Chiefs WR Rashee Rice is the NFL's preseason leader in yards after catch
Kansas City Chiefs rookie WR Rashee Rice is off to a hot start to his NFL career. The second-round draft pick out of SMU is exceeding expectations and breaking the mold for what rookie wide receivers traditionally can be in Andy Reid's offense. He's seemingly willing to do whatever it takes to get on the field. […]
Kansas City Chiefs rookie WR Rashee Rice is off to a hot start to his NFL career.
The second-round draft pick out of SMU is exceeding expectations and breaking the mold for what rookie wide receivers traditionally can be in Andy Reid's offense. He's seemingly willing to do whatever it takes to get on the field. Through two preseason games, he's shown that it might simply just take getting the ball into his hands for good things to happen.
According to the folks at Pro Football Focus, Rice is currently tied with 49ers WR Ronnie Bell for the NFL preseason lead in yards after the catch. Rice has 11 receptions for 126 yards through preseason games against the Saints and Cardinals, yet 84 of those yards have been created by Rice after the catch.
Rice doesn't just lead all rookie wide receivers, but he actually leads all NFL receivers in yards after the catch as well. His 7.6 yards after the catch per reception are the second-most among rookie wide receivers with 10 or more passes caught this preseason.
Chiefs assistant GM Mike Borgnonzi really said it best right after the draft, likening Rice's post-catch ability to a running back.
"You know, (he's) explosive, fast‐twitch kid," Borgonzi said. "(He's) really good with the
ball after the catch – he’s like a running back after the catch."
Speaking to reporters this week, Rice explained how the practice mentality in Kansas City really emphasizes the creation of yards after the catch.
“You’d be surprised, every time somebody has the ball or doesn’t have the ball on the field, we are saying finish," Rice explained. "If I got the ball, I’m making a move on the defender. Whether it looks like, he made the tackle or not I’m acting like he didn’t make the tackle, and I’m finishing down the field.”
NFL coaches like to talk about hidden yards, and this part of it is really key. Finishing plays and fighting for extra yards can make all the difference in what's considered a game of inches. Right now, it looks like the Chiefs have one of the best rookies in the league when it comes to creating after the catch. If he can continue to create like that when the regular season gets here, he'll get plenty of touches during the course of the 2023 NFL season.
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Featured image via Rob Schumacher – The Republic
