Clyde Edwards-Helaire enters a pivotal third period with the Kansas Town Chiefs just after two injuries-marred campaigns have held the managing again from proving his initial-spherical truly worth.
CEH thinks that lastly possessing a entire offseason of do the job will assistance him boost in 2022. The operating back’s rookie offseason was mainly virtual owing to the COVID-19 protocols. Then he dealt with offseason gallbladder operation past yr.
“This offseason, it was rather considerably having back to the fundamental principles, getting able to have a whole offseason,” Edwards-Helaire explained to The Athletic’s Nate Taylor. “That was one of the matters Coach (Andy) Reid and I talked about. He reported, ‘This is actually your initial serious offseason in the NFL.’ Really, wellbeing was the greatest issue.”
In his 1st two seasons, CEH skipped 10 common-period video games because of to different accidents. In 2021, he acquired 119 carries for 517 yards and four touchdowns and caught 19 passes for 129 yards and two scores.
Edwards-Helaire has been a whole participant this offseason and even bought some more work in with Patrick Mahomes. He is hoping a regular offseason will direct to the leap he’s been waiting for.
“There’s normally a feeling of urgency for me,” Edwards-Helaire mentioned. “I come to feel I bring that depth. I under no circumstances genuinely was hurt in higher education. It can be just a single of these items.”
When CEH remains the projected starter, the Chiefs designed moves this offseason to bolster the backfield. K.C. signed previous Tampa Bay Buccaneers again Ronald Jones, who has a prospect to drive Edwards-Helaire for early-down reps. And the Chiefs introduced back Jerick McKinnon, who shined in the playoffs. Kansas Metropolis also has Derrick Gore — who confirmed flashes final calendar year — and rookies Isiah Pacheco and Jerrion Ealy battling for a roster spot. If Edwards-Helaire struggles or another damage strikes, he could see his carries siphoned.
Edwards-Helaire could see his pass-catching prospects enhance soon after the Chiefs revamped their go-catching corps adhering to the Tyreek Hill trade. The jogging back has used this offseason operating on his footwork and route jogging in anticipation of lining up throughout the development. In 2020, CEH took just 29 snaps lined up out wide or in the slot, for every Following Gen Stats.
“The fantastic issue about this offense is that you can stick any one any where,” Edwards-Helaire reported. “As lengthy as we know what we’re executing and executing, it can be unmatched relying on our matchups. I can line up from the 1, 2, 3 or 4-spot (at the line of scrimmage) and run any route.
“Travis (Kelce) can do the same factor, from (receivers Marquez Valdes-Scantling) to JuJu (Smith-Schuster) to Mecole (Hardman). It just demonstrates you that we can be as adaptable as we want. It is really not the same matter that [opposing defenses] have been observing the last 6 years.”
