Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Xavier Worthy had plenty of good moments early in training camp, but the rookie struggled once the pads came on. While there is no way to duplicate the physical nature of an NFL game, padded practices allow for a physical element absent from earlier offseason work. Worthy possesses great speed, but the Texas product was undersized in college and needs to prove that he can overcome his smaller build against NFL-caliber talent.
So far, he’s not off to a great start. While one rep will never singlehandedly determine a player’s success in the NFL, Chiefs fans can’t be too thrilled with this training camp clip of Xavier Worthy, as this is one of the worst reps you will ever see from a wide receiver.
Xavier Worthy against press. pic.twitter.com/SbvC66qCiU
— Boorish (@Boorish_Sports) July 31, 2024
Chiefs Xavier Worthy Gets Bodied In Latest Training Camp Clip
At its simplest, press coverage is when a defensive back engages a receiver at the line of scrimmage in an attempt to disrupt his route. When done properly, the technique takes the wideout out of the play, creates tighter throwing windows, and can discourage quick throws while disrupting a quarterback’s rhythm. The downside is that defensive backs can struggle to recover if the receiver beats the coverage off the snap. Generally speaking, bigger receivers have an advantage, as opposing cornerbacks might not have the strength to disrupt a player like Ja’Marr Chase or D.K. Metcalf.
Xavier Worthy is only 170 pounds and struggled to beat press coverage in college, so this training camp clip shouldn’t come as too much of a surprise. While nobody wants to see a first-round pick thrown across the field like a ragdoll, the fact of the matter is that Worthy probably won’t ever be great against press coverage. Smaller receivers like DeVonta Smith can compensate for their lack of size with fundamentally sound release packages, but those players are few and far between. Worthy might not ever be a legitimate threat against press coverage, but he can still be a dangerous threat in this offense.
It’s Not the End of the World
No receiver is without flaw, and earlier training camp practices showed that Xavier Worthy can be dangerous on a football field. First and foremost is his game-breaking speed, as he ran the fastest 40-yard dash in NFL history. Straight-line speed alone won’t guarantee NFL success, but it certainly doesn’t hurt. This speed alone could prevent teams from playing press against Worthy, as there aren’t many cornerbacks capable of recovering if he gets off the line cleanly.
May I interest you in 2 minutes of Patrick Mahomes dropping dimes to Xavier Worthy, Travis Kelce, Hollywood Brown and Rashee Rice? #ChiefsKingdom @KCTV5 pic.twitter.com/FeK7FmZa4q
— Jared Koller (@JaredKCTV5) July 29, 2024
Additionally, smart coaches know how to put their players in a position to succeed. Good playcallers can keep players away from man coverage, and Andy Reid is the smartest offensive mind in the game. Reid can use motion to isolate Worthy and keep him away from the more physical cornerbacks on the other side of the field. While this won’t work on every single play, they should be able to utilize this strategy frequently enough to give Worthy a few looks every game. With his speed, that’s all he’ll need to make a tangible impact on the game. The training camp clip was bad, but it won’t stop Xavier Worthy from having a successful career.
Main Photo: Denny Medley – USA Today Sports
