New Kensington's Skyy Moore 'way, way more comfortable' as he enters Year 2 with Chiefs

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. — Skyy Moore says the examples come frequently nowadays.

He’ll make a catch in a training camp practice, review it later on film, then have the same thought go through his mind.

“Oh, this is what Patrick was talking about.”

A year ago, the Chiefs receiver and New Kensington native did all he could to build chemistry with quarterback Patrick Mahomes. He sat directly behind him during training camp video sessions, then tapped him on the shoulder if he had a question.

Moore still couldn’t take in all of Mahomes’ words of wisdom — at least not immediately. The learning curve was too steep, with the then-rookie Moore focusing on an expansive playbook and digesting calls in the huddle before determining where to line up on the outside.

Things have changed here in Year 2 for Moore, who attended Shady Side Academy and played collegiately at Western Michigan. The presnap stuff is now second nature, which has created a free mind for the next few seconds.

And that’s what’s benefiting him now in practice, Moore says. He remembers a few passes recently where Mahomes found him when Moore adjusted his route based on what he saw post-snap from the defense.

“It’s been the exact same look as last year, but I just treated it different. I did it differently,” Moore said. “And last year, it might have been an incomplete pass. This year, I catch it and can go for some more yards.”

The evolution has led to some gratifying feedback, especially when Moore rewatches film of himself.

“You get to see your growth a little bit,” Moore said with a smile, “and seeing how much better you got from the last year.”

Now, he knows it’s time to show his improvement to the outside world as well.

Moore was listed as a starting receiver on the team’s first unofficial depth chart Tuesday and continues to be one of the Chiefs’ training camp standouts.

The team’s 2022 second-round pick has been in for every first-team rep the last three weeks when Kansas City has had at least two receivers on the field. He also has been featured creatively, whether as the ball carrier on end-arounds or as the receiving option on Mahomes’ behind-the-back passes.

Based on their usage of Moore at camp, the Chiefs have been clear: They are about to give him plenty of run to go way above his 22-catch, 250-yard receiving total from last season.

Offensive coordinator Matt Nagy says the most significant development from Moore has been his growth in the Chiefs’ system.

“He’s had the talent. Last year, (it was) just learning the offense and now being able to transition to playing faster,” Nagy said. “And now he’ll get more opportunities, and I think he’ll do well.”

Teammates have noticed Moore’s ascent as well.

That includes cornerback Trent McDuffie, who came in as a rookie with Moore last season. McDuffie credits Moore as one of the receivers who gives him the “best looks” in practice.

“That’s definitely someone who, compared to last year, I feel like has improved a ton,” McDuffie said. “I mean, you talk about his quickness, his speed off the line, his routes and just his hands — overall, just how he’s become a better receiver in this league is something that I looked at that has helped me a ton.”

Moore reiterated Wednesday how things have become easier after he hears a Mahomes play call in the huddle. Instead of thinking, “Where am I supposed to align?” or “What route am I running?” he’s now thinking, “How can I beat the guy across from me?”

“Way, way more comfortable,” Moore said. “It’s just like, I got that year of experience. So I feel like certain things I already know.”

The Chiefs certainly could use increased production from him this season. They lost former Steeler JuJu Smith-Schuster and Mecole Hardman to free agency in the offseason, hoping younger players could help fill in for those departures.

Moore, at this point, appears likely to be a favorite Mahomes target for 2023.

If the next few weeks, that is, play out like the previous ones have.

“I’ve felt like I had a better training camp than last year,” Moore said, “and I’m looking to have it bleed into the season.”