The defending Super Bowl Champs the Kansas City Chiefs have a showdown on Monday Night Football with Lamar Jackson and the Baltimore Ravens. Each team that plays the Ravens goes through their week trying to find a way to prepare to play someone as dynamic as Jackson.
They spend their whole week using someone from their roster who has similar characteristics so their defense can simulate what it could be like when game time arrives.
Last year the Chiefs used DB Alex Brown in that role. It may seem like a strange role for a DB, but Brown was a wildcat QB when he was in high school and obviously a very gifted athlete. Two years ago they used Tremon Smith in that role.
This year the Chiefs used former BattleHawks QB Jordan Ta’amu. It is very difficult for anyone to replicate Jackson’s style and ability, but head coach Andy Reid decided to use Ta’amu for good reason.
“We had Jordan (Ta’amu) do it. He worked the quarterback spot this week. I mean Lamar (Jackson) is fast, good arm, see’s, understands their offense so well, you’re going to have a hard time finding somebody to just jump in, but Jordan did a nice job with it and gave our guys a look. Then, it’s important that you get out and you play. That’s what our guys are getting ready to do here in the next couple of days.”
People who didn’t watch Ta’amu play with Ole Miss, or the BattleHawks may not be familiar with his work, but looking at his stats, it is clear he was the right person to help prepare the Chiefs defense.
In 2018 for Ole Miss he completed 266 of 418 passes (63.6 percent) for 3,918 yards and 19 touchdowns to eight interceptions. With the BattleHawks, Ta’amu threw for 1,050 yards and five touchdowns to two interceptions in five games and rushed for 417 yards on 41 attempts.
Ta’amu is getting a chance to show his abilities with the practice squad of the Chiefs. His only other NFL experience was very brief at just 23 days. Ta’amu signed in August in 2019 by the Houston Texans but was later released. In three NFL preseason games, he completed seven of his 12 passes (58.3 percent) for 50 yards and zero touchdowns to one interception, taking four sacks.
This still isn’t getting a chance to play in an NFL regular-season game, but Ta’amu being put in this position during the week shows the coaching staff of the Chiefs knows his abilities.
He is getting a chance to make another impression with the NFL, and that is thanks, in large part, to his time with the BattleHawks. Hopefully, his career will continue to blossom and he will get a chance to shine in the NFL spotlight.
Frank Lawrence
September 30, 2020 at 6:47 pm
As an XFL and St. Louis Battlehawk fan I’d love seeing Jordan back QBing our team and I think it was be very wise for him to at least think about doing it. Let’s be real, his chances of ever being a starting QB in Kansas City are very slim at best. And will he ever become a better QB while running plays for the K.C. scout team. I’m sure the money is good but I feel Jordan’s goal should be becoming a better, experienced QB so that someday he will be ready for his shot at being an NFL starting QB. I’m not sure that happens sitting at home on Sundays watching his teammates play.