If anyone knows how difficult it is to slow down reigning MVP Patrick Mahomes it’s Robert Saleh, as the former 49ers defensive coordinator was tasked with attempting do exactly that in Super Bowl LIV.
And up until the fourth quarter, Saleh’s defense was up to the task, making Mahomes look, well — mortal. Saleh is now head coach of the Jets, so he isn’t necessarily competing against the Chiefs or the Bucs — at least not right now. Neither team is in his division, and the Jets won’t be squaring off against the Chiefs in a winner-take-all game anytime soon, if ever.
As such, Saleh had no problem sharing some insight on how to defend Mahomes, which he did on a recent edition of PFT Live.
“You’ve got to be relentless,” Saleh said, via Pro Football Talk. “You have to be relentless. Just when you think you might have him, he might step two steps back and then throw off his back foot. I mean, he has ridiculous arm talent. He’s got tremendous accuracy. He’s got tremendous mobility. But any time you’re a pass rusher just understand that he might do his little old man jog in between plays where it looks like his feet hurt. Don’t kid yourself. He’s got tremendous mobility, his arm strength is ridiculous. You have to be relentless all the way through. And understand that there could be a play and a second play that happens just because of his ability to extend plays and make the throws that other people can’t.”
Mahomes sure got a kick out of that “little old man jog” comment.
Lucky for Saleh, the Jets don’t play the Chiefs next season.