by Jason Kelce and Creed Humphrey: A Study in Elite Center Play
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Jason Kelce has established himself as one of the greatest centers in NFL history during his 11 seasons with the Philadelphia Eagles. Meanwhile, Creed Humphrey is quickly emerging as one of the top young centers in the league in just his second season with the Kansas City Chiefs. Though at different stages in their careers, Kelce and Humphrey share remarkable similarities in their playing styles that have made them dominant forces on the offensive line. Let’s take a closer look at how these two centers excel.
Pass Protection Mastery
One of the most important jobs for any NFL center is protecting the quarterback. Both Kelce and Humphrey have proven themselves to be elite in this area. Kelce has only allowed 18 sacks over the past seven seasons according to Pro Football Focus. That is an incredibly low number considering how often he has anchored the Eagles’ offensive line over that span. Humphrey was even better as a rookie, surrendering just half a sack in over 1000 offensive snaps.
Their ability to read defensive schemes and make the right blocking assignments is what allows them to shut down pass rushers before they can even get close to the quarterback. Both centers are quick to identify blitzes and slide their protection to account for extra rushers. Even against standard four-man rushes, Kelce and Humphrey possess the strength, technique, and football IQ to stonewall powerful defensive tackles and prevent them from collapsing the pocket.
Their footwork and hand placement are textbook. They are always in proper position, with their hands inside the frame of defenders to control them. This prevents pass rushers from gaining any leverage or momentum on their rush. Kelce and Humphrey make it look effortless the way they can absorb power rushes without getting moved backward even an inch. But it’s a skill that has been refined over countless practice reps.
The result is quarterbacks who feel comfortable standing tall in the pocket, going through their reads without the fear of an imminent sack. For Kelce, this allowed Donovan McNabb, Nick Foles, Carson Wentz, and Jalen Hurts to thrive during his time in Philadelphia. Humphrey has provided the same security for Patrick Mahomes in Kansas City, giving the superstar QB the time he needs to unleash his passing arsenal downfield. Reliable pass protection from the center position is a hallmark of Kelce and Humphrey’s games.
Power in the Trenches
While protecting the quarterback is crucial, a center must also excel as a run blocker. Here again, Kelce and Humphrey demonstrate their dominance through tremendous power in the trenches. At just 6’3″, Kelce may not seem physically imposing. But he plays with excellent leverage and strength that allows him to control much larger defenders.
Humphrey possesses a similar build at 6’5″ but with incredible lower body strength. On running plays between the guards, both centers are able to drive defensive tackles backward almost single-handedly to clear holes for running backs. It’s a testament to their functional strength that they can overwhelm opponents who may have size advantages.
Their ability to anchor against power moves is also remarkable. When defensive tackles try bull rushing right through the middle, Kelce and Humphrey plant their feet and hold their ground better than any centers in the league. They create an impenetrable wall in the center of the line that running backs can follow through for positive yardage. It’s no wonder both the Eagles and Chiefs have consistently ranked near the top of the NFL in rushing over the past few years.
The footwork and hand placement that serve Kelce and Humphrey so well in pass protection also translate to dominant run blocking. They are always in position to get underneath the pads of defenders and control them. Even when double teamed, these centers do not lose leverage battles. Their combination of technique, strength, and tenacity in the run game is what makes them road graders who can move any defense.
Football IQ and Leadership
While the physical attributes are certainly impressive, what truly separates elite centers is their high football IQ and leadership on the field. Here again, Kelce and Humphrey demonstrate remarkable similarities. Both players have an encyclopedic knowledge of defensive schemes and tendencies. They can identify pre-snap whether it’s a blitz or standard rush and make the line calls to adjust accordingly.
As the quarterback of the offensive line, Kelce has long been the vocal leader for the Eagles. He barks out blocking assignments and gets everyone on the same page. Humphrey is following right in those footsteps as a rookie, already taking charge of the Chiefs’ line and commanding respect from his veteran teammates. Their football smarts allow them to process information quickly and ensure everyone is on the same page in protecting the QB or creating running lanes.
Their ability to read defenses at the line of scrimmage and anticipate twists or stunts is what separates them from lesser centers. Both Kelce and Humphrey seem to know what the defense is trying to do even before the ball is snapped. This allows their lines to stay one step ahead and thwart pressure attempts before they even materialize. It’s a mental aspect of the game that doesn’t show up in traditional stats but is just as important.
Following in Footsteps
It’s no secret that Humphrey has modeled his game after Jason Kelce. In an interview last season, Humphrey said he watched hours of Kelce film to learn techniques and fundamentals [NFL.com]. The rookie center was impressed not just by Kelce’s physical talents, but also his football IQ and leadership on the field. Humphrey aimed to emulate those traits as he entered the NFL.
So far, the film study is paying off. Humphrey has drawn many comparisons to a young Kelce for his combination of athleticism, technique, and football smarts. Like his role model, Humphrey has seamlessly made the transition to calling protections and being the anchor of Kansas City’s line as just a second-year pro. The early returns on his NFL career are eerily similar to Kelce’s in Philadelphia all those years ago.
With continued development, there’s no reason Humphrey can’t one day achieve the same legendary status as Kelce. He still has room to grow physically and refine his game even further. But the early signs point to Humphrey following the same elite career arc if he stays committed to his craft. Down the line, we may very well look back and see Humphrey as the natural successor who carried on Kelce’s tradition of excellence at the center position in the NFL.
Conclusion
Though separated by over a decade in age and experience, Jason Kelce and Creed Humphrey undeniably share remarkable similarities in their playing styles that have made them dominant forces for their respective teams. From their mastery of pass protection to overwhelming power in the run game, both centers demonstrate textbook technique, football smarts, and leadership that separates them from their peers.
Humphrey seems to be modeling his young career directly after Kelce, and the results have been spectacular so far. As the rookie continues to develop, he shows all the signs of one day achieving the same legendary status in the league that Kelce has attained. Their styles of play have kept quarterback after quarterback protected and opened holes for running backs season after season. Centers of their caliber do not come around often, making both Kelce and Humphrey truly special players at the heart of their offensive lines.
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