Chiefs WR Xavier Worthy has made subtle changes in his game that are paying big dividends for the offense
The Kansas City Chiefs have a track record of getting veteran performances out of their rookies by the season's end. Last year they did it with wide receiver Rashee Rice, who came on huge down the stretch last season and was vital to the Chiefs' Super Bowl run. Now, it's happening with another receiver in […]
The Kansas City Chiefs have a track record of getting veteran performances out of their rookies by the season's end.
Last year they did it with wide receiver Rashee Rice, who came on huge down the stretch last season and was vital to the Chiefs' Super Bowl run. Now, it's happening with another receiver in first-round pick Xavier Worthy.
Although he isn't putting up as big of numbers as Rice was, Worthy's production has improved during the past month as he has averaged five receptions for 51 yards over his last four games. If Kansas City can solve some of the pass protection issues along their offensive line, perhaps Worthy could be more productive, particularly in the deep passing game.
However, the improvements that he has made from earlier this year go beyond the stat sheet. Chiefs passing game coordinator Joe Bleymaier told the media on Thursday that Worthy's timing and situational awareness has paid big dividends for the offense.
"Some of the situational downs, third down especially," Bleymair said when asked what area he has seen Worthy improve in the most. "There's a difference between what he has, and what he has to do. If he has a route on first and second down, you got to run that route at the right depth, be in the right spot. On third down, we got to move the chains. So, you have the route, you have to run the same route at the right depth, but we got to move the chains, and we got to get the first down. And he's been able to separate, and it's a very small, just a subtle difference, but he's been able to show up in those downs and distances and move the chains. And that's a hard thing to do as a rookie, because it shifts within the game on how you run those routes, but on those third downs that he's converting, he's running his route, and then he's making a play.
"Third-and-10 last game, he had the deep route, he was running it, he was ready and in the right spot, and then the clock just went off in his head," Bleymaier said. "You know, the ball should be thrown by now, but it's not, so let me turn around and figure out why. He sees Pat [Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes], he finds the open space, and then Pat makes an unbelievable throw, and then Worthy makes the catch. So, that's exactly right. That timing in his head where maybe on first or second down early in the year, he's just running all the way down the field towards the back pylon."
If Worthy doesn't make the adjustment on his route on the third-and-10 play that Bleymaier referred to during the Chiefs' final drive of last week's game versus the Los Angeles Chargers, K.C. possibly loses.
Growth in little areas like that make a big difference, especially in the postseason. It also strengthens Mahomes' confidence in Worthy when things break down and he has to improv. Worthy's attention to detail could help spark the Chiefs' offense into being a more efficient unit.
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