How Chiefs’ run game has evolved recently — and what it could mean for future

When Kansas City Chiefs offensive lineman Trey Smith finished his block on Denver’s Mike Purcell, he looked up just in time to see the end of Isiah Pacheco’s run.

The 10-yard tote — Pacheco bowled over two Broncos before being pushed forward by Chiefs guard Joe Thuney — did more than clinch KC’s 34-28 road victory over Denver.

It also fired up the entire offensive unit.

“I was like, ‘Man, that’s what’s up,’” Smith said this week in the Chiefs locker room. “Super excited for him, but it’s a testament to how hard he’s been working.”

It was only part of Pacheco’s best overall performance as a Chief.

Pacheco carried it 13 times for 70 yards with a career-best five missed tackles forced, according to Pro Football Focus. In addition, his 87.6 PFF grade was the highest mark on the Chiefs.

The game-sealing run was notable for another reason as well.

With the game on the line, the Chiefs didn’t go to coach Andy Reid’s favored shotgun setup. Instead, quarterback Patrick Mahomes went under center before handing off.

This wasn’t about flashiness or creativity. This was about Reid trusting his offensive line.

And also continuing a trend of potentially catering the offense toward the strengths of his emerging rookie running back.

A run-game shift?

Pacheco’s 10-yard gain was one of five chances he had against Denver to run the ball when the Chiefs snapped it from under center. Over the last five weeks, Pacheco has averaged six under-center carries per game, which has been part of a team-wide shift.

Not counting kneel-downs, the Chiefs have had double-digit under-center runs in three of their last four contests, according to the data at Sports Info Solutions (SIS); for context, KC hit that number only twice in its first nine weeks (with two contests where it had no under-center runs at all).

Earlier on, however, Reid and his staff knew less about Pacheco, who has wowed both teammates and NFL analysts over the past few weeks with his physicality and burst.

So why go under center more? The potential benefits — in theory — seem to match up nicely with what Pacheco can provide.

For one, under-center runs give the offense more options. When a running back lines up directly behind the quarterback at depth, the offense has a “two-way go,” meaning a defense has to prepare for any rush potentially to go left or right.

It’s harder to break that tendency when in shotgun with a back to the QB’s side. Typically, to get the angles and timing correct, a running back on the QB’s right will usually take a handoff and go left; that also works vice versa, as an RB on the left will generally take the handoff and go to his right.

Lining up well behind an under-center quarterback also gives the back two other advantages. For one, it can help with vision, allowing more time and space to see the angles of blocks ahead.

Chiefs offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy spoke about another positive Thursday.

“I know the running backs will tell you, it gives them more of an opportunity to run downhill,” he said, “gives them more of a running start.”

Which might only multiply the Pacheco effect. A few extra steps to get going, and there could be a greater chance of him breaking tackles — or going through defenders as he did to end the game against Denver.

Why shotgun remains king in NFL

When looking at under-center as a whole, it’s still best to keep everything in context. Football Outsiders studies have consistently shown that shotgun formations are more efficient than under-center ones, even if that gap has closed in recent seasons.

The Chiefs, it’s important to note, are not going completely wild with their usage yet either. According to Pro Football Reference, KC ran 245 plays under center in the regular season last year, which ranked 30th among 32 NFL teams. This season, through 14 weeks, the Chiefs have 168 plays in that setting — once again ranking 30th.

What’s significant, though, is how the production has changed from last season to this one — and how some of the best gains are showing up in an unexpected-but-important area.

To start, KC’s running backs are performing better under center, improving a 4.2-yard average a season ago to 4.8 this season. Among 40 running backs with at least 50 carries in that setting, Pacheco ranks 10th with his 4.6-yard-per-carry effort thus far.

That threat of the run, though, also has allowed the Chiefs to take full advantage of defenses respecting it; in turn, KC’s passing numbers under center have shot up from a season ago, going from 7.4 yards per attempt in 2021 (19th) to 9.9 yards per attempt this year (fourth), according to Pro Football Reference.

Play-action passes from under center have seen a similar leap. SIS numbers had KC ranking 22nd in yards per attempt on under-center “play action” passes a season ago (7.5). However, that average has ramped up to 9.7 yards per attempt this season (sixth), with the Chiefs completing five of those passes (for 15, 12, 18, 15 and 7 yards) in the last two games alone.

“I think it just makes our offense even more dangerous, because it’s more options,” Smith said of the under-center run game. “Not necessarily just one-dimensional, but just present different looks to people that they have to prep and prepare for.”

Creating Chiefs ripple effects

It’s just a micro part of the macro game that has helped keep Reid’s offense atop the NFL.

The Chiefs found a seventh-round draft pick in Pacheco who’s solidifying himself as a power back. That’s opened up more paths offensively, while helping KC become less predictable in its run game.

That’s forced teams to prepare to stop that part of the offense ... only to have Mahomes gash opponents with passes when they’re looking for those runs.

And let’s not forget: Pacheco can bowl opponents over if they’re not ready for the new running style he’s brought to the Chiefs.

“The energy and the passion he plays with, how hard he runs on the field, trying to break tackles and make things happen ... it’s really fun to watch,” Smith said. “It makes me want to go even harder, just to protect him.”