Game overview:
The Chiefs treated this like a tune up/practice event...they worked the 1st-team for a series, then worked the rest of the roster trying things out. They were neither good nor bad here...they were ‘practicing’.
The Jaguars, on the other hand, seemed like they were treating this as if it were a playoff game...a statement game. They played an energized, quality game and won it when it mattered – in the 1st-half with starters going some on each side. The 2nd-half kinda devolved, but the Jags went with their starters for a bit longer in the 1st-half and they took advantage of a ‘just practicing’ Chiefs squad.
It was a solid win for the Jags to start the preseason. It had no effect on the Chiefs.
Scouting Notes from the game:
-- Chiefs RB report...
Isiah Pacheco (2-16-0, 1-9-0/1) started and looked in midseason form. He’s the unquestioned leader of this backfield.
Clyde Edwards-Helaire (2-0-0/2) came in after Pacheco, and he looks like a wounded/dying animal that someone needs to ‘take out back’, if you know what I mean. He may be in danger of being cut or traded for like nothing to a team that wants a #3 RB and thinks that a player who was once drafted in the 1st-round is still ‘cool’.
Deneric Prince (4-16-0, 2-10-0/2) is, for all intents and purposes, the Pacheco handcuff. If Pacheco is out for a series or game, maybe CEH (if still here) gets the work...but if something longer-term happens, then it’s more likely gonna be Prince...somewhat by default. Prince is OK/fine, he’s not a Jordan Mason or Emanuel Wilson type ‘wow’ backup emerging. Prince was clearly better than CEH in this brief showing for both.
Rookie UDFA Carson Steele (4-29-1) is the man of the hour...racing to the top of the Sleeper App top trending players this week. He’s a bully runner...more fullback than halfback but is gonna be a goal line threat to the other backs to take 2-3 TDs this season.
Louis Rees-Zammit (2-1-0, 1-3-0/1) looked very skittish on his very first pro touch, which is normal. He looked a little better on the rest of his touches. Still, he’s not ready for the primetime yet...and may never be.
I have some additional thoughts on the KC backfield for Redraft and Dynasty, I’ll be putting those in the SUBSCRIBER EXTRA NOTES edition of this game report. So many FFMers own Isiah Pacheco, I want to expand on a few things related to this backfield group.
-- Jags RB report...
I thought both of the Jaguars backs looked really good here...they were in midseason form as well.
Travis Etienne (4-3-0, 1-9-0/1) was moving well...shot out of a cannon on his TD catch in the red zone. He looks like he’s added some muscle tone.
Tank Bigsby (3-28-0, 10-0-/1) really looked good here...in the sense of how bad he flopped in his NFL regular season run last year, as a rookie. He looks like a guy ready to take some touches away from Etienne.
-- Jags WR report...
Brian Thomas (1-41-0/2) caught a bomb from C.J. Beathard...an ‘up for grabs’ throw and Thomas just outmaneuvered his covering CB. Thomas is a god of contested pass catching. Please read my full scouting report on him to see what I mean. No catches for Thomas from Trevor, however.
You can search for anything on any player with the FFM site searchbar...everything/everywhere I’ve written on the name you’re searching will come up in chronological order...and then there’s advanced search functions from there to pair it down. FYI
I have my eye on UDFA rookie Brevin Easton (1-5-0/1), but I was disappointed to see him only get in the game until very late in the contest. More on what I saw on the SUBSCRIBER EXTRA NOTES edition, because it’s important to me.
-- Chiefs WR report...
Marquise Brown (1-11-0/1) caught a pass then went to the hospital...shoulder injury, that fortunately isn’t as bad as feared. Unknown how much time he’ll miss...if any regular season. This is the concern with Hollywood...his frame is so thin...so injury-prone, but he’s in a great place here if he stays healthy.
I watched Xavier Worthy (0 targets) run some routes here...and, man, he does look like he is shot out of a cannon as well. He’s gonna get stuck in the Mecole Hardman role from the past, so I am not excited about his FF prospects out of the gates...but if Marquise is gone then maybe there is something hot-start here.
-- Mac Jones (9-11 for 125 yards, 1 TD/0 INT) worked as the 3rd QB in the game for the Jags here. My, how the mighty have fallen...
He looked like ‘Mac Jones’ in his performance...totally unimpressive. His career is essentially over.
Bill Belichick is a genius on personnel, right?
I have more to say about a QB from this game, and I am going to do so in the SUBSCRIBER EXTRA NOTES edition, because it’s a curveball...that’s all I’ll say here.
-- Couple IDP notes...4 tackles
JAX slot CB Christian Braswell (4 tackles) really looks good...he’s definitely going to be their starting slot corner this year...and is listed as such on their first depth chart this preseason.
He’ll probably get cut, but KC CB Keith Taylor (6 tackles) was playing corner in this game like his life depended upon it. I saw the old, uber-aggressive/in-your-face Taylor harassing WRs here. Not sure if he’d get away with it facing the 1st-team WRs, but he was terrorizing lesser WRs with his physicality.
