The Kansas City Chiefs just dropped their second exhibition game of the preseason, a 16-15 heartbreaker to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Saturday. While there were some glimmers of hope in the loss, let’s be real: the offensive tackle play was a major problem, and that’s not what you want to see with the real games looming.
The First-Team O-Line Is Struggling Hard
Jaylon Moore slid into left tackle and rookie Kahlil Benson, who usually plays guard, kicked out to right tackle against the Bucs, and man, it was not pretty. These two did not look sharp out there. They gave up multiple pressures and Justin Fields got hit way too many times. We’re talking eight quarterback hits for the Buccaneers in the game, and the edge rushers were feasting. Moore, frankly, was far from good. He started out okay but then let the edge rushers swipe his hands away and get right to the quarterback. Benson, in his first real taste of NFL action at tackle, struggled big time. He needs to get his hands and pad level right to stand strong against bull rushes. Both tackles were slow out of their stances, turning their shoulders right into the rushers, which led to Fields taking hits and Benson getting knocked straight into the pocket.
Injuries and Shuffles Create Chaos
This tackle situation didn’t just pop up out of nowhere. Josh Simmons, another tackle, has been out with a back injury, forcing this shuffling. Benson had been getting most of the first-team reps at right tackle in camp, but then Trey Smith, an interior lineman, missed time with a hip injury. That forced Benson inside to guard for the first preseason game, with Moore taking over at right tackle. So, by the time Saturday rolled around, Benson was back out at tackle, but clearly still figuring things out. It was also revealed post-game that the Chiefs were using a silent snap count, which could have totally thrown off their timing off the ball. With the regular season “right around the corner” and this being the “final week of the preseason,” these issues are a massive cause for concern. Protecting your quarterback is priority number one, always.
The Chiefs have got one more preseason game left to figure out this tackle situation. With Fields taking those kinds of hits, something has to change fast. They need to clean up these fundamentals or it’s gonna be a long season trying to protect their guy.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Arrowhead Pride.
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