The Kansas City Chiefs have added a new speedy threat on offense. The catch? He played defense last season.
Tremon Smith entered the league with the Chiefs as a sixth-round pick out of Central Arkansas. His positions were cornerback and kick returner. After a dominant season as a kick returner, but one where he hardly saw the field as a corner, he’ll now move to the offensive side of the ball.
According to Chiefs team reporter BJ Kissel, Smith is being transitioned to the running back position. It’s not yet clear if this is a permanent move by the Chiefs or something they’re toying with, but it is an intriguing development.
Smith runs a 4.3 40-yard dash. Adding that type of speed to an offense that is already full of speedy receivers gives it the potential to be lethal. At 6-foot and 190 pounds, Smith isn’t exactly built like a running back. He’d likely be asked to put on some bulk to play the position full-time. When you look at what he does as a kick returner, you can understand why the Chiefs are giving him a shot to be a ball carrier.
The next thought isn’t so optimistic. How can the Chiefs afford to convert a player to offense from one of their thinnest defensive position groups? They were already hurting at corner when Smith was part of that group. Does this mean they could have some defensive help on the way at corner?
It’s interesting that they’re experimenting with this at camp. It tells me that Smith hadn’t made much progress from a season ago. He started one game for the Chiefs at corner against the Seahawks and really struggled. Now he’ll have an opportunity to prove that he can make things happen on the other side of the ball.
