Jeremy Maclin looks tailor-made for this Kansas City offense after their third preseason game, in which he caught seven passes for 65 yards and a touchdown.
That may come of no great surprise to those who know his history — coming from an extended time in Philadelphia in Andy Reid’s offense — but Maclin’s career year came under Chip Kelly and not Reid.
Last season Maclin posted 10 touchdowns after averaging 6.5 in the previous four years in Reid’s offense. He tallied 1,318 receiving yards after never topping a thousand under Reid and averaging 863 over that span. Given the numbers, there was a good argument that it was Kelly’s offense — not Reid’s — that suited Maclin.
The Chiefs handed Maclin a five-year $55-million contract during free agency suggesting they knew better, and his performance last night suggested they were correct.
The third preseason game is typically the one most like the regular season — it is the game that the starting units play the longest and looks the most like real NFL action. Maclin caught all seven of the passes sent his way and showed some nice skill after the catch, reaching up over cornerback Perrish Cox and then tapdancing down the sidelines for the score.
Maclin certainly had his best year under Chip Kelly, but perhaps that was more a product of finally being the number one guy than it was the system. In Kansas City he’ll have that role again, and looks set to flourish.
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