The Kansas City Chiefs are expected to be without WR Sammy Watkins for a few weeks due to a hamstring injury. In his absence, the team will call on second-year WR Mecole Hardman to pick up the slack. In 2019, Hardman started five games, appearing in 16 total, recording 26 receptions for 538 yards and seven touchdowns. Hardman feels that what he went through last season prepared him for an expanded role this year.
“I’m prepared, man. I think I did it last year when Tyreek (Hill) went down, and I think when Sammy (Watkins) went down one time too,” Hardman told reporters on Thursday. “I think I’m ready for the challenge. I don’t think it’s anything that I can’t handle. I’m practicing hard, doing what I need to do, so whenever I get that opportunity, I’m going to take advantage of it. Just come back, see what Coach Reid has in store for me, what he wants me to do. Whatever they’ve got planned for me, that’s what I’m going to go out there and do and do it the best that I can.”
Hardman has already seen his snaps increase this season when Watkins wasn’t on the field in 2020. He saw an increase in snaps when Watkins was knocked out of the game in Week 2 against the Los Angeles Chargers. He also saw an increase in snaps in Week 5 against the Las Vegas Raiders when Watkins’ hamstring injury occurred.
While Hardman will certainly see an increase in snaps, he and Watkins aren’t the same types of players. Andy Reid described Watkins’ role as a low-post center, but Hardman seems to play more like a shooting guard if we’re sticking to basketball analogies.
“I think Sammy does things like blocks very well, he’s a good position route runner underneath,” Hardman said. “I think some people don’t really see what he does. He gets guys open, especially with guys like him, you really have to draw attention to Sammy because he’s also really good after the catch as well. That’s not a guy that you just want to keep catching the ball over and over, so you’ve got to put some attention to him. With (Travis) Kelce and him working underneath and me and Tyreek (Hill) over the top, what he does is special that makes everybody around him better. He’s a good leader and he makes sure everybody is good. He blocks very well in certain situations; he blocks after the catch and he’s good after the catch. Those things right there are where me and (Byron) Pringle have to step up on if he is out of this game and fill those roles and some of the production that he has. Stuff like that, you’ve definitely got to take notice of what Sammy does. Not when the ball is in his hands but what he does without the ball in his hands.”
Hardman is admittedly a little down on himself as a blocker, but Chiefs offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy is very confident in his abilities, including his blocking. Bieniemy is very excited to see him showcase those abilities against the Buffalo Bills.
“I think all of them bring a little bit of something special to the table,” Bieniemy said on Friday. “Mecole (Hardman) has some explosive speed. He does some things that everyone can’t do. One thing that we love with Mecole, when that ball is in his hands he finds a way to make things happen. One thing that we always want to do is find ways to get him in space. Find creative ways to get the ball in his hands. But one thing I will say, he has done a heck of a job of being a good blocker. I don’t know why he’s taking that away from himself, because he does have that attitude and that determined mindset. The thing I am looking forward to is watching him handle the play-to-play situations. Now he’s being thrust into that role, now he has to be productive for a high percentage of time throughout the duration of the game. We’re counting on him to do well and we’re counting on some other guys to step up as well.”
At the end of the day, Hardman won’t be asked to do everything that Watkins does because they are different players. However, the Chiefs can certainly find ways to get him the ball and use his explosiveness to their advantage in Week 6 when they head to Buffalo.
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