Patrick Mahomes labels Chiefs rookie WR Rashee Rice as 'Texas Tough'
Kansas City Chiefs rookie WR Rashee Rice has quickly established himself as a playmaker within the offense. With each passing week, his role has grown and his ability has been further on display, whether it's having a knack for getting open or displaying a unique brand of toughness after the catch. In Week 7 against […]
Kansas City Chiefs rookie WR Rashee Rice has quickly established himself as a playmaker within the offense. With each passing week, his role has grown and his ability has been further on display, whether it's having a knack for getting open or displaying a unique brand of toughness after the catch.
In Week 7 against the Los Angeles Chargers, Rice matched his single-game high in receptions on 40 total offensive snaps. That was the highest percentage of offensive snaps that he played in a given week and with it came 60 receiving yards and a touchdown where he improvised a bit to give Patrick Mahomes time to find him in the end zone.
Speaking on Rice's continued development, Mahomes explained that he has the feel for improvising and adjusting on the fly.
“He has great feel, I think that’s the biggest thing," Mahomes said of Rice. "Obviously, you see how explosive he is and you see the physical talent, but he has a good understanding of when he’s open and how to stay open. He’s starting to recognize coverages more and more, coverages are a little more complex than they were in college, but you can tell as he’s starting to learn more and getting himself open, I think we’ll continue to work with that and he’ll continue to find ways to get himself open whenever the necessary route is not going to. He did a good job of that on the touchdown.”
Do you know who else has earned the "great feel" praise from both Mahomes and Andy Reid? Travis Kelce. We all know just how good Kelce is at understanding and finding soft spots in zone coverage without comprising the play. Could Rice make it to his level one day? He certainly seems to be on the right track.
Beyond the physical traits and his knack for getting himself open, Rice has displayed a level of toughness that isn't typically found in a rookie. Mahomes pinpointed the exact reason that Rice has been able to shake off some tackles and withstand some big hits.
“He’s a good football player at the end of the day," Mahomes said. "He wants to go out there and win, he wants to compete. He’s Texas Tough, man. Those Texas guys are tough out there on the football field.”
If anyone knows about "Texas Tough" it's the Tyler, Texas native in Mahomes.
Rice will get a chance to display his ability to get open and his toughness again in Week 8 when the Chiefs travel to Denver to face the Broncos.
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