Eric Bieniemy offers solution for Chiefs' running game | KCSN Daily 11.10
Plus injury reports, KCSN podcasts, quotes and more Chiefs news.
Welcome back to the newest issue of KCSN Daily, where we deliver the best Kansas City Chiefs content to your inbox.
The Chiefs haven’t had a ton of success running the football during the first half of the 2022 NFL season. In the last three games, they’ve averaged 86 rushing yards per game, which is the fourth-fewest among NFL teams.
The struggles with the run game have been a bit surprising given that a former NFL running back is coordinating the offense. Asked about the problems with the run game on Thursday, Eric Bieniemy offered up a rather simple solution.
“We’ve got to run it. We’ve got to invest in it, meaning that we can’t just run it a few times and expect success,” Bieniemy explained. “Just like I just discussed, this front seven was very, very impressive. Those guys did a hell of a job, but it’s just like anything that you say, when you’re pounding concrete and you’re using that hammer, it’s not going to break the first few times you utilize it, correct? It’s going to take a while, so we need to find out if we can run it but on top of that, we have to consistently invest in it. So, I got to do a better job, as a staff we got to do a better job that way we’re giving our guys up front and those backs an opportunity to make it happen.”
Over the last three games, this team has averaged 19 rushing attempts per game and that’s including Patrick Mahomes’ scrambles. That’s good for the second-fewest rushing attempts in the league. It’s hardly a commitment to the running game as Bieniemy suggests and certainly could be contributing to the problem, but it seems like this issue could run deeper than simply a lack of opportunity.
The Breakdown - How Patrick Mahomes’ legs carried Chiefs to comeback win:
KCSN’s Matt Hamilton and former Chiefs quarterback Matt Cassel break down some key moments from Kansas City's win over the Tennessee Titans and talk about how Patrick Mahomes used his legs in the win. To round out the show, the Matts talk about the upcoming matchup with the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Thursday Injury Report:
Chiefs:
DNP: WR Mecole Hardman (Abdomen).
LP: CB L’Jarius Sneed (Knee).
FP: DT Khalen Saunders (NIR), TE Travis Kelce (Neck), S Deon Bush (Knee) TE Jody Fortson (Quad), RB Jerick McKinnon (Shoulder/Knee) and DT Derrick Nnadi (Achilles).
Jaguars:
DNP: None.
LP: TE Evan Engram (Back) and S Rayshawn Jenkins (Concussion).
FP: None.
Key:
DNP (Did Not Participate), LP (Limited Participant), FP (Full Participant), NIR (Not Injury Related).
Notes:
The Chiefs are not required to list the practice status of OT Lucas Niang until he’s been activated to the 53-man roster.
KCSN Update:
KCSN’s Tucker Franklin sits down with Matt Hamilton to get the five things he's watching for in the Kansas City Chiefs' meeting with the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday.
Quotable:
“We got to run it. We got to invest in it, meaning that we can’t just run it a few times and expect success. Just like I just discussed, this front seven was very, very impressive. Those guys did a hell of a job, but it’s just like anything that you say, when you’re pounding concrete and you’re using that hammer, it’s not going to break the first few times you utilize it, correct? It’s going to take a while, so we need to find out if we can run it but on top of that, we have to consistently invest in it. So, I got to do a better job, as a staff we got to do a better job that way we’re giving our guys up front and those backs an opportunity to make it happen.” - Chiefs OC Eric Bieniemy on the running game
“Yeah, I was just talking about Trent (McDuffie). I thought he did a really good job, Adam (Teicher). You know I say this all the time, is sometimes corners don’t get any recognition when they’re doing exactly what you want them to do, right? They’re over there pressed, and the quarterback doesn’t throw it there, but he had two really good plays where he was hip to hip on a nine-route. The other thing I thought he did a really good job of – him, LJ (L’Jarius Sneed) and Jaylen (Watson) all had a shot at it – is in those situations they were looking for the football because when you don’t look the yellow flag tends to come out so that helps us a little bit. But it thought he did a nice job.” - Chiefs DC Steve Spagnuolo on Trent McDuffie’s return
Quick Hits:
From TeamJuJu: Chiefs WR JuJu Smith-Schuster said he would love to stay in Kansas City beyond his one-year contract. Smith-Schuster signed a one-year deal with the Chiefs worth over $10 million back in March.
From Trey ‘Pancake’ Smith: The Chiefs had none other than Trey Smith mic’d up for the Week 9 game against the Titans. It was as good as you’d expect.
From the DC Attorney General: Some non-Chiefs news that could have league-wide implications. On Thursday, DC Attorney General Karl A. Racine announced he was filing a consumer protection lawsuit against Commanders owner Dan Snyder, The Commanders, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell and the NFL.
Important dates ahead:
Sunday, Nov. 13 at Noon CT - Week 10: Chiefs vs. Jaguars - GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium - Kansas City, Missouri
You make a lifetime of difference for a child or teen.
Boys & Girls Clubs is looking for dedicated men and women to invest in the lives of youth through coaching. Did you know by participating in sports, children learn the value of teamwork, responsibility, good sportsmanship, and self-esteem? By becoming a volunteer coach, you are helping to power the dreams—and successful futures—of Kansas City’s kids! The Clubs are currently seeking baseball coaches. Click here to sign up today! All equipment will be provided. No prior coaching experience is needed.