Chiefs HC Andy Reid weighs in on rookie sensation Carson Steele's fumbling problem
Ahead of the Kansas City Chiefs' Week 4 game against the Los Angeles Chargers, if you had asked who would be the team's starting running back, I would have told you it was Carson Steele's job to lose. He was the clear starter in place of Isiah Pacheco, providing a big boost to the team in […]
Ahead of the Kansas City Chiefs' Week 4 game against the Los Angeles Chargers, if you had asked who would be the team's starting running back, I would have told you it was Carson Steele's job to lose.
He was the clear starter in place of Isiah Pacheco, providing a big boost to the team in Week 2 and Week 3 on the ground. Even with Kareem Hunt returning to the fold, Steele earned the start in Los Angeles. Within the first four offensive snaps of the Chargers game, Steele lost that job by losing hold of the football for his second career fumble in the NFL.
Andy Reid traditionally has a very short leash with running backs when it comes to them turning over the football. After Steele's first fumble in Week 2 against the Cincinnati Bengals, the Chiefs put him right back into the game to build up his confidence. Things changed the second time around, though. After Steele's fumble in Week 4, he saw just a single touch of the football while Kareem Hunt and Samaje Perine combined for over 20 touches. He was officially in Big Red's doghouse.
Speaking on Steele's ball security issues on Monday, Reid remained optimistic about the rookie's ability to get the fumbles under control.
"Carson’s (Steele) got to hang onto the ball, that’s the
obvious one," Reid said. "He traditionally hadn’t been a fumbler but – you know, we actually saw this with Kareem (Hunt) when he was young so if that’s any positive to it. He’s (Carson Steele) got to figure that part out and
make sure that he hangs onto the football."
While Reid said Steele hasn't traditionally had issues with fumbling, that's simply not the case. In his three-year college career, Steele fumbled the ball eight times. His ball security has been an ongoing issue. However, it is an issue that can be fixed. His sharing the backfield with a player like Kareem Hunt, who literally fumbled his first carry in 2017, can't hurt.
As far as regaining a starting role, Steele might have fumbled that away, too. Reid insisted the team was simply riding the hot hand when it came to Hunt in Week 4, but it's hard to see him surrendering the role after averaging 5.3 yards per touch. He looked like he turned back the clock and it was 2017 all over again.
"With playing Kareem (Hunt) more, just kind of went with a hot hand," Reid told reporters following the game. "Not down on Carson (Steele), he had the fumble – they'll figure that out. We're lucky to have three, three good guys in there. (Samaje) Perine had a touchdown, had some nice runs for us too. We're good, we're in good shape there at that position."
Ultimately, the team seems to have three legitimate options to mix and match as they see fit until Isiah Pacheco can return from injury. Steele might have a short leash right now after the fumbles, but there will come a point where they'll need his bruising running style. Reid certainly knows that and will look for a way to build him back up after this latest setback in his development.
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