Grasping for any bright spots to be found in their disappointing start to the 2021 season, the Kansas City Chiefs need to look no further than rookie Creed Humphrey’s outstanding performance in the early part of the season. He has served as an anchor on the team’s rebuilt offensive front, grading out as the best center in the league according to Pro Football Focus.
Offensive line coach Andy Heck gave Humphrey a glowing review in his comments to the media ahead of Thursday’s practice. He complimented every part of his skillset and remarking on how impressive his acclimation to the pro game has been.
“Creed (Humphrey) has done a great job,” Heck said. “I think one of the best things besides being a big, strong, physically talented guy is he’s very smart. He’s a smart football player, he’s a smart person and he’s got a high football IQ. So, he’s able to really take in a lot of information and he’s got it on the first shot. He’s got good vision.
“As you’re learning different coverages and different disguises and things like that, he’s able to take something you’re describing to him, picture it in his head and then recognize it when he sees it on film as opposed to many of us might need to have that described, see it on tape, see it in a walkthrough, miss it once in practice and then get it. He gets it right away and that really helps him play fast and strong quicker.”
Asked if he had ever seen the kind of breakout performances Humphrey has turned out in recent weeks, Heck put the rookie in some great company for a player whose meteoric rise is still gaining momentum.
“Sure,” He explained. “You take a guy like Mitch Schwartz, a lot of quarterbacks—I’ve been around some players—but it’s few and far between, and it’s definitely an A-plus strength of Creed’s.”
Still early in his Chiefs career, Humphrey is already becoming a fan favorite for his efforts to keep Patrick Mahomes on his feet on Sundays. With a few more solid performances in the coming weeks, Humphrey could find himself in contention for a Pro Bowl or All-Pro selection, even if the team around him continues to underperform.
