Jamaal Charles Getting 61 Fewer Touches Than He Did This Time Last Season

It is no secret to anyone that Kansas City Chiefs running back Jamaal Charles holds the key to winning games for the Chiefs. Although the lack of activity from the rest of the offense played a factor, Charles led the league in total touchdowns scored with 19 and scored the most points among all players beside kickers in 2013.

Through 15 games last season, Charles concluded the regular season with 329 touches, averaging nearly 22 per game.

However, even with limited help from the rest of the offense for the second year in a row, Charles’ activity has gone down drastically in 2014.

610 Sports Radio morning host Bob Fescoe pointed out on Thursday morning that Charles has 61 fewer touches right now than he did at this point last year. Charles has 192 touches in 11 games this season, averaging 17.5 touches per game.

Chiefs head coach Andy Reid kept Charles active on the ground and through the air in his first year with the team. To no one’s surprise, Charles had career highs in catches, yards and touchdowns in the passing game last year. This kind of activity was expected after how Reid used Brian Westbrook and LeSean McCoy in Philadelphia during his tenure with the Eagles.

It remains a mystery as to why this is happening, but Reid has cost the Chiefs a few games this year by not feeding Charles the football more.

After the embarrassing loss to the Tennessee Titans in Week 1, Reid said he was “negligent” and should have given Charles more carries after finishing with seven in that game. Following a loss to the San Francisco 49ers in Week 5, Reid had “regrets” about not getting the ball more to Charles. Charles did not get the ball on Kansas City’s final 10 offensive plays in the 22-17 loss in that game.

Despite acknowledging his mistakes through negligence and regret, it has cost the Chiefs enough games to the point where the team no longer possesses a wild-card spot. Although Reid knows his coaching flaws of not getting the ball enough to Charles, he continues to make these errors.

In Kansas City’s crucial loss to the Denver Broncos this past Sunday, Charles had just 14 total touches on offense, the fewest he’s had in a game this year since Week 1—excluding Week 2 when he got injured in the first quarter and left the game.

For fans who want answers, the toughest part is, there is no clear-cut explanation for all of this. Reid knows that omitting Charles is on him, so why does he continue to let this happen?

Moving forward, Reid has to get Charles involved on the opening possession and consistently give him the ball because quarterback Alex Smith does not have any viable options around him.

Tight end Travis Kelce has stepped up—leading the team in receiving yards—but even his activity has been very minimal.

Reid knows as well as anyone what Charles is capable of with the ball in his hands. Charles’ breakaway speed can do a lot of damage, gashing through opposing defenses.

Even with all of the issues Kansas City has at wide receiver, offensive line and the secondary, Reid can mask those problems by simply changing the way he uses Charles. If Charles is active, the Chiefs will win games and those issues won’t become a discussion.

It is a simple fix and can make a big difference in sending the Chiefs to the playoffs. It is in Reid’s hands with his play-calling to help make that happen.

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