The Kansas City Chiefs running backs have shared the workload so far this season, with a new player taking advantage of opportunities each week. The collection of runners has alternated based on need and effectiveness against the opposing defenses.
In Week 5 against the Las Vegas Raiders, it was Jerick McKinnon who answered the call.
“I thought Jerick (McKinnon) did a great job of just setting it off,” said Chiefs OC Eric Bieniemy. “That 30-yard run or so that he had earlier, that set the tone, that set the tempo (and) picked our guys up. It was the spark that we needed.”
But who will provide the spark moving forward? Even Bieniemy doesn’t know. They’ve given players opportunities in each game, seemingly riding with the most effective player for that particular matchup. Sometimes it’s things like the protection schemes and contributions in the passing game. Other times it’s just about who is the most effective runner. Bieniemy expects that the team will continue rotating the running backs.
“Obviously, Jerick (McKinnon) contributed and did a heck of a job, but it’s always good when you have a good group of football players that love and respect each other because they understand, ‘Hey, he just made a play. Let’s keep riding with him and see exactly what unfolds.’ It was fun to watch,” said Bieniemy. “But on top of that, we also know (that) next week or this particular week, it could be Clyde (Edwards-Helaire), (Isiah) Pacheco, it could be (Michael) Burt(on), it could be Pat (Mahomes) making plays with his legs. It could be Mecole (Hardman), so next man up.”
No option is foreign to this offense with the exception of RB Ronald Jones, who has been a healthy scratch for the first five weeks of the season. The Chiefs face a stubborn Bills defense on Sunday, so there are no limits to what measures Bieneimy or head coach Andy Reid will go to points on the board.
