The Kansas City Chiefs dropped to 0-2 on the season after a frustrating 20-17 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles. Watching Patrick Mahomes and Andy Reid lose in September is a new feeling for KC fans and has the fan base understandably on edge. Much of this frustration is pointed to the offensive line, which yet again had Mahomes running for his life on Sunday. It is hard to point fingers at one particular player, but rather to realize the collective failure of a highly-paid unit.
Kansas City couldn't get a consistent push in the trenches in the run game and couldn't hold up in pass protection. For the second straight week, fans held their breath as Mahomes absorbed hit after hit. Whether it was in the pocket or due to a forced scramble, so much of what the quarterback was unable to accomplish can be laid at the feet of the offensive line. Leaving room to wonder if perhaps the job of a current coach could be on the line in the case of offensive line coach Andy Heck.
Could the Chiefs Consider Sending a Message with Surprise Change to Andy Reid's Staff?
Heck has been the offensive line coach for the Chiefs since the 2013 season, making the move difficult to consider. However, it could be on the table if Reid believes the unit and roster as a whole need a wake-up call. The Chiefs are a group that appears to have grown content with slow starts and relying on the magic of Mahomes to bail them out late in games. The one issue with this is the fact that the magic appears to have dried up in the first two weeks of the season.
A drastic change has to at least be up for consideration if you're Reid. The flip side of this is pointing out Heck's tenure and the Super Bowls won while he has been a member of the coaching staff. There is only so much you can do with a limited cast, and it is extremely clear that the Chiefs are very challenged at left guard and right tackle while starting a rookie at left tackle.
Things grew so frustrating that former Kansas City lineman Mitchell Schwartz was calling out the offensive line scheme, calling the play of the offense "gross." A sentiment that hit home for KC fans, but there is still plenty of road ahead that suggests against making a panic move.
Making a coaching change is only plausible if Reid deems it is needed for a fresh voice in the room and to send a message to the remainder of the roster. Still, it is hard to see this being the case with it being the clear nuclear option after dropping to 0-2 on the season. This is a coaching staff that has won at an incredibly high level and is unlikely to panic after two rough weeks.
You've got a chance to play on Sunday Night Football next week against the New York Giants in a matchup that should be a get-right game. If there was ever a time to play one of the lesser teams in the league, it is Week 3. Kansas City should be able to take a breath and improve in the trenches after two weeks of frustration.
However, Heck's role cannot be deemed completely safe based simply on how incredibly frustrating the first two weeks have been for a failing offensive line that remains among the league's highest-paid units.