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There is arguably no other position group on the Kansas City Chiefs that is facing as much pressure as the wide receivers are. Tyreek Hill is no longer wearing red and gold. Even depth pieces like Demarcus Robinson and Byron Pringle are now out of town. In 2022, the team will be looking for new senses of belief and trust from their wide receivers. For instance, Marquez Valdes-Scantling is looking to prove that he is more than just a deep threat while in Kansas City.
There was a gradual build to the peak of MVS’s run with the Green Bay Packers. The numbers may have been up and down from a raw stats perspective. However, Valdes-Scantling showed that he had improved on the finer details of his game during the last couple of years. Items like run after catch ability, ball skills and his route running technique grew in the latter years with Green Bay.
With a major chance in front of him, Marquez Valdes-Scantling has an opportunity to build off of that strong finish with the Packers. He will join a Chiefs offense that is more accustomed to pass the ball in most situations, compared to other teams. Whereas with the play designs itself, Valdes-Scantling could get even more chances to work in space than he did in Green Bay. That could bring out his all-around talent, as a result. Let’s kick it off.
Explosive Play Threat
Out of all of the numbers that Marquez Valdes-Scantling has produced, his career yards per reception figure stands out the most. It is currently at a gaudy 17.5. While that is impressive for any receiver, the fact he has constantly churned out a similar number each season is crucial for him, given the Packers sparingly threw him the ball. More importantly, Valdes-Scantling is able to produce explosive plays in a variety of ways.
First off, MVS is rather elusive after the catch. He can make defenders miss with upper body strength. He can make defenders miss with stutter steps of his own. That is not too dissimilar to that of the other new incoming Chiefs veteran wide receiver, JuJu Smith-Schuster. On top of that, Valdes-Scantling can create extra time and space for himself during routes. This is due to his long, explosive strides. Many defensive backs are unable to catch up or keep up with that, given his size and speed. Finally, Marquez Valdes-Scantling has learned how to pick and choose his spots wisely. He understands when it is necessary to immediately turn up the field. Or, he understands when it is necessary to attack certain leverage points with lateral angles.
Ability To Get Open
Some of the areas where Marquez Valdes-Scantling has become more detailed may not immediately stand out to some. Nonetheless, it is simply his ability to get open and separate that has helped him become a more complete wide receiver. Valdes-Scantling can provide a certain attack as a route runner that has not always been existent within the Kansas City passing attack.
For example, the way in which Valdes-Scantling sells routes is rather nimble and soft, so to speak. He may push hard to complete his route stem. Yet, Valdes-Scantling does well to utilize short, quick steps to make breaks within the route. Those subtle or swift cuts give him an immediate advantage. Mainly, this is because of his length as a pass catcher. It also goes to show that Valdes-Scantling has a leg up in specific one-on-one matchups with his explosive and long strides.
Could this give him a boost within the Chiefs offense? Kansas City loves to hit on quick strikes as often as possible. When looking into the growing release package and counter moves of Valdes-Scantling, he can definitely be trusted in that regard. The added patience and confidence in tight areas has to also get the Chiefs excited. Kansas City will look for him to make plays in many different areas of the field. Overall, Marquez Valdes-Scantling has quietly displayed that he can maneuver in and out of different roles, proving he is more than a one-trick pony.
How His Skill Set Translates To Chiefs Offense
Ultimately, how will the skill set of Marquez Valdes-Scantling translate to the Chiefs offense? With losing Hill, the team is now without the man who ran their largest or most diverse route tree. The quick screen game, stick and curl game, crossing route game and vertical passing game generally ran through the player they call the Cheetah. It will take everyone in the pass catching room to replace that effort. Even still, Valdes-Scantling is progressing at the right time. Kansas City believes that their heavy passing attack may not just make him a more productive receiver. Though, MVS may become more dependable than he was in Green Bay to a degree as well.
With his ability to instantly get open, Patrick Mahomes can allow Valdes-Scantling to create after the catch himself. Moreover, this wide receiver may be more versatile than what people may realize. His size and speed combination can make him ultra-difficult for defenders to bring down. On the flip side, Valdes-Scantling was becoming more comfortable in the short to intermediate game at the end of his run with Green Bay.
Kansas City will likely use him on a vast amount of route combinations throughout the route tree. Valdes-Scantling has distinctly become lethal in the crossing route game and in the deep in passing game. In a sense, his vertical danger to defenses has now become less of a focus for opponents to worry about. That has greatly benefitted he and his offense. The Chiefs are hoping that his growing instincts could flourish enough for him to become both a dependable and more productive pass catcher. What better offense for Marquez Valdes-Scantling to join than a pass-heavy offense like Kansas City who predicates on attacking space with pace?
Be on the lookout for more FPC Chiefs articles in the coming days. For more great sports and NFL content, stay tuned to Full Press Coverage.
– Braden Holecek is the Kansas City Chiefs managing editor for Full Press Coverage. He covers the NFL. Like and follow on Follow @ebearcat9//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js Follow @FPC_Chiefs//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js and Facebook.
