KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Patrick Mahomes can be described in many ways. One, of course, is that he’s one of the most accurate quarterbacks in the NFL, which led him to winning last year’s MVP Award. His arm is so gifted and so strong that just about every other quarterback in the league would trade their prized arm for his. And yet that might not even be his greatest strength. Perhaps his most dangerous abilities are his elusiveness from pass rushers and improvisational skills outside of the pocket to create highlight plays.
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A magician, though, often needs help to complete his elaborate illusions. That can be said of Mahomes when he unleashes a pass that opposing defenses don’t see coming. And the player at the receiving end of those deceptive passes much of last season wasn’t receiver Tyreek Hill, tight end Travis Kelce or receiver Sammy Watkins.
The partner in magic was Demarcus Robinson.
“I don’t remember the exact first moment,” Robinson said, “but we’ve had a lot of moments.”
This has become Robinson’s forte, as everyone in the Kansas City Chiefs’ offense understands that he was most comfortable last year when Mahomes’ was on the move or playing a style closer to backyard football. Robinson’s 2018 statistics, when just viewing them at Pro Football Reference, look ordinary: 33 targets, 22 receptions, 288 receiving yards and four touchdowns. But the film shows a lot more. They show Robinson has the size — he’s listed at 6-foot-1 and 203 pounds — athleticism, instincts and intelligence to make impressive plays.
All four of Robinson’s touchdowns occurred with either him adjusting his route in the middle of the play and/or Mahomes scrambling away from defenders. Against the Los Angeles Chargers, Robinson was the third and last passing option for Mahomes, who still completed the six-yard touchdown pass before safety Adrian Phillips could tackle him.
Throw it away?
That's not the way @patrickmahomes5 rolls. Touchdown, @Chiefs!#LACvsKC
📺: @nflnetwork + @NFLonFOX
📱+💻: https://t.co/DJUityQHC9 pic.twitter.com/62w3y3yuEd— NFL (@NFL) December 14, 2018
Throughout his lengthy career, Chiefs head coach Andy Reid has given his players the freedom to showcase their personalities and talents, even if it happens outside of his structured, complex playbook. When Reid re-watched film from last season, he was delighted when he noticed how much Robinson created on his own to help Mahomes.
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“He and the quarterback have kind of a unique chemistry,” Reid said of Robinson’s relationship with Mahomes in April. “They have had some big plays. The quarterback likes him and has a lot of trust in him.
“The one thing I can tell you is Demarcus will continue the play. There is no pulling up. Sometimes guys will take a breather on the back end if (they think) the play is (away from where they are). Demarcus is 100 mph getting over there. Think about how many plays he made this past year by just that shear hustle.
“Our quarterback knows that if he gets into trouble, somewhere Demarcus is going to show up. He’s going to be there.”
Robinson and Mahomes aren’t exactly sure why their rapport has been so healthy from the moment they began working together two years ago as members of the second-team offense. Their first highlight connection was in a preseason game against the Tennessee Titans, when Mahomes scrambled quickly to his right before launching a 50-yard pass to Robinson.
How is this throw even possible. I can't believe a human being can do this. #Chiefs pic.twitter.com/3leUQHCAmq
— 50 Sent (@ClayWendler) September 1, 2017
In the same game, Robinson caught a 28-yard touchdown pass from Mahomes.
Robinson was also the recipient of two memorable Mahomes passes during the regular season.
The first was Robinson catching a 17-yard no-look pass from Mahomes against the Ravens, a play that made CBS color commentator Tony Romo, a former Pro Bowl quarterback, giddy. The second was an 89-yard touchdown catch against the Raiders in which Robinson ad-libbed just seconds after the ball was snapped. The completion is the longest touchdown pass in Mahomes’ career, and it was his 50th scoring throw from last season.
“The play was designed for Tyreek,” Mahomes said after the game in December. “They may have even triple-covered him. Demarcus was supposed to run a stop route, but he beat (his defender) so well off the line that he kept running. He threw the hand up. I just put it out there. He made a great play and scored on it.”
FIFTY TD PASSES IN 2018.
#50 went 89 yards. WOW. @PatrickMahomes5.
📺: CBS #ChiefsKingdom pic.twitter.com/fanV7sIofs
— NFL (@NFL) December 30, 2018
When the Chiefs begin their training camp next week, Robinson will arrive at Missouri Western State’s campus in Saint Joseph, Mo., with a slightly new role. He will be asked to replace Chris Conley, the veteran receiver who signed a two-year contract with the Jacksonville Jaguars this spring. Conley, who was ahead of Robinson on the Chiefs’ depth chart, recorded 32 receptions for 334 receiving yards and five touchdowns last season.
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Reid is optimistic that Robinson can increase his production, particularly as another deep threat in the Chiefs’ potent offense. In a few plays last season, Robinson displayed his combination of quickness and speed, the underrated skills that were part of the equation in his long touchdown catch against the Raiders.
“I don’t really know what (other) teams think of me,” Robinson said of whether he’s labeled a speedster. “I wasn’t really targeted a lot, but I definitely showed some things that I can do (downfield).”
Reid, offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy and receivers assistant Greg Lewis are working with Robinson in hopes he can better harness his speed and route running this season. Robinson could’ve had a caught 61-yard touchdown pass from Mahomes against the San Francisco 49ers last season but the ball fell a few feet in front of him. Although his speed was excellent on the play, Robinson didn’t run his seam route smoothly before creating separation from 49ers safety D.J. Reed. Mahomes’ pass could’ve also been a bit more accurate.
Another long misconnection occurred in the first drive against the Seattle Seahawks. With Mahomes moving to his right, Robinson adjusted his route and went deep, allowing him to get behind Seahawks cornerback Shaquill Griffin. The play ended with Griffin recording an impressive pass breakup on a 42-yard pass.
A former fourth-round selection in 2016, Robinson has made steady progress in Reid’s offense. In order to have a career-best season this year, Robinson worked with Mahomes on long passes throughout the Chiefs’ offseason practices earlier this summer. Even with their already tight relationship, Robinson wants to have better eye connection with Mahomes — where both players know what each other is doing — against certain pass coverages while staying within the designed structure of the play. The two teammates discussed the slight adjustments they can both make before the play begins.
Bieniemy and Lewis praised Robinson earlier this summer for his attempts at improving.
“I’ve been very impressed,” Bieniemy said in May. “He’s taken a step forward. This year, with the opportunity that’s been presented to him on the field, he’s done a heck of a job so far.”
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The Chiefs don’t want Robinson to change too much. Mahomes will likely need Robinson and other receivers to improvise and find open spots on the field for their scrambling and gun-slinging quarterback to keep opposing defenses off-balance. But Robinson wants to be known for more than just Mahomes’ illusion partner or as a skill position player with potential; he desires to become a more complete receiver.
“This is a big deal, my fourth year, the last year of my contract,” he said. “I just want to put numbers up, gett the guys’ trust and let the coaches know I know what’s going on so it’ll be an easy and smooth transition on the field.”
(Top photo: Joe Sargent/Getty Images)
