Eight catches for 69 yards has been a reasonably regular sport for Travis Kelce by way of the course of his nice profession. He has had at the least 69 yards in 80 regular-season video games and one other 17 instances within the playoffs.
This season, eight catches for 69 yards is his three-game output.
Kelce has had a sluggish begin to the season and it is unattainable to not surprise if the age curve he has gracefully dodged for therefore lengthy has lastly caught as much as the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs star. No tight finish at age 35 (Kelce turns 35 on Oct. 5), has ever had an ideal season within the NFL. There has by no means been a 1,000-yard season for a decent finish 35 years or older. Tony Gonzalez is the one one to achieve 900 yards, and solely Ben Watson, Shannon Sharpe and Antonio Gates received to 700.
Kelce can nonetheless hit these marks however the begin to his season is alarming. Not that he is displaying any concern about it.
Travis Kelce not anxious about catches, simply wins
On the “New Heights” podcast together with his brother Jason, the shortage of early-season manufacturing was introduced up. It isn’t like Travis Kelce tried denying it. However when requested by Jason if he was annoyed, Travis mentioned that the numbers did not matter to him as a result of the Chiefs have been successful. Kansas Metropolis, in search of its third straight Tremendous Bowl, is 3-0 to start the season.
“I’ve had a whole lot of catches on this league, man,” Travis Kelce mentioned. “I am not anxious the catches and the yards and all of that. I’ve probably the most enjoyable after I get the ball thrown my means, I imply, who would not? It has every part to do with execution, ensuring we’re doing no matter we are able to to win these soccer video games, man. That is all the time going to be the aim.”
Jason Kelce mentioned he cannot anticipate issues to show round, and at that time Travis appeared to acknowledge the chance that it won’t.
“And if it would not, so long as we’re successful soccer video games we’re good to go, child,” Travis Kelce mentioned.
The Chiefs have had shut calls in all three video games this season and it could be attention-grabbing to see what Kelce’s response to not getting the ball can be if the Chiefs had misplaced a few these video games.
However that video of Kelce seemingly being sad on the sideline final week, which grew to become an prompt meme? He insists he is doing simply wonderful for the reason that Chiefs maintain successful.
Kelce’s numbers means down
Everybody assumed Kelce can be pulled again this season. He wasn’t fairly the identical final common season however turned it on and was nice within the playoffs. The Chiefs would not have gained a Tremendous Bowl with out Kelce being his usually nice self. Holding again Kelce for the playoffs was anticipated this season. That hasn’t occurred as deliberate. He is enjoying much more, however he is not getting the ball.
Kelce continues to be enjoying 85% of the Chiefs’ offensive snaps, which is definitely up from final season. He hit 85% simply 4 instances final common season, and was at about 78% for the entire common season. The targets are means down although. He is had simply 12 passes thrown his means. Since 2016, when he was at 7.3 targets per sport, Kelce has been over eight targets per sport each season together with a few seasons over 9 per sport. That has been lower in half to 4. That is a stark drop.
Kelce’s Pro Football Focus grade is thirtieth amongst tight ends, behind gamers like Eric Saubert, Jeremy Ruckert and Charlie Woerner. Even in the event you do not utterly take PFF grades as gospel, you may clearly see a distinction with Kelce this season. 4 targets and 23 yards per sport isn’t what we’re used to.
Possibly it turns round. He is enjoying a whole lot of snaps and getting an honest quantity of separation, per NFL’s Next Gen Stats, and maybe it is a matter of time earlier than Patrick Mahomes begins loading him up with extra catches. It is also attainable that Kelce is in a a lot completely different part of his profession, which he mentioned he is wonderful with if the Chiefs maintain successful.
However the query turns into, can the Chiefs maintain successful if Kelce is only a function participant?
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