De'Anthony Thomas now more of a WR than a RB

[The Franchise]

http://espn.go.com/blog/kansas-city-...er-than-a-back

De'Anthony Thomas now more of a receiver than a back

Adam Teicher, ESPN Staff Writer

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Perhaps in a nod to his limitations as a running back, the Kansas City Chiefs made a subtle shift with De'Anthony Thomas when offseason practice started last week.

Thomas now works in practice with the wide receivers and goes to their positional meetings. He worked with the running backs last season as a rookie.

Opponents will likely see more of De'Anthony Thomas catching the ball as a receiver for the Chiefs in 2015 than they did last season. AP Photo/Colin E. Braley
Thomas can still line up in a variety of places, including running back. But the move means the Chiefs intend to utilize Thomas more as a receiver and less as a runner. He played some of both last season.

"It makes me more valuable to the offense," Thomas said. "It lets defenses look for me, see where I'm at on the field. It just gives them a different look. I believe it's a great thing."

In the backfield, Thomas could be a liability. He's only 5-8 and 176 pounds, which makes him an easy and inviting target to blitzing linebackers and safety.

As a receiver, Thomas is not such an easy target. Opponents can try to jam him at the line of scrimmage but there's a problem with that because of how fast Thomas is.

"You've got to respect his speed," cornerback Sean Smith said. "You don't want that kind of speed running by you. Me, personally, I'm a bigger guy. I have to get out there and bail a little early so routes like hitches and curls [are] big for him.

"Those little, short routes are going to be open all day."

At 6-3 and 218 pounds, Smith has Thomas by more than a half-foot and about 40 pounds. At the line, Smith could bury Thomas. But that's easier than it might sound.

"That's the plan until you miss," Smith said. "It's a track meet from there. You don't want to be chasing [Thomas]."

Thomas didn't sound worried about matchups with big cornerbacks like Smith.

"I'd just step back a little bit, give him a little wiggle off the line and then go," he said.

[RunKC]

I would also expect a lot of crossing routes that we've done before to go to both DAT and Wilson.

[Saccopoo]

Originally Posted by BossChief

Sac has to be trolling at this point, right?

Thomas will get 7 touches per game.

Maybe more

Do you realize what 165 lb. in the NFL is like? That's ****ing small for high school these days.

Everybody runs a 4.4 in the NFL. 260 lb. linebackers run a 4.4. 220 lb. safeties run a 4.4.

I have no clue what they hell they are going to do with Thomas outside of a literal handful of waterbug gadget plays. They can't possibly think that he's capable of providing more than that.

[staylor26]

Originally Posted by RunKC

I would also expect a lot of crossing routes that we've done before to go to both DAT and Wilson.

We're going to miss Bowe's blocking. Dude was always blocking somebody way downfield. Definitely one of the best in the game in that area.

[Easy 6]

Originally Posted by Saccopoo

Do you realize what 165 lb. in the NFL is like? That's ****ing small for high school these days.

Everybody runs a 4.4 in the NFL. 260 lb. linebackers run a 4.4. 220 lb. safeties run a 4.4.

I have no clue what they hell they are going to do with Thomas outside of a literal handful of waterbug gadget plays. They can't possibly think that he's capable of providing more than that.

Sacc, c'mon... no way in hell he's still 165 if he was even that to begin with (i doubt it).

The team strength program surely has him jacked up 10 pounds by now, he's 180 and you could bet on that, and plenty of guys can damage at 180... its not like he's a high school kid with 4.6 speed and average quicks.

Regardless of his test times, this guys football speed is insane, surely you've watched him... its hard to crush what you cant catch or get a clean shot on, and this guy is as wormy as they get, he snakes around attempted tackles like I've honestly never seen.

He might even be better at that than Jamaal, and I dont say that lightly... his Madden "awareness" rating should be 99, guys just arent going to get a clean shot on him very often.