With the 32nd overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft, the Kansas City Chiefs took Clyde Edwards-Helaire, former running back of the LSU Tigers. Edwards-Helaire is coming off 1,867 yards from scrimmage in 2019 and is on his way to the deadliest offense in the NFL.
Clyde Edwards-Helaire, deadly in his own right, terrorized teams in his tenure with the LSU Tigers. At 5’7, 207 pounds, the young back rushed for 1414 yards with 16 rushing touchdowns. By the end of the season, Clyde averaged 6.6 yards on 215 carries. Many fans would see his performance from the regular season carry over into the National Championship game.
In the 2019 College Football Championship game against the Clemson Tigers, Clyde ran for 110 yards rushing while averaging 6.9 yards per carry.
Stats from his season with the LSU Tigers:
- Helaire was rushed for 1,414 yards, and 16 rushing touchdowns.
- He had 453 yards receiving and 1 receiving touchdown.
- 1,867 yards from scrimmage.
Clyde enters the Kansas City Chiefs having the highest pedigree, but the lowest 40-yard dash time among the starters. Out of all the current top wide receivers and running backs on the team, Clyde has the slowest 40-yard dash time.
Helaire RB: 4.60
Sammy Watkins WR: 4.3
LeSean McCoy RB: 4.4
Damien Williams RB: 4.45
Mecole Hardman WR:4.33
Demarcus Robinson WR: 4.59
Make no mistake, a 4.60 40-yard dash isn’t slow and especially when the player has above average agility to match. Of course there is a significant difference between running a 4.6 and a 4.4. Still, I’d say that with the talent the Chiefs already have, Clyde Edwards fits in just right. Take note that there is one talent of Clyde’s that is still overlooked; his receiving ability.
Over the course of the season, Clyde has caught 55 passes for 453 yards averaging 8.2 a catch. Also, in the 2019 national championship game, Clyde caught 5 passes for 54 yards averaging 10.8 yards a catch. I see the Chiefs’ Offensive Coordinatoor Eric Bieniemy using Clyde-how the Carolina Panthers utilize Christian McCaffrey: passes to the flats, bunch plays, screen, and a lot of work out of the pistol formation.
OC Eric Bieniemy, 19 years of coaching, was a former college running back and was the running backs coach for KC for a duration of 5 years prior to becoming the team’s offensive coordinator. Clyde will be in good hands.
There are some concerns about Clyde’s size at 5’7 207 pounds. Some aren’t sure if he has the ability to be a 3 down back. I say that with fellow running back Damien Williams, people need not be concerned with that. Clyde will be splitting carries and learning the ropes at the same time.
Does the drafting of Clyde ensure a Kansas City two peat? That’s totally unknowable at this point, however, Clyde gives the Chiefs a better chance than any other team to win the Super Bowl in 2020.
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