The Kansas City Chiefs didn't add much on offense in the draft, but Andy Reid talked up new running back Emmett Johnson.
Kansas City Chiefs coach Andy Reid knows that talking up players with potential is part of his job, and he certainly has fun doing it from time to time. Reid doesn’t mind going over the top in his comments, and he definitely did just that with running back Emmett Johnson, the fifth-round pick who caught his eye in rookie mini-camp according to a writeup by Josh Alper of Pro Football Talk.
Reid started out with a realistic take on Johnson’s talents, saying the running back can be an immediate contributor on special teams. Then the Chiefs coach decided to generate a headline by comparing Johnson to running back he used to have back during his days with the Philadelphia Eagles.
“He’s got a good feel for things,” Reid said. “A smart kid, a good kid. He’s got that lateral quickness. We had LeSean McCoy here for a bit and he has a little bit of that to him, where he can shift gears and still get himself up the field quickly. I like the way he pass protects, I like the way he catches the football, and it looks like he can do that here."
Time for a reality check. Reid loves offense, but the Chiefs drafted for defense. They didn’t add much talent on the offensive side of the ball, so Johnson is one of the few players that Reid can talk up, although he did managed to reel himself in a little as his comments continued.
“We’re not doing live stuff, but the catching part he does easy. . . .,” Reid added. “It’s important in this offense that you’re able to catch the ball. You got to be able to block, and he showed that. At the same time, you have to be able to run the ball. The more you can do, we’ll utilize you in those areas and it puts pressure on the defense.”
The passing game part of Reid’s comments rings true, and the Chiefs could definitely use a running back who can catch the ball. That’s definitely not the strength of Kenneth Walker III, who was signed as a free agent to provide a real running game.
But the Chiefs also let Isiah Pacheco depart in free agency, so they do need someone who can catch the ball to give Kansas City an outside threat to complement Walker’s inside running. Pacheco never really lived up to his potential in that area, and the Chiefs are hoping Johnson can catch the ball and run with it in that role when the veterans arrive and the real action starts.