by The Development of Patrick Mahomes’ Defensive Reading Skills
Patrick Mahomes is widely regarded as one of the most talented quarterbacks in the NFL. His rocket arm and Houdini-like escapes from pressure have become must-see highlights. However, arm talent and athleticism alone do not make a quarterback elite in today’s NFL. To truly thrive at the position requires mastery of mental skills like reading defenses and calling plays. While Mahomes entered the league known more for his physical gifts, he has made tremendous strides developing these cognitive abilities—a key factor in his rise to MVP caliber status.
Early in his Career
When Mahomes first took over as the Chiefs’ starter in 2018, there were some questions about his ability to diagnose defenses post-snap. Coming from a spread offense in college, he had less experience making pre-snap reads compared to quarterbacks from pro-style systems. In his rookie season, Mahomes relied heavily on playmakers like Tyreek Hill to bail him out with yards after the catch. This allowed him to compensate when initial reads broke down by simply throwing to open space for athletes to make a play.
While the results were spectacular in 2018 as Mahomes threw for over 5000 yards and 50 touchdowns, earning him MVP honors, there were signs he still had room to grow mentally. Former NFL quarterback and current ESPN analyst Dan Orlovsky noted that Mahomes sometimes looked to be “playing hero ball” by scrambling around waiting for a receiver to get open instead of progressing through reads [1]. Offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy also acknowledged the need for Mahomes to learn when to take what the defense gives versus trying to make a big play [2].
Mahomes’ own assessment after his first season as a starter supported this. In an interview, he stated “I think halfway through last year is when I really started understanding defenses and understanding where to go with the ball” [3]. This admission showed self-awareness that while physically gifted, his mental processing was a work in progress. Fully grasping defensive schemes and coverages would be key to taking his game to an elite, consistent level.
How Mahomes Reads a Defense
To understand how far Mahomes has come, it’s important to examine his process for reading defenses both before and after the snap. Pre-snap, Mahomes studies the defensive alignment and tendencies. He looks for clues about coverage—whether it will be man or zone, how many defenders will rush, and what gaps they may attack from. Based on formations and personnel, he predicts which receivers may win their matchups.
Post-snap, Mahomes’ eyes move through progressions methodically. He first observes the movements and positioning of defensive backs to identify the coverage. Next, he “reads the keys”—specific players whose actions tip off the play, like an outside linebacker dropping into coverage versus blitzing. By diagnosing these keys, Mahomes can determine where his primary and secondary targets should be. He also factors in the pass rush, sliding away from pressure while keeping eyes downfield.
With experience, Mahomes’ processing speed has increased dramatically. Former NFL quarterback Trent Green, who works with Mahomes, noted “the game has slowed down tremendously for him in year two. He sees things pre-snap and is able to get to his progressions much quicker” [4]. Quicker reads allow Mahomes to exploit weaknesses, like finding the open man against zone or beating blitzes with hot routes. It’s a big reason for his leap statistically from year one to two as a starter.
Impact on Playcalling
Faster and more accurate reads directly translate to better playcalling from Mahomes. With a better grasp of defensive tendencies, he can identify and exploit soft spots in coverage pre-snap. This gives Kansas City an advantage by putting defenders in conflict. It also allows Mahomes to audible frequently into the best play based on what he’s seeing at the line.
Audibles have become a major part of Mahomes’ arsenal. He’ll change run plays to passes, hot routes to beat blitzes, or shift protections. These adjustments maximize mismatches and keep defenses off balance. Coordinator Bieniemy praises Mahomes for “taking ownership of the offense” through his command of the playbook and pre-snap recognition [5]. It elevates Kansas City’s scheme beyond the initial play design.
Room for Further Growth
While Mahomes has made tremendous strides, he is always looking to improve his mental game further. In interviews, he acknowledges there is still room to progress, saying “I’m still learning, still getting better at [reading defenses], and that’s the fun part about the journey” [3]. Even for someone with his natural gifts, it’s an ongoing process to fully decode the chess match against opposing coordinators.
Areas Mahomes continues working on include anticipating disguised coverages, recognizing exotic blitz packages earlier, and making even quicker decisions within structured progressions. Film study remains a big part of his routine to expand his library of defensive tendencies. He welcomes input from coaches like Green to enhance his recognition. With his work ethic and dedication to the mental side, Mahomes seems poised to reach an even higher level as a field general in the coming years.
Additional Perspectives
For a deeper look, various video analysts on YouTube provide breakdowns of how Mahomes dissects defenses [6]. Sites like Inside the Pylon use All-22 film to illustrate his pre-snap reads and post-snap progression tracking through multiple options [7]. However, it’s important to note these are usually short, curated clips that don’t fully capture the complexity of real-time NFL processing.
Only those with a quarterback’s perspective, like former players, truly understand the intricacies of the position. Green has praised Mahomes’ natural instincts but also his diligence in the film room [4]. Orlovsky continues to be impressed by Mahomes’ growth, saying “he’s not playing hero ball as much and is letting the game come to him” [1]. Their evaluations from the trenches offer invaluable insight compared to surface level highlights.
Conclusion
While arm talent and playmaking ability opened doors for Patrick Mahomes early on, developing his mental skills as a defensive reader and playcaller have been huge factors in elevating him to elite status. Through experience and dedicated study, he has made tremendous strides in dissecting schemes, anticipating coverages, and making quicker decisions. It has empowered Mahomes and Kansas City’s offense to consistently exploit weaknesses at the line of scrimmage.
With his work ethic and passion to continuously learn, there appears to be no limit to how much more Mahomes can progress. He seems intent on achieving perfection in his reads and command of the playbook. For defenses, that means an ever-growing challenge in disguising intentions against the game’s most dangerous improviser. Mahomes’ physical gifts made headlines initially, but his growing mastery of the mental chess match could propel him to even greater heights as arguably the NFL’s premier quarterback.
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