Chiefs-Chargers: How did running back Kareem Hunt look in Week 4’s win?

On Sunday afternoon, the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs improved to 4-0 with an unpleasant 17-10 win over the Los Angeles Chargers. One of many matchup’s shiny spots was the efficiency of operating again Kareem Hunt, who performed his first recreation for the workforce since his launch in November of 2018.

Hunt was productive in his return, recording 14 carries for 69 yards and two catches for 16 yards, averaging 5.3 yards per contact. His efficiency ought to give Kansas Metropolis followers loads of optimism about what he can do for the workforce this season.

Let’s check out how he did it.

Burst

After he regarded noticeably slower with the Cleveland Browns in 2023, there have been official questions in regards to the 29-year-old’s velocity and athletic capability. However instantly, Hunt confirmed that he can nonetheless present a strong burst out of the backfield — and create performs.

The Chiefs did their greatest to create favorable conditions for him. Although they tended to present Hunt the ball when numerous yards have been wanted, they made certain the sort out field was gentle on defenders; he would have room to rumble.

On this first-and-15 from 10 personnel — his first snap of the sport — Hunt traces as much as Patrick Mahomes’ proper. With so many wideouts on the sphere, the Chargers have just one linebacker within the field. Kansas Metropolis runs proper at him.

On the snap, the Chiefs go zone left. Hunt blasts into the back-side B hole, following a strong attain block by proper guard Trey Smith. Hunt breaks the center linebacker’s sort out and runs by different would-be tacklers, spinning his method to a 9-yard acquire.

Kansas Metropolis would proceed to make use of Hunt in these lengthy early-down conditions, discovering constructive yards utilizing delayed handoffs.

On this second-and-20, each Hunt and the offensive line initially present pass-blocking units. However after the cross rushers work upfield — and the secondary drops into protection — Mahomes provides the ball to Hunt, who fees by the B hole. The security steps as much as fill the outlet, however his arm sort out shouldn’t be efficient. And it takes three defenders to carry Seek out — and he good points 10 yards

Hunt additionally displayed good imaginative and prescient, together with the power to make one thing out of nothing.

This can be a first-and-10 within the fourth quarter. The Chiefs run energy to the fitting aspect. The protection plugs the within gaps — and Joe Thuney doesn’t get a lot motion on Khalil Mack along with his kickout block. Hunt sees all of this. He additionally acknowledges that the linebackers are getting caught up on the within, so he bounces the run.

Shortly attacking the sting of the protection, he heads upfield. Because the second-level defenders shut in, he holds onto the ball earlier than battling for additional yards — finally falling ahead for a 9-yard acquire.

Whereas none of Hunt’s runs have been earth-shattering, he confirmed that he nonetheless has imaginative and prescient and burst out of the backfield.

Grinding out yards

Throughout his tenure in Cleveland, Hunt was usually used because the workforce’s short-yardage again, grinding out first downs when his quantity was referred to as. On Sunday, Kansas Metropolis used him in simply one in every of these conditions — and it paid off.

On this third-and-1 within the second quarter, Hunt traces up in a three-point stance in an offset backfield place. He takes the zone-left handoff and plunges ahead to select up three yards. Initially, Los Angeles seems to have the play bottled up — however Hunt retains his ft transferring to get the primary down.

Even on performs the place Hunt had extra room to function, he used his punishing operating model to select up additional yards.

On this second-and-4 at its personal 9-yard line, Kansas Metropolis tries a draw play. Hunt takes the ball by the B hole — however this time, the Chargers’ defenders are a lot faster to rally to the ball on the delay. As soon as once more, Hunt retains his legs churning to grind out additional yards. He additionally will get an help from Trey Smith, who retains pushing the pile for a 7-yard acquire.

Although he was given restricted alternatives, Hunt nonetheless seems like he is usually a strong short-yardage again.

Passing recreation

Throughout his remaining 12 months in Cleveland, Hunt was seldom used within the passing recreation — however as he proved on Sunday, that had nothing to do along with his capability to catch the ball.

On this second-and-10 from the Chargers’ 27 halfway by the third quarter, Mahomes finds Hunt on a checkdown, leading to 7-yard acquire.

The Chiefs solely ran two performs the place Hunt was the meant receiver. The primary cross was batted down by the Chargers. The second might have resulted in a landing.

On this second-and-5 from the Los Angeles 12-yard line halfway by the fourth quarter, Hunt takes the ability shovel and makes an ideal learn, operating between the play-side double-team and Smith’s kickout block. As defenders shut in, Hunt does a great job of maintaining his ahead momentum and falling ahead for additional yards. His 9-yard acquire gave Kansas Metropolis first-and-goal on the 3-yard line. After an incomplete cross, Samje Perine ran in for the game-winning landing.

The underside line

On Sunday, Hunt wasn’t the beginning operating again — and all week, we questioned about how a lot enjoying time he would get. However after rookie operating again Carson Steele recorded his second fumble of the season, it appeared that the Chiefs handed the reins to Hunt. And whereas his snaps have been restricted, he regarded robust and explosive.

With Steele’s inconsistent play, it will likely be attention-grabbing to see whether or not Hunt will change into the starter. After his first recreation again, his inventory definitely appears to be rising.