Chiefs Roster: New offensive players will have key roles versus Ravens

The Kansas City Chiefs played only one game after defeating the Baltimore Ravens in last season’s AFC Championship: Super Bowl LVIII against the San Francisco 49ers.

But when the two teams meet for the NFL’s season opener on GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium on Thursday night, many things will be different — starting with the absence of running back Clyde Edwards-Helaire behind starter Isiah Pacheco. Behind him will be undrafted rookie Carson Steele — and behind him will be veteran Samaje Perine, who joined the team only last week.

“It’s one of those next-man-up mentalities that we all talk about — but that’s real,” noted Kansas City offensive coordinator Matt Nagy when he spoke to reporters on Monday. “I think the guys have done a great job all training camp. Pacheco has been phenomenal at understanding his role. And then (with) these other guys — as we get going — (it) will be important for all of us to make sure that whether it’s running the football, protections or in the passing game, everyone knows, no matter who it is, that they feel really good about their assignments.”

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Nagy doesn’t seem too worried about whether Steele will understand what he is expected to do.

“His assignments in OTAs were pretty crisp,” recalls Nagy. “He knew what he was doing; he knew where he was going. (But) you never know how (someone’s) going to do until (they) put the pads on. He took it to training camp, put the pads on and made some nice plays. A splash play here and there definitely helps, but it’s got to be consistent over periods of plays and (through) series of drives. I thought he did that.

“There’s still some things that internally we know he can get better at — (and) he knows it. Now (he) takes it to ‘Thursday Night Football’ against a really good football team, balancing ‘the emotions of understanding.’

“There will be some mistakes, but (he’ll) do it 100% — 100% of the time.”

Meanwhile, Nagy said the team’s coaches are still trying to figure out what Perine can do.

“How much can (he) handle? What’s too much? What’s not enough? There’s a balance (there). But certainly one thing that I’ve taken from being with him these (few) days is that (he’s) super smart. He’s a true pro; he gets it.”

But those won’t be the only new faces on the Kansas City offense. Second-round rookie Kingsley Suamataia will start at left tackle, holding the key to protecting quarterback Patrick Mahomes.

“I think physically, he’s shown us he can do some good things,” said Nagy of the former BYU tackle. “Again: it’s the mindset of understanding. Coach Reid always talks about, ‘You’ve got training camp, you’ve got preseason and then you get to the season. And then as you go through the season, you get (the) playoffs (and) you get (the) Super Bowl. Every game gets more physical — and more physically.’ So for him, it’s going to be a challenge.”

“But at the same time, you’ve got to be mentally strong in these games. That’s our job as coaches: to make sure that we understand (there are) some young guys playing their first game. “Are we giving them enough help mentally – to give them the best chance to succeed?”

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That will be very important for another rookie: wide receiver Xavier Worthy.

“Probably the biggest thing is making sure that (he) understands this is going to be an emotional game,” noted Nagy. “(He needs to understand) there are going to be some moments where there’s a mistake with a route assignment — but there (are) also going to be big plays.”

Nagy believes the former Texas wideout will be up for Thursday’s challenge. But against the Ravens, there will be challenges for the coaches, too.

“For every team, this whole first week is all about adapting,” explained Nagy. “That’s it. How do you adapt? How well do you adapt? They have a new defensive coordinator. For the first time, he’s calling plays. Whether that’s the same or different, we’ll see.

“But they’re going to have some unscouted looks; we’re going to see some things that are different. How do we adjust?

“Making sure that our guys can play fast is important, but (we have) a lot of respect for them — and it’s going to be a physical game.”