The Kansas City Chiefs had two members of the coaching staff getting a close look at two different position groups during the on-field workouts at the 2022 NFL Scouting Combine on Thursday.
First up, Chiefs TE coach Tom Melvin was one of several NFL staff members down on the field helping run the various drills that tight ends went through. He was spotted on the field for various route-running and receiving drills, but had a key role in running the “gauntlet” drill.
The “gauntlet” is a catching drill that requires players to catch seven passes, each coming from different points of the field. It takes a combination of focus and athleticism to go through the drill successfully, but it’s also one of the more enjoyable drills to watch at the combine too.
#Chiefs TE coach Tom Melvin is on the field at Lucas Oil Stadium running some tight end drills for the 2022 NFL Scouting Combine.
— Charles Goldman (@goldmctNFL) March 3, 2022
I spy #Chiefs TE Coach Tom Melvin on the gauntlet TE drills here. pic.twitter.com/kXxWSJ1GzN
— Nick Jacobs (@Jacobs71) March 3, 2022
"That's the best rep of the gauntlet thus far." – @MoveTheSticks @UCLAFootball TE @Greg_Dulcich is stealing the show out here.
📺: #NFLCombine on @nflnetwork pic.twitter.com/W89puG5ELj
— NFL (@NFL) March 3, 2022
You can see Melvin helping the players get set before the drill begins above.
It’s not uncommon that the Chiefs and other NFL teams have coaches on the field to help with these drills. It doesn’t always happen every year, though. In the past, we’ve seen coaches like former WRs coach Greg Lewis and OL coach Andy Heck on the field for drills.
Later, Chiefs WRs coach Joe Bleymaier was spotted on the field coaching up the multiple groups of receivers before they ran routes vs. air. It appeared that he was coaching them up specifically on in-breaking routes.
#Chiefs WR coach Joe Bleymaier getting some airtime on NFL Network getting the combine receivers ready to run routes.
— Charles Goldman (@goldmctNFL) March 4, 2022
#Chiefs wide receivers coach Joe Bleymaier with the wideouts during their drill at the NFL Combine. pic.twitter.com/hqKKaFYypO
— Nick Jacobs (@Jacobs71) March 4, 2022
It’s notable that Melvin was getting a closer look at the tight ends in this class because many consider the position to be one of the deeper groups in the 2022 class. It’s also notable that Bleymaier was out there getting a close look at receivers, specifically coaching guys up on those in-breaking routes. Perhaps the team is looking for a receiver in the draft who specializes in the intermediate, middle-of-the-field stuff. It’s certainly food for thought.
