Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports
It’s always exciting to see what Andy Reid will do with electric-if-smallish players in his offensive scheme. The new Kansas City Chiefs coach made great use of DeSean Jackson, Brian Westbrook, LeSean McCoy and even Michael Vick for stretches of time with the Philadelphia Eagles; finding ways to get his players the ball in open space through a variety of wrinkles.
Reid has some interesting elements here in KC as well, having drafted tight end Travis Kelce and inherited Jamaal Charles. One player that has yet to make the expected impact who could very well do so under someone like Reid is scatback-receiver hyrid Dexter McCluster. The fourth-year man who joined Kansas City via a 2010 second-round pick seems to have No. 1 punt returner secured in training camp, and could forge his way further into the offensive gameplan.
Despite suffering a hamstring injury early in camp, I believe Reid will continue the trend of using McCluster out of the slot in the pass game, except perhaps more so this season. Another year of working primarily as a slot receiver could probably help McCluster as well; surprising the opposition with a run now and then.
McCluster has notched 657 yards on the ground and 989 via air during his career thus far and could see a bigger role in the Chiefs offense, which seems befitting of a second-round investment nearing the end of his rookie contract.
“For me, not knowing much about Dexter McCluster … seeing how fluid he is going in and out of those roles is really impressive for me to watch,” new Chiefs quarterback Alex Smith said recently, via The Sports Xchange.
Whether he brings memories of a more receiving-savvy version of Dante Hall or a throwback to Reid’s Philly days remains to be seen, but we can glean what direction KC plans for McCluster during training camp.
Thomas Emerick is a Senior Writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @ThomasEmerick, “Like” him on Facebook or add him to your network on Google
