Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid is trying to turn undrafted rookie quarterback John Lovett into a hybrid back.
Lovett told The Athletic's Nate Taylor on May 6 it has been a major adjustment on his part. On the other hand, Reid dubbed Lovett “a wild man.”
‘The tight end and h-back position, it's the adjuster of the offense,' Lovett said. ‘You really need to know pretty much everything second in line to the quarterback. It's definitely still a load to digest.'
‘I thought he did a nice job,' Reid said of Lovett on Monday. ‘He's still got a banged-up wrist, so he can't do contact.
‘But it's healing, and he's got about another month or so to go (in his rehab). He's extremely smart, and we had to kind of tame him down a little bit. For a quarterback, I said, ‘You're a wild man.”
Chiefs rookie John Lovett (non-drafted FA signing) isn't just trying to learn Andy Reid's complex playbook, the former Princeton QB is learning how to play a new position and return from a wrist injury in the process. @ByNateTaylor has the full details: https://t.co/ORNEmqz1YH
— The Athletic Kansas City (@TheAthleticKC) May 9, 2019
Lovett was a two-time Ivy League Offensive Player of the Year award recipient as quarterback of the Princeton Tigers, per The Kansas City Star's Brooke Pryor.
Now, Lovett becomes a hybrid tight end/halfback in Reid's system. The transition became mandatory due to the departure tight end Demetrius Harris, who signed a two-year, $6 million deal with the Cleveland Browns on March 14.
Pryor says Lovett is “uniquely suited” for his new role because of his skills and work ethic. Reid also praised Lovett's versatility – he can play quarterback, the backfield, and wing tight end positions.
Pryor also foresess Lovett adding depth to the Chiefs' tight end unit. Aside from starter Travis Kelce, Kansas City currently has Blake Bell, Deon Yelder, and David Wells in its tight end depth chart.
Story on John Lovett ‘14 who is a free agent w the Kansas City Chiefs. Rumor is that John has been wearing #40 in practices in honor of Brendan Looney ‘99: https://t.co/OzZ8WLZOK7
— DeMatha Catholic High School (@DeMathaCatholic) May 9, 2019
Lovett is one interesting prospect for the Kansas City Chiefs. Many players have made a name for themselves in the NFL playing a different position.
One of them is Antwaan Randle El, the Tampa Buccaneers' offensive assistant. He played quarterback for the Indiana Hoosiers but became a wide receiver for the Pittsburgh Steelers and Washington Redskins during his nine-year NFL career.
Can Lovett excel in a hybrid role with the Chiefs? It should be interesting to find out.
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