It\u2019s always impressive to watch Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes at any practice.<\/p>\n
Yet Tuesday\u2019s Day 12 workout in St. Joseph felt particularly special.<\/p>\n
On the second 11-on-11 snap, Mahomes hit wide receiver Tyquan Thornton on an intermediate out, threading it between two defenders in front of the right sideline.<\/p>\n
Later, in 7-on-7, he dropped a corner-route dime, right in front of defensive back Chamarri Conner in a place where only Thornton could catch it. On the next play, Mahomes flashed a sidearm pass to tight end Travis Kelce. During the practice\u2019s final 11-on-11 period, flushed to the right, sideline, he zipped a ball on a 30-degree angle back toward the middle of the field, hitting wide receiver Xavier Worthy in stride.<\/p>\n
With the Chiefs\u2019 initial preseason game set for Saturday against the Arizona Cardinals, the two-time MVP already looks in midseason form.<\/p>\n
\u201cI really felt like today was one of our \u2014 as a group and in particular with Pat \u2014 one of our better days with those type of throws,\u201d said offensive coordinator Matt Nagy. \u201cSome downfield stuff where the timing element [clicked]. It wasn\u2019t one of those deals where you\u2019re scrambling and throwing the ball away and catching a ball off-timing. These were all on-timing throws, and guys were making great catches. I was really pleased with that.\u201d<\/p>\n
The last time Mahomes played in a game was the nightmare of Super Bowl LIX in New Orleans. Without blitzing, the Philadelphia Eagles pressured the quarterback 16 times throughout the game, sacking him six times and preventing him from ever finding a rhythm.<\/p>\n
Now, with an offensive line boosted by rookie left tackle Josh Simmons, the prevailing thought is that Mahomes\u2019 sense of feeling protected will lead him back into the MVP conversation.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s really excited,\u201d added Nagy. \u201cHe\u2019s motivated in the right way \u2014 it\u2019s just how he is, it\u2019s who he is. We spent a lot of time in OTAs going back to the basics on a lot of stuff. We\u2019re graduating now with these wide receivers \u2014 working on that timing \u2014 and I think you\u2019re seeing a trust element with him and several guys. You\u2019ll get to see some of that too with these guys in the preseason. We\u2019ll get some people that stand out and get to show what they can do. Every year we probably say the same thing with Pat, but he creates [his] own edge for him. He wants to be great. He wants to be the best. And he wants to be coached hard. So that\u2019s what we try to do.\u201d<\/p>\n
Nagy has said that the staff emphasizes Mahomes\u2019 timing and footwork every offseason, always careful not to dampen his improvisation. In Nagy\u2019s eyes, the fundamentals can always be seasoned; when it comes to Mahomes\u2019 mental makeup, however, he would be hard-pressed to find anyone better.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe all see what he does out here \u2014 whether it\u2019s people videoing plays on their phones at practice in training camp \u2014 but we see it in practice when it\u2019s closed to the public,\u201d explained Nagy. \u201cWhat a lot of people don\u2019t get to see, even [those] in the building, is how he prepares when he gets locked in. I think about during the week \u2014 from usually a Wednesday to a Saturday \u2014 every morning at 7 o\u2019clock, he has a routine he follows.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere\u2019s an obsession that he has with being perfect at what he does on the mental side. He doesn\u2019t take calling a play for granted \u2014 getting the formation right. He wants to be great at that. And when the guys and his teammates see that, it goes onto them as well.\u201d<\/p>\n
Mahomes\u2019 in-week grind is long and tiresome, but according to Nagy, the weekly Sunday showcase makes it all worth it.
Four weeks ago, FanDuelTV\u2019s Kay Adams asked Mahomes about his mentality coming off such a disappointing finish.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ve had to sit back and listen to people talk and talk,\u201d started the quarterback, \u201clike, let\u2019s just play football and handle it all out there. I don\u2019t really want to talk about it. I just want to go out there and show who we are as the Kansas City Chiefs.\u201d<\/p>\n
In other words, Mahomes has heard the noise.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat burn to win is at the highest level of probably any player in the NFL,\u201d finished Nagy. \u201cHe\u2019s built different that way. And I think when you have that, it goes on to these other players on the team \u2014 offense, defense, special teams. To us as coaches, you have that. You want to make sure you\u2019re doing everything possible. He\u2019s a competitor, so every game is going to be close when you have him on your side. You know he\u2019s going to give you a great chance. That\u2019s where he\u2019s at.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen we lost that Super Bowl, it was the very next day \u2014 he\u2019s ready to go. We just know that it\u2019s a great, high standard that we all have, and coach [Andy] Reid\u2019s at the top of that. So it\u2019s been good.\u201d<\/p>\n