Cantrell sticks out on tape! Good possession WR with sticky hands! (he’d be great in NE)
STUPID touchdown grab at the back of the end zone by Batson!
Overall, I think the negatives outweigh the positives with Mahomes. His issues with inconsistent mechanics are deeply troubling to me. He’ll need time to adjust his throwing motion, learn to properly set his feet and step into his throws to correct his issues with ball placement. He’s a bit more of project than a Day 1 prospect should be in my estimation.
I think with the right coach, he could eventually become a good football player in the National Football League. As it stands, he has far too many bad habits to warrant the 27th overall pick. Were the Chiefs in rebuild mode, he’d be an excellent draft choice in the middle rounds. They’d be in perfect position to afford him all the developmental time necessary.
Even late in the first round, I think the Chiefs should pursue a more NFL-ready player. There are other quarterbacks, with comparable talent and development needs, that can be had in the third and fourth round. Sadly, the tape did more to expose Mahomes than cement him as the right decision for Kansas City in Round One. He has enough talent that the pick shouldn’t disappoint anyone in the Kingdom, but he also comes with enough question marks to make it the decision imprudent.
I know full well this post could potentially be highly controversial so I encourage you to watch the game film and come to your own conclusions. Of course this still doesn’t answer the question of who I think the Chiefs should draft with the 27th pick, but there is time still for having that conversation. It’s a process (of elimination). I plan to take a look at Deshaun Watson next week.
Would you be willing to take a risk on a player with your top pick simply for the sake of the organization finally drafting another quarterback in the first round? Do you have a different opinion of the same game tape? Is there another quarterback you’d prefer to have in the top round? Use the comment section below to weigh in on the subject. As always, we appreciate your readership and support!