Mecole Hardman reflects on 2021, talks Chiefs’ future on ESPN’s ‘First Take’

[Reroka]

Kansas City Chiefs WR Mecole Hardman made an appearance on ESPN’s “First Take” on Thursday. He had an opportunity to reflect on some things that happened to the Chiefs’ offense during the 2022 NFL season, share an outlook for the future and talk about the upcoming Super Bowl LVI matchup between the Los Angeles Rams and Cincinnati Bengals.

Stephen A. Smith was pretty blunt with his first line of questioning: “What the hell happened in the AFC championship game?”

Hardman feels that the offense should carry the blame for the loss to the Bengals in the AFC title game.

“Listen, we started off great,” Hardman responded. “The first half was cool. Then, in the second half, we just didn’t score. (We) put out defense in bad situations and you know that high-powered offense in Cincinnati, you can’t stop them forever. So, I think it was just on (offense) we had to score in the second half and we didn’t.”

Smith continued to ask about the offense. He wondered why the team didn’t look as explosive at times in 2021 as they had in years past. Hardman felt a lot of it had to do with the way that defenses have adjusted when playing against Kansas City.



“I think it comes with defenses changing their schemes up,” Hardman said. “Just giving different looks, figuring things out that they give us problems. I think Tampa Bay kind of started that last year in the Super Bowl with the kind of defense that they played. I think it was like the adjustment factor of like trying to figure out the different looks and all the different things that defenses were throwing at us. There were times when we just couldn’t get anything going, but when we started figuring things out that’s when we started rolling. As you know, we were on an eight-game winning streak. That’s when things started rolling in once we started figuring everything out.”

Molly Qerim asked Hardman about the future and what the Chiefs need to do to get themselves back on the right track in 2022.

“First, we’ve got to figure out the team, make sure we get the right pieces back,” Hardman said. “We’ve got a couple of guys we need to sign, a couple of guys we need to extend and everything. After that we get all the pieces together, just get to training camp and get right. It shouldn’t be too hard. We know how to do what we’ve got to do and just take it one game at a time.”

As for the upcoming matchup in Super Bowl LVI, Hardman was a bit conflicted. On one hand, he wants to root for the AFC conference, but on the other hand, his UGA ties make it hard to root against Rams QB Matthew Stafford. In the end, he relied on an old football adage to make his pick.

“They say defense wins championships and LA definitely has a dominant defense.”

https://www.yahoo.com/sports/mecole-...194025583.html
Link to story with video.

[HC_Chief]

We just need that third option to make defenses pay dearly for putting everything into stopping Reek and Kelce.

The running game is the obvious place to look, as that is how you punish a deep secondary focused on stopping the pass first. McKinnon, CEH, and Williams was not a bad backfield. We need to be smarter about how we use them and the running game. I am NOT for drafting a RB unless it is later in the draft. Goddamnit, Hunt, you should have just been honest.

We need a legit X or Y receiver. Reek is deadly out of the slot and can rotate outside to mix things up. Pringle and Hardman are both serviceable WR depth and can make an impact, but they are not consistent explosive playmakers. Hardman CAN be when used correctly (jet sweeps esp). What we really miss is circa 2018/19 Watkins. He wasn't a dominant #2, but he provided enough explosive plays that teams HAD to plan for him. They couldn't just set everyone deep and double 10/87... he would make them pay dearly.

[DJ's left nut]

In 2021 the Chiefs scored 34 PPG without Sammy Watkins 6 games in the middle of the season. They scored 26 PPG when he came back down the stretch.

They don't miss Sammy Watkins. He's not any sort of Rosetta Stone that unlocks this offense. They don't miss anyone like Sammy Watkins.

That's a strict luxury item and nothing they 'need'. If they can get it in the draft, great. Or with a reasonable contract, that's fine too. But this team has FAR greater actual needs than a #2 wide receiver.

[OKchiefs]

Originally Posted by DJ's left nut

In 2021 the Chiefs scored 34 PPG without Sammy Watkins 6 games in the middle of the season. They scored 26 PPG when he came back down the stretch.

They don't miss Sammy Watkins. He's not any sort of Rosetta Stone that unlocks this offense. They don't miss anyone like Sammy Watkins.

That's a strict luxury item and nothing they 'need'. If they can get it in the draft, great. Or with a reasonable contract, that's fine too. But this team has FAR greater actual needs than a #2 wide receiver.

You also shouldn’t just draft for immediate need. Kelce will be 33 this year. I’m guessing he has 2, MAYBE 3 years tops of being an elite TE. Do we want to gamble on Kelce staying elite? Receiver is also a position that takes a while to learn the offense, so ideally you take someone a year early before you really need one.

