Chiefs LB Anthony Hitchens impressed with Clyde Edwards-Helaire’s elusiveness
Kansas City Chiefs rookie RB Clyde Edwards-Helaire isn’t just drawing rave reviews from Patrick Mahomes, the coaching staff, and the media at practice. His defensive teammates who’ve had to face him in practice are starting to share their thoughts on the Chiefs’ top draft pick.
Today in practice, Edwards-Helaire bested veteran linebacker Anthony Hitchens on a play during the two-minute period of team drills. ESPN’s Adam Teicher recounted the play while asking Hitchens about it during Wednesday’s media availability. Edwards-Helaire caught a pass in the flat and Hitchens came up to make a play, but Edwards-Helaire put a move on him. Edwards-Helaire ultimately left Hitchens in the dust as he put the offense in field goal range.
“To take you back to the play, it was two minutes and it was the perfect play for his position,” Hitchens said. “Having the tight end in-line, I kind of got rubbed by the tight end going vertical and I had to work over the top, which is hard. Then, making a play on a guy like that in space makes it even harder. But it’s a good play and a good setup for him.”
Hitchens had praise for Edwards-Helaire’s elusiveness, but also his situational awareness of knowing what to do in this particular two-minute drill.
“He made a quick move and it was smart because of the two-minute situation,” Hitchens continued. “He got all the yards and he didn’t have to get out of bounds. He knew he was thinking of the situation, so he cut back across the field. We eventually got him down and they kicked a field goal.”
The final comment from Hitchens on Edwards-Helaire is one that should have fans in the Chiefs Kingdom excited for what’s to come.
“He’s one of the better players in this league and will be one of the better players in this league at making people miss in open space,” Hitchens said.
This is coming from a veteran linebacker who has played against the likes of DeMarco Murray, Ezekiel Elliott, and Kareem Hunt in practice over the course of his career. Hitchens has seen some really good players in practice and knows what greatness looks like. Hopefully, everything that he’s seen so far will translate come September.
