Kansas City Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes made it out of his first and only drive of the team’s game Saturday unscathed, drawing a collective sigh of relief from fans across the globe. Though the stakes weren’t as high as a regular or postseason matchup, the improved offensive line looked solid, even if only in a few plays in the first quarter.
There was a lot of anticipation and build-up to the first preseason game this year for the offensive line, with five new starters on the unit. It would be foolish to extrapolate a couple of drives into more than what it was — a couple of drives. Mahomes is a perennial MVP candidate at this point in his career, and keeping him upright and uninjured in 2021 is going to be the only goal for the Chiefs’ new linemen. Potentially the most important task of their careers if the goal is to win a ring.
For Orlando Brown Jr., in particular, any experience with his new team is a good experience. The third-year tackle was traded to Kansas City by the Baltimore Ravens just before April’s draft and has sought to acclimate not only to new surroundings in a different offensive scheme. Expectations are high, but in his comments to reporters after Saturday’s game, Brown seemed as confident as ever about his fit in the Chiefs’ system.
“Preseason is always tough,” Brown Jr. told reporters, “It seems like you’re coming out, just when you’re getting where you want to be mentally. But I take it as an opportunity to go against different people, and a new situation, obviously a different scheme than we’ve been seeing in practice, and different players. I just use it as an opportunity to learn the system and mix certain things in and see how people react.”
The Chiefs’ first offensive series, in particular, showcased the line’s ability to run block, opening big holes for second-year running back Clyde Edwards-Helaire. Of the new identity on the line, especially in the running game, Brown Jr. made it clear that their gritty run-blocking is part of a broader culture shift. Even if their primary objective is to keep Mahomes clean in the pocket, they also want to bring the nasty in the ground game.
“That is something we’re definitely priding ourselves on,” he said of the lines work in the running game. “Really just setting the tone upfront. Coach Heck has emphasized that, I’ve emphasized that, Joe Thuney, and all the other guys as well. So that’s really just been the mindset, being able to set the tone especially in the run game, when they call our number.”
The ground game could prove crucial for Kansas City’s hopes at another title this year. Plays spent running the ball take pressure off Mahomes and keep the defense off-balance in their play calls. Brown Jr. was a huge part of Baltimore’s success in previous years running the ball. He has commented in previous press conferences about his commitment to run blocking well, helping the Chiefs find a more dynamic edge when they aren’t passing.
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