The depth at wide receiver for the Kansas City Chiefs is an exciting topic with a roster filled with young potential stars.
The youth doesn’t just stop at the players on the field and the Chiefs coaching staff entering the new season. Connor Embree spent the last two seasons as the quality control coach for the franchise and he’s now in a position coaching role for the first time.
The former University of Kansas running back shared his thoughts on the progress made by the Chiefs’ second-round pick, Rashee Rice, while speaking with reporters on Thursday.
“He’s doing great,” said Embree. “The whole group’s doing great. I like the whole, all 12; I think we have 12, yeah, all 12 of them. They’ve all been in work. I have zero complaints. He’s got some juice to him. He’s a bigger-bodied guy that we don’t really have in our room, so he’s a little different in that way. But he’s been great. He’s been great in the classroom (and) been great on the field.”
Embree is entering his first season as the Chiefs receivers coach after spending years in background roles within the organization. He embraces the challenge and boasts coming from a family of football coaches.
“Yeah, I mean, it’s a lot,” said Embree Yeah, I’m young, but I’ve been around it my whole life. Like I said, my dad’s been in this business. My brother is a coach for the Jets. My uncle is a high school coach out in Santa Margarita, California, but yeah, it’s just always been in my blood. I grew up wanting to be a coach. So, it takes – (Head) Coach (Andy) Reid puts a lot on us. Like you said, the behind-the-scenes type of people. I learned a lot. I had a bunch of great coaches to learn under, and it’s just been fun, so. Other than that, not much.”
The jury is still out on which talented young receivers will make the final roster cut before the start of the 2023 regular season. Rice is a capable option with plenty of upside, bringing size and physicality that the Chiefs don’t have in the room. It’ll be up to Embree in his first year as a position coach to get Rice up to speed within the offense and using his natural talents.