Marquez Valdes-Scantling seems to be catching some attention during the Kansas City Chiefs’ Organized Team Activities.
Not only has the former Green Bay Packers wideout caught the attention of media members on the field at two separate practice sessions, but his performance in the classroom has caught the attention of his position coach. Joe Bleymaier spoke to media members on Thursday and was asked about what he’d seen from Valdes-Scantling so far.
“He’s been great. He is the epitome of a professional. He comes to work. He’s all business. He wants to know what he’s doing, why, the whole picture, the whole story. Detailed,” Bleymaier said. “The athletic ability, I think, speaks for itself. When he gets into the classroom, you kind of see how he has gotten to where he’s gotten. He is on his P’s and Q’s. Wants to know and wants to learn. Not only what he’s doing but the whole offense, and I think part of that is he’s had success individually and he’s been part of a successful team. And that’s what he did in his past, so that’s carried over. Initial reaction, that’s what it’s been and that’s been awesome.”
Asked whether there is more to Valdes-Scantling’s game to unlock compared to what he showed in Green Bay, Bleymaier was insistent that they’re not going to put him into a box.
“We’re not going to put him into a box here,” Bleymaier said. “They had reasons for how they used him in Green Bay and we’ll see what he can do and how he writes his plays here with us. Without putting him into a box and saying, ‘This is what you did in the past.’ They had specific reasons — we may or may not have those same specific reasons. But there are obviously things that he does great and you want to emphasize those strengths and then just kind of let him flourish and grow into the offense.”
Really, the Chiefs are still working through what every member of their new receiving corps is capable of. That includes Valdes-Scantling, who seems sure to have a more diverse role than the one he had just a season ago. For now, they’ll take their time figuring out what he does best and how that can best help fuel Kansas City’s success.