I’m a fan of the Pittsburgh method of taking a receiver nearly every year. Big Ben sucks at this point but their receiver group is collectively top notch despite not really having a single true %1 receiver.

KC has invested almost nothing at WR in the draft under Veach, I’m not sure how much longer that can continue.I’m not suggesting WR is a top priority in rd 1 unless a can’t miss talent drops, but IMO it should be addressed hopefully by rd 3 at the latest along with an affordable FA addition like Juju. By all means spend the remaining draft capital and FA money on defense.

[DJ's left nut]

Originally Posted by OKchiefs

You also shouldn’t just draft for immediate need. Kelce will be 33 this year. I’m guessing he has 2, MAYBE 3 years tops of being an elite TE. Do we want to gamble on Kelce staying elite? Receiver is also a position that takes a while to learn the offense, so ideally you take someone a year early before you really need one.

I’m a fan of the Pittsburgh method of taking a receiver nearly every year. Big Ben sucks at this point but their receiver group is collectively top notch despite not really having a single true %1 receiver.

KC has invested almost nothing at WR in the draft under Veach, I’m not sure how much longer that can continue.I’m not suggesting WR is a top priority in rd 1 unless a can’t miss talent drops, but IMO it should be addressed hopefully by rd 3 at the latest along with an affordable FA addition like Juju. By all means spend the remaining draft capital and FA money on defense.

Kelce's time as a top end TE being limited is exactly why the Chiefs should be drafting with need in mind.

This isn't Zach Ertz we're talking about. You don't replace Travis Kelce. Or Tyreek Hill for that matter.

Capitalize on this window while you have it open. If that means putting more 'need' into your early round picks, so be it.

As a general rule I absolutely agree with you - FA for need and draft for long-term talent acquisition. But we have some BIG contracts on this cap so FA can't be our exlcusive method of dealing with need issues. And long-term we won't have Kelce/Hill anymore.

It's important to consider need with these early picks, IMO.

[Red Dawg]

We need to go all in. Get the pass rush and some damn WR's.

Spend it all while we have Mahomes every year.

[suzzer99]

Originally Posted by BigRedChief

Idk why y’all be hating on me when it comes to football lol, y’all do realize I have to wait behind the best TE and WR in the game

— Mecole Hardman Jr. (@MecoleHardman4) March 8, 2022

JFC Mecole stop reading twitter.

[Capt_Von_Trapp]

Don’t get the Hardman hate? He had a solid season in 21, seems like a good kid. A loyal soldier. That’s a valuable asset.

[HC_Chief]

Originally Posted by Capt_Von_Trapp

Don’t get the Hardman hate? He had a solid season in 21, seems like a good kid. A loyal soldier. That’s a valuable asset.

Expectations & speculation.

With his speed, we (everyone) expected him to be more (unrealistically) productive. He has shown flashes and his numbers are not bad at all, BUT we are talking about the KC Chiefs offense here. It is ridiculously explosive and expectations (hyperbole) are through the roof.

Speculation: when it appears Mahomes is passing up Hardman, even though he appears to be open, we wonder "wtf is wrong here? Dude is FAST and wide the **** open. Why doesn't PM2 throw there? Does he not trust him? Why? Did he run the wrong route? Has he ****ed up too many times and therefore our stellar all-universe QB will avoid potentially getting picked/mess up because he and Hardman are not on the same page after three seasons?!?!"

[kcclone]

Decent gadget guy when he hangs onto the ball. Good #3 WR.

[OKchiefs]

Originally Posted by Capt_Von_Trapp

Don’t get the Hardman hate? He had a solid season in 21, seems like a good kid. A loyal soldier. That’s a valuable asset.

I don’t see much hate for him anymore. I was never a big fan of him but it’s not his fault he was taken where he was. He’s developed a certain role in the offense that’s valuable, he’s just not someone who should be counted on as a #2. Get a competent #2 and let Hardman thrive as a slot/gadget type.

[DJ's left nut]

Originally Posted by HC_Chief

Expectations & speculation.

With his speed, we (everyone) expected him to be more (unrealistically) productive. He has shown flashes and his numbers are not bad at all, BUT we are talking about the KC Chiefs offense here. It is ridiculously explosive and expectations (hyperbole) are through the roof.

Speculation: when it appears Mahomes is passing up Hardman, even though he appears to be open, we wonder "wtf is wrong here? Dude is FAST and wide the **** open. Why doesn't PM2 throw there? Does he not trust him? Why? Did he run the wrong route? Has he ****ed up too many times and therefore our stellar all-universe QB will avoid potentially getting picked/mess up because he and Hardman are not on the same page after three seasons?!?!"

