Kansas City Chiefs

Chiefs give their second-round rookie a shot at center

Published Aug. 11, 2015 11:59 p.m. ET

foxsports

Mitch Morse is finally getting his shot to anchor his new team's offensive line.

The Chiefs have trotted out their second-round pick at center over the last four practices, according to the Kansas City Star. Eric Kush had previously played in that spot this offseason.

“It has its challenges, but the great thing is to get better, you have to be thrown into the fire,” Morse told the Star. “And you have to have a next-play mentality, a one-play-at-a-time kind of deal. It’s interesting, man."

His team is interested in seeing if he'll lock down this new role. Kansas City was embarrassingly bad at picking up stunts and middle blitzes last season -- two jobs the rookie would be responsible for should he win the job.

Morse will have to learn fast to beat out a career center and quarterback favorite like Kush. He was a three-year tackle at Missouri who rarely shifted inside to play guard, let alone center.

"You do each day but then there’s new things you’ve got to pick up on that compound," Morse said. "And then you’ve got to go back and remember the basics. So it’s a challenge.”

Morse said he spends extra hours in the classroom to combat his inexperience.

Chiefs coaches have noticed. Now it's Morse's job to turn their heads again.

(h/t Kansas City Star)