In the course of the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs coaching camp that wrapped up final Thursday, a quiet competitors was brewing — however throughout the crew’s 38-10 preseason victory in opposition to the Arizona Cardinals on Saturday evening, it was immediately proper in entrance of everybody.
Whereas Patrick Mahomes is the league’s finest quarterback, he nonetheless wants a backup. Whereas it had appeared that veteran Blaine Gabbert was the main candidate to again up the MVP, Saturday evening’s sport confirmed that Shane Buechele is defintiely worthy of consideration for the job.
Buechele impresses
After the offense scored on the sport’s third drive, it was Buechele — not Gabbert — who led the first-team offense again onto the sector. It was the primary time this season that Buechele performed with the beginning offensive line and a mixture of first-team and second-team pass-catchers.
He wasted little time going to a well-known goal.
Shane Buechele with the 1OL in safety. Skyy and Rice in a stack out huge. Skyy retains vertical however Rice hits a shake route and Buechele places it on a line. The SMU connection was on show early. pic.twitter.com/1KP9s9ty2s
— Caleb James (@CJScoobs) August 21, 2023
When two cornerbacks are taking part in off the ball and there’s one deep security, there are many possibilities for huge receivers to create separation — and that’s precisely what Buechele’s former SMU teammate Rashee Rice does on this play.
As Skyy Moore continues to take his route deep, Rice takes a tough jab step to the within, freezing the nook in his tracks. Buechele reads the minimize and begins to ship the ball as Rice heads for the sideline the place he has discovered the void in protection. Buechele delivers a superb ball — and with the opposite defensive backs deep downfield, Rice has room to select up some yards after the catch.
This 38-yard play set the Chiefs up within the crimson zone — the place Buechele would cap the drive by displaying off his athletic capability.
Buechele getting reps with the primary offensive line. Very clear pocket, even when the sting on the left begins to work an inside transfer Donovan Smith retains his fingers tight and mirrors down the road. Area opens up on the left and Buechele exhibits off his athletic capability. pic.twitter.com/SjXyhkDjbL
— Caleb James (@CJScoobs) August 20, 2023
All night, the Chiefs’ offensive line was stable in cross safety. Because it might constantly block 4 rushers, this led to good alternatives for Kansas Metropolis quarterbacks to maneuver.
On this play, Buechele does not like his downfield reads — however when the EDGE on the left makes use of an inside transfer, it opens up a big void on that facet of the sector. Left sort out Donovan Smith partitions off the cross rusher — and Buechele has room to run. A hesitation transfer close to the sticks helps him keep away from contact and put six factors on the board, capping a well-executed seven-play, 88-yard drive.
However Buechele wasn’t achieved but. On his second drive, he and Rice would once more rekindle the SMU connection.
Rice in movement begins off the RPO. Buechele makes a superb learn to drag the ball when the within DB follows Bushman to the flat. Rice runs a slant and has room to function. A fastball from Buechele helps Rice catch it in stride, displaying off some YAC capability. Ball safety wants work pic.twitter.com/ozhOLl14vq
— Caleb James (@CJScoobs) August 21, 2023
The Arizona defensive backs proceed to play off the ball, which helps open up this RPO. Buechele first exhibits the handoff to operating again La’Mical Perine however rapidly pulls the ball.
Tight finish Matt Bushman and Rice are working a flat-and-slant mixture on the again facet of the play. The security who walked down close to the slot because the play started follows Bushman into the flat — however he does so by going between his teammate and Rice. Recognizing this, Buechele slings the ball on a rope to Rice — who makes the catch in stride and picks up much more with some good open-field operating.
Whereas the Chiefs would end the drive with a discipline objective, Buechele turned in his finest efficiency since becoming a member of the crew, ending with an ideal 10-for-10 for 105 yards passing and one speeding landing.
Saturday’s sport showcased Buechele’s improved decision-making. Taking part in with superior gamers gave us a glimpse of the type of manufacturing he might handle in a real-world state of affairs — his athletic capability within the pocket was an actual spotlight.
Gabbert solutions
Whereas Buechele’s efficiency was a tough one to observe, Gabbert answered to the most effective of his capability. As he began the third quarter, he got here out firing — displaying that even in his thirteenth season, he can nonetheless throw the lengthy balls which have enamored him to entrance places of work ever since he performed for the College of Missouri.
Smith-Marsette lined up as the center WR. Gabbert exhibits a fast run motion look earlier than pulling the ball. Bushamn runs a bubble look, Rice will get vertical then turns again, however ISM accelerates by the CB with a pleasant inside jab and makes the seize earlier than the security can arrive. Good ball pic.twitter.com/rFBVkGSR5P
— Caleb James (@CJScoobs) August 21, 2023
Right here, the Cardinals are in man protection. dropping one deep security from the alternative facet of the sector. Wideout Ihmir Smith-Marsette is lined up in the midst of the journeys formation. As he runs the vertical route, he blows proper by the cornerback assigned to him.
He flashes a jab step inside earlier than persevering with towards the sideline. With the nook crushed — and the security too late together with his response — Gabbert launches a lovely deep ball that Smith-Marsette hauls in for a 44-yard completion.
The drive would conclude with Gabbert throwing a landing beneath — additionally to Smith- Marsette — to increase Kansas Metropolis’s lead.
Gabbert would end his second drive with one other landing cross.
Gabbert displaying off the mobility with this TD cross to Powell. Play motion roll out look, Powell dusts the CB off the ball and heads to the nook of the endzone. Gabbert goes via his reads, however waits for Powell to get to the spot and offers him a pleasant ball. pic.twitter.com/wQkZpHQIyN
— Caleb James (@CJScoobs) August 21, 2023
Even at 33 years previous, Gabbert nonetheless has some juice left in his tank.
On this play, he makes use of a few of it on his rollout to seek out Cornell Powell ultimately zone. Whereas he didn’t end with an ideal completion share like Buechele did, he went 7-for-8 for 120 yards and two touchdowns. The landing passes gave him an ideal passer score of 158.3, in comparison with Buechele’s wonderful 110.4 score.
The underside line
Whereas it might have appeared like Gabbert had the backup quarterback spot sewn up, Buechele turned heads on Saturday — and in doing so, heated up the competitors to play behind Mahomes.
The Chiefs appeared wanting to reward Buechele for his efforts because the crew’s scout quarterback within the final couple of seasons. Given his first alternative to work with the first-team, Buechele didn’t disappoint. He elevated his sport to match the gamers round him. His earlier reference to Rice was actually a think about his success — however he additionally regarded comfy and poised within the pocket, the place he confirmed off a capability for improvisation that might make him an excellent backup to Mahomes.
Gabbert additionally turned in an excellent efficiency, displaying confidence within the pocket that may solely be gained with years of expertise. Whereas he does not share Buechele’s athletic capability or mobility, he’s nonetheless the extra prototypical backup quarterback — and within the occasion of an emergency, is prone to be the safer possibility.
Andy Reid mentioned it: the competitors is shut. Saturday afternoon’s ultimate preseason sport will probably be very attention-grabbing to observe.
