![\"Brashard](\"https:\/\/dknetwork.draftkings.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/GettyImages-2237955849.jpg\")
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Over the last two games, the Kansas City Chiefs\u2018 rookie running back Brashard Smith has become more involved in the offense over the last couple of weeks. His 19 snaps during Sunday\u2019s 37-20 victory over the Baltimore Ravens were more than twice the number he\u2019s had in any of this season\u2019s contests.<\/p>\n
That\u2019s exactly what the team intended for Smith, whom general manager Brett Veach selected in the seventh round of April\u2019s draft.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ve been trying to increase some of his play time,\u201d head coach Andy Reid told reporters after Sunday\u2019s game. \u201cHe\u2019s got a lot of talent, so we\u2019re working him in different spots\u2026 Brett\u2019s done a nice job with these rookies that are playing in the game \u2014 and we\u2019ve got a few of them. We\u2019re just giving them a little bit at a time as we go.\u201d<\/p>\n
Upon reflection, Reid is pleased with what he\u2019s been seeing from the 22-year-old running back \u2014 and his new teammates.<\/p>\n
\u201cJust from a mental standpoint, he\u2019s picked it up well,\u201d the coach said on Thursday. \u201cHe\u2019s in a good room where guys can help him. [In the past, they\u2019ve] done some of things that we\u2019re asking him to do. He\u2019s willing to listen. He is a very humble kid \u2014 and works hard.\u201d<\/p>\n
Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes agrees with Reid.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s done a great job,\u201d he said of Smith on Tuesday. \u201cJust like any other rookie in this offense, you give [him] more and more every week. He\u2019s done a good job of taking it in \u2014 and going out there and executing at a high level. We\u2019ll continue to do that.\u201d<\/p>\n
Mahomes especially appreciates Smith\u2019s background. After spending three years as a wide receiver at Miami of Florida, he switched to running back after transferring to Southern Methodist University in his senior year.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s played receiver a lot, so he can run routes,\u201d noted Mahomes. \u201cHe also played running back, so he can run between the tackles. Those are special football players to have, because it keeps the defenses guessing.\u201d<\/p>\n
Smith\u2019s versatility was on full display against the Ravens. On Kansas City\u2019s first offensive drive, he smoked Baltimore defensive back Marlon Humphrey on a seam route out of the backfield.<\/p>\n
But Reid understands the challenge Smith and his fellow running backs will face against the Jacksonville Jaguars during Week 5\u2019s \u201cMonday Night Football\u201d matchup.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis group that we\u2019re playing this week is pretty stiff in the run game,\u201d he admitted.<\/p>\n
Jacksonville has allowed the NFL\u2019s fourth-fewest rushing yards \u2014 82.8 yards per game \u2014 and the eighth-fewest yards per attempt: just 3.9 yards.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
Reid, however, sees it as a challenge that will help his young players improve.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou\u2019ve got some young guys in there that haven\u2019t played a lot together,\u201d he noted, \u201cand I think just the more reps they get, [the better]. Game reps are so important on that.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
As his development continues, Kansas City\u2019s rookie running back is getting more work.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":107127,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-107126","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-nfl"],"yoast_head":"\n