Gruden says K.C.’s Mahomes like ‘a young Favre’
In one 2017 episode of his “QB Camp” on ESPN, nowRaiders head coach Jon Gruden cues up a particular throw by Patrick Mahomes and starts laughing before the clip even plays.
Mahomes, the Texas Tech quarterback in a game against Louisiana Tech, feels pressure coming from the backside and sprints to his left. At the Louisiana Tech 45-yard line, still running, he plants his right foot, flicks his right arm and uncorks a throw of more than 50 yards to an open receiver in the back of the end zone for a touchdown.
Recalling the play Wednesday, Gruden lavishly called it “the greatest throw I’ve ever seen.
“He didn’t set his feet, he’s running to his left, and I said, ‘Why didn’t you set your feet, because you don’t have to?’ ” Gruden recalled. “He goes, ‘Exactly.’ ”
Now in his second NFL season, and first as a starter, Mahomes is the electrifying centerpiece of a high-powered Kansas City offense which the Raiders — and their 26thranked defense — will face for the first time Sunday.
The Chiefs rank second in the league in points per game (36.7), third in yards per game (434.3) and first in yards per play (7). Mahomes leads the attack with 3,628 passing yards (3rd), a 117.9 passer rating (2nd) and a league-high 37 passing touchdowns, five more than any other quarterback.
Mahomes’ rocket arm — and the Chiefs’ complement of skill players such as receiver Tyreek Hill (65 receptions, 1,106 yards, 11 touchdowns), tight end Travis Kelce (67, 914, 7) and running back Kareem Hunt (1,202 scrimmage yards, 14 touchdowns) — have some wondering whether Mahomes can challenge Peyton Manning’s 2013 season record of 55 touchdown passes.
Gruden likened Mahomes to another quarterback — the one whose record for career touchdown passes Manning broke in 2014.
“He’s got a playing style that reminds me of (Brett) Favre,” Gruden said Wednesday. “He’s a young Favre. That’s why I think (Kansas City head coach) Andy Reid went and got him. He won’t quit on any plays. He makes a lot of plays when there’s nothing there.”
Reid and the Chiefs liked Mahomes enough in the 2017 draft to trade up from No. 27 to 10 to select him, also sending a third-round and 2018 first-round pick to Buffalo. Mahomes sat for most of his rookie season behind Alex Smith, but started a meaningless Week 17 game at Denver and led the Chiefs, resting most of their starters, to a 27-24 win.
After losing in the AFC wild-card round to the Titans, Kansas City traded Smith to Washington, clearing the way for Mahomes to become the starter. Reid, on a conference call Wednesday, demurred when asked whether that move has turned out as he expected.
“You wish you could predict these things,” Reid said. “I’m not very good at that. I think that he’s done a nice job. I think Alex was a big part of that, in helping him do this.”
Mahomes threw 10 touchdown passes in his first two games of the season. Perhaps his first eye-popping moment came in Week 3 against the 49ers. On 3rd-and-goal from the 4, Mahomes scrambled away from pressure, twisting and turning all the way back to the 25, before whipping an off-footed throw from the 20 to Chris Conley in the back corner of the end zone.
Reid, asked about Mahomes’ playmaking ability, pointed out his previous quarterbacks included Favre, Donovan McNabb and Michael Vick, “so I’ve had some really good creators.” Gruden was more willing to praise Mahomes, calling his skill set “sickening.”
“He can throw the ball from any platform possible, running to his left, fading backward, he can get out of trouble,” Gruden said. “I compliment everybody, I’ve been accused of that. But this guy, he’s got off-the-chart arm talent. Skill level is unbelievable.”
Mahomes threw for 478 yards and six touchdowns in his most recent game against the Rams, but he also had five turnovers, including three interceptions, in a wild 54-51 loss. Raiders quarterback Derek Carr said he believes Mahomes, still just 23, will benefit from continuing to work under Reid.
“There are times where free runners are coming in to hit him and he can make them miss and still whip the ball to his speedy guys down the field, 60, 70 yards,” Carr said. “Being able to do that, and do it accurately, is really impressive. He’s a heck of a player.”