The next big QB NFL? "The secret is on" on Patrick Mahomes chefs

If you are wary of replays and statistics from second-year professionals and have asked yourself, "In real life?", The answer is yes.

These heroics, who turned the Kansas City offensive into the biggest show of this grass generation, are both whimsical and authentic, just as hallucinating and perfectly understandable.

That's Patrick Mahomes.

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At first glance, it's hard to capture Mahomes' ability to digest and execute a very complex Andy Reid attack while manipulating exotic defenses of the NFL. Equally breathtaking: Mahomes' athletic features, including his size (6-2, 225 pounds), his speed (he plays faster than his 4.8 seconds and 40 yards) and his strength (he can stand on the 25-meter line) and shoot the ball at the back of the far end zone, and he can absorb a shot and still deliver a precise throw, or ignore a defender and fight for distance.

But then, when one considers his sporty pedigree, his mental composition, his tutelage and his work ethic, all this makes sense.

Mahomes is that right. He's so good for the Chiefs, and Reid and the organization, with his wide range of dynamic players, are also good for the young quarterback.

No wonder the Chiefs exchanged veteran Alex Smith during the off-season and handed the keys to the boy.

No wonder no one close to Mahomes or Chiefs is surprised by the hectic pace that he orchestrated. But they are certainly impressed.

"He had some good games," said Reid after Sunday's 42-37 victory at Pittsburgh – a place the Chiefs have not won since 1986. "He did well."

The coach then laughed: "The bottom line is that you keep going, you keep growing, and the more time you have to study, the more time you have to answer that question. So it's his challenge right now. he is quite ready to do anything and more, and that's how he does his job. Is everything going to be roses? No, but he sees things right now and is doing a good job. It was a good test for him. This is a good defensive football team.

The fight against the Steelers certainly did not seem like a test for Mahomes. But it is because of his approach to the game, which stems from both his education and the tutelage of Reid and the offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy.

Mahomes was born to be a professional athlete. But his family always believed that his fate involved baseball because he inherited the physical talents of his father Pat Mahomes Sr., who played in the major leagues for 10 years. Growing up watching the habits of his father, sponsor LaTroy Hawkins, a 21-year veteran of MLB, and their teammates, the young Mahomes have always understood the importance of dedication, preparation (physical and mental). Meanwhile, his mother Randi has always emphasized the importance of humility and thoughtfulness.

Thus, Mahomes has always had this perfect foundation on a sporting and personal level.

He always considered himself as his own, and that's why, when he arrived at high school, he made football his first love. Mahomes played at Whitehouse High in Texas, led a prolific career at Texas Tech, and last year the Chiefs traded to select him 10th.

"The wedding was perfect," said Mahomes agent Leigh Steinberg, who is familiar with the quarterbacks, having represented a long list of top athletes, including Steve Young, Warren Moon and Troy Aikman. Andy Reid is a quarter whisperer, and the Chiefs have a solid and stable ownership in Clark Hunt and a general manager of Brett Veach. So we were very excited when it became clear that the Chiefs would be able to win.

Mahomes and Reid both agree that the year of observation and learning from a 13-year-old veteran in Smith greatly benefited the rookie because it allowed him to attack the defenses and react accordingly.

During the off season, after exchanging Smith in Washington, Reid educated his young quarter while tweaking some elements of the offensive to leverage his unique and versatile skills. The Chiefs have also strengthened the cast (adding talent to attack and defense) to ensure the long-term success of Mahomes.

Throughout the off-season training, Reid worked to foster an aggressive mentality at Mahomes.

"Do not hesitate," he often said to the quarterback. And since Mahomes is already aggressive by nature, Reid's lessons have provided structure and discipline.

Thus, unlike many young quarterbacks, who initially have difficulties because they do not trust their eyes and their receivers, and therefore hesitate, Mahomes launches a strike roll without hesitation.

The expertise of the Reids and their strong track record with the quarterbacks (Brett Favre, Donovan McNabb, Jeff Garcia, Kevin Kolb and Michael Vick) have greatly benefited Mahomes. But the quarterback benefits as much from an unquenchable thirst for knowledge as from an eidetic memory (also called photographic memory). This mental ability allows him to vividly and accurately recall lessons, images, and scenarios of class, practice, and games.

As Steinberg explained, Mahomes' mind works in a way that allows the quarterback to compartmentalize and slow down the game at a faster pace than most young quarterbacks. This allows him to block the chaos around him, to focus on the defenses of the defense and make decisions faster. His ability to grasp the nuances of the position allowed him to understand how to watch the defenders to create openings on another area of ​​the field and analyze the speed at which his target moves up to a point of the field. evaluate if he can beat the defenders with a throw (all in 2.5 to 3 seconds).

That's why already, Mahomes has delivered some of the most breathtaking games of the season, and that's also why the Chiefs and Steinberg hope Mahomes will continue to improve. It's not just the luck of beginners, they insist.

But one of the most refreshing aspects of Mahomes is also its ability to stay anchored. After each game, he minimizes his exploits, explaining: "I knew with this attack and the plan that Coach Reid establishes, we have a chance to be really good. It's all about putting the ball in the hands of the manufacturers. "

Throughout his journey through the NFL draft, his rookie season and now his first season as a starter, Mahomes has experienced a mantra that Steinberg passed on to him.

"Stay in process," said Steinberg. Both will celebrate victories and achievements, but the priority is quickly given to the next challenge. Similarly, Mahomes resists the temptation to read press clippings, positive or negative, or to place actions in high projections.

During the off-season, when asked about the decision to give the offensive to a player with just one career start, Reid and Veach sang the praises of the quarterback. Months before the pre-season starts, Veach has described Mahomes as "a great player". This made Steinberg squeak a bit. He agreed, but did not want the public to have high expectations for his client.

"I spent the summer spinning," confessed Steinberg. But now, he admits that after these 10 starts, these efforts are in vain.

"I think the secret is out," Steinberg chuckled.

Indeed, that's it.