Kansas City Chiefs: Clyde Edwards-Helaire stellar in rookie debut

Kansas City Chiefs rookie running back Clyde Edwards-Helaire is off to a great start.

The Kansas City Chiefs opened their title defense on Thursday night against the Houston Texans in a much-anticipated return to football and some state of normalcy. There were so many stories surrounding this game, and many draft analysts were looking forward to the debut of some rookies.

Clyde Edwards-Helaire was the first running back taken in the 2020 NFL Draft by the Kansas City Chiefs, a move that was as shocking as it was fun. Edwards-Helaire was the top running back for a few analysts, but pretty much everyone was excited about the fit with the best offense in football.

On opening night, Edwards-Helaire did not disappoint. He rushed for 138 yards on 25 carries and found the end zone once in a 34-20 Chiefs victory. While the numbers were impressive, what Edwards-Helaire showed was even more so.

Edwards-Helaire was coveted in the draft because of his vision, quickness, contact balance, and abilities in the passing game. He showed off his vision early between the tackles, finding holes for big gains early in the game.

Clyde Edwards-Helaire showed remarkable leg drive through contact and carried defenders with him at times. His run near the end of the game included shrugging off a tackle while on one foot. That contact balance, combined with his ability to get low, run behind his pads, and create a low center of gravity will be a problem for defenders.

On his touchdown run, he made a great move in space, setting up the defender and making a clean, crisp cut to make him whiff. Edwards-Helaire had no one else to beat after that and strolled into the end zone.

While Edwards-Helaire was dominant on the ground, his potential has not been fully unlocked in this offense. He only got one target in the passing game, which came as a bit of shock considering most analysts believed that was his biggest strength.

It may be a lack of reps because of the odd offseason, but the Chiefs will certainly give him that opportunity during the season. His effectiveness on angle routes was highlighted throughout the NFL Draft process, and in a pass-heavy scheme, those touches will come.

If there are any negatives to take away from his debut, it was his lack of success at the goal line. Edwards-Helaire failed to convert despite receiving six carries within reach of the end zone.

Otherwise, it’s clear the Kansas City Chiefs have the utmost trust in Edwards-Helaire to be the bell cow in this offense and will receive plenty of touches all season long. The football world is excited to see what else he can do in 2020.