He was always set up for this.

He wasn't drafted to be an X. He was drafted to 'replace' Tyreek as a downfield Z when it appeared possible (probable) that Hill was on his way out of the league.

Once Hill came back, Mecole was immediately redundant. It's not his fault.

Then due to the draft capital expended on him, we tried to force a square peg into a round hole and make him the X receiver we so very clearly needed w/ that 2nd rounder. It just didn't take. And frankly, there shouldn't have been any expectations that it would. He has simply never been that kind of player even going back to Georgia.

Once we finally moved on to trying to emphasize what he can do well instead of trying to overcome what he does poorly, we got a very productive player in a secondary role. And ultimately that's okay - circumstances led to a draft pick being made that wouldn't have been made but/for said circumstances.

And we're still getting decent production from him.

Hard to really complain loudly about it at this point.

[DJ's left nut]

Originally Posted by HC_Chief

Expectations & speculation.

With his speed, we (everyone) expected him to be more (unrealistically) productive. He has shown flashes and his numbers are not bad at all, BUT we are talking about the KC Chiefs offense here. It is ridiculously explosive and expectations (hyperbole) are through the roof.

Speculation: when it appears Mahomes is passing up Hardman, even though he appears to be open, we wonder "wtf is wrong here? Dude is FAST and wide the **** open. Why doesn't PM2 throw there? Does he not trust him? Why? Did he run the wrong route? Has he ****ed up too many times and therefore our stellar all-universe QB will avoid potentially getting picked/mess up because he and Hardman are not on the same page after three seasons?!?!"

He was always set up for this.

He wasn't drafted to be an X. He was drafted to 'replace' Tyreek as a downfield Z when it appeared possible (probable) that Hill was on his way out of the league.

Once Hill came back, Mecole was immediately redundant. It's not his fault.

Then due to the draft capital expended on him, we tried to force a square peg into a round hole and make him the X receiver we so very clearly needed w/ that 2nd rounder. It just didn't take. And frankly, there shouldn't have been any expectations that it would. He has simply never been that kind of player even going back to Georgia.

Once we finally moved on to trying to emphasize what he can do well instead of trying to overcome what he does poorly, we got a very productive player in a secondary role. And ultimately that's okay - circumstances led to a draft pick being made that wouldn't have been made but/for said circumstances.

And we're still getting decent production from him.

Hard to really complain loudly about it at this point.

[Capt_Von_Trapp]

Originally Posted by OKchiefs

I don’t see much hate for him anymore. I was never a big fan of him but it’s not his fault he was taken where he was. He’s developed a certain role in the offense that’s valuable, he’s just not someone who should be counted on as a #2. Get a competent #2 and let Hardman thrive as a slot/gadget type.

He’s fine for where he was drafted. 2nd round. He’s at least average to above average production relative to where he was picked.

[Dunerdr]

Originally Posted by HC_Chief

We just need that third option to make defenses pay dearly for putting everything into stopping Reek and Kelce.

The running game is the obvious place to look, as that is how you punish a deep secondary focused on stopping the pass first. McKinnon, CEH, and Williams was not a bad backfield. We need to be smarter about how we use them and the running game. I am NOT for drafting a RB unless it is later in the draft. Goddamnit, Hunt, you should have just been honest.

We need a legit X or Y receiver. Reek is deadly out of the slot and can rotate outside to mix things up. Pringle and Hardman are both serviceable WR depth and can make an impact, but they are not consistent explosive playmakers. Hardman CAN be when used correctly (jet sweeps esp). What we really miss is circa 2018/19 Watkins. He wasn't a dominant #2, but he provided enough explosive plays that teams HAD to plan for him. They couldn't just set everyone deep and double 10/87... he would make them pay dearly.

I think the most important thing is an outside WR who allows Reek to play inside when the match up calls for it.

[Rasputin]

I think Hardman can be a viable #2 and laugh at me if you want. He has made clutch plays in the playoffs. He has done a lot of good things and Mahomes has gone back to him after making mistakes. Tyreek Hill muffed a punt that cost us points but we all know how good he is. Mecklenburg can't make a mistake because of his limited targets because Mahomes will always look at Tyreek and Kelce first No matter who is #2wr.

I'm just saying Mahomes will make it hard in competition for the #2 spot and just might win it. It won't hurt my feelings if he gets beat out because he'd still be a weapon in this offense his speed can't be ignored.

[HC_Chief]

What "DJ's left nut" said.

lol