5 things to watch in Chiefs’ preseason opener against the Saints

We’re nonetheless 26 days away from the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs opening the 2023 NFL season towards the Detroit Lions. Within the meantime, the Chiefs will play three preseason video games, beginning on Sunday at midday towards the New Orleans Saints in Caesars Superdome.

The final time the Chiefs entered a season because the reigning Tremendous Bowl champions, they did not have a preseason to gear up for the title protection; the COVID pandemic pressured the league to cancel all exhibition video games in 2020.

That group went 14-2, constructed across the theme of “run it again,” however this yr’s Chiefs have a extra important roster turnover than 2020. It could make the preseason extra obligatory because the group’s new items assimilate with the incumbents.

On Sunday, the starters might solely get a drive or two on both aspect, however they’re going to be lots to concentrate to all afternoon. Listed here are 5 issues to look at within the opening exhibition sport:

1. Who pops on the line of defense?

This turns into the pure focus level in wake of defensive deal with Chris Jones’ holdout, mixed with the six-game suspension for defensive lineman Charles Omenihu.

First, who can step into Omenihu’s place as the perfect inside-rushing complement with Jones? It is probably the sturdy defensive ends get these appears, particularly with defensive deal with Tershawn Wharton sidelined. Malik Herring has been an inside rusher with the starters in camp, whereas Mike Danna has supplied that in years previous.

Wharton and Jones’ absence must also go away rookie defensive deal with Keondre Coburn loads of appears. The large nostril deal with has proven off some motion abilities in camp that counsel he could also be used to doing extra than simply plug gaps.

Basically, this group wants as a lot pass-rush pleasure as they will get. Defensive ends George Karlaftis and Felix Anudike-Uzomah ought to have all eyes on them, however rookie B.J. Thompson can even be price zoning in on. He’ll put stress on offensive tackles together with his rush pace, however can he maintain up sufficient bodily on the sting to be on the sector in September?

2. How large receivers are deployed

There are numerous intriguing, newer names to observe among the many large receivers — however what about every is noteworthy? Let’s lay it out:

Justyn Ross has pressured his manner onto 53-man roster projections by being a dependable sideline goal for quarterback Patrick Mahomes in observe, however can we see extra? His deep pace might be price monitoring if he has sufficient of it to place actual stress on safeties (Marquez Valdes-Scantling or Justin Watson can). Additionally, his skill to create fast separation on in-breaking routes might be vital.
Rookie Rashee Rice has an opportunity to contribute early by being a formidable blocker from the slot. He has additionally proven he can take jet-sweep handoffs. Watch to see what number of other ways Rice can assist the offense.
How a lot of a drop-off in dynamic playmaking is there from the injured Kadarius Toney to large receiver Richie James? They’re comparable stylistically.
Undrafted rookie Nikko Remigio has impressed Chiefs Kingdom at camp. At 5 ft 9 and 183 kilos, he’ll be used as a slot receiver and a punt returner with the second or third-team models.

3. Alignment of defensive backs

In coaching camp, the Chiefs have used second-year cornerback Trent McDuffie within the slot much more than they did final yr. It pushes cornerback L’Jarius Sneed to the surface, the place he might not have the identical affect he has had in years’ previous.

Both manner, Sneed shouldn’t be collaborating within the sport on Sunday — however take note of McDuffie’s skill to do a number of issues as that Nickel defender. Will he be prepared to assist fill towards the run, like Sneed was? Will he be as fast to close down passes to the flat? Can he be a similarly-effective blitzer?

I will additionally look at how safeties Justin Reid and Bryan Cook dinner are deployed. Defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo referred to Cook dinner as needing to be the quarterback of the protection, which means he’ll probably be free security nearly all of the time. Watch and see if Reid appears sooner to the ball this yr as that chess piece across the line of scrimmage.

4. A brand new piece within the beginning offense?

When the Chiefs’ beginning offense is on the sector, even when the remainder of the unit goes additional than quarterback Patrick Mahomes, keep watch over a selected newcomer.

Undrafted rookie operating again Deneric Prince would not cease displaying off his receiving abilities in practices this offseason, which have been extra spectacular given the context that he’s 6 ft tall and 216 kilos. The group has given him a ton of appears in coaching camp and a whole lot of them in move conditions.

Primarily based on his bodily measurement, the group desires to make the most of what initiatives to be a stability of dependable catching and robust move safety. If he’s given a goal with the starters, that tells you they’re able to get him rolling proper now.

5. Conventional two-back formations

It has been a convention in Chiefs’ preseason video games beneath head coach Andy Reid to be very, very vanilla with the offense. Reid works from the scheme’s very basis, which all the time resulted in loads of conventional, 21 personnel units (formations which have a fullback and a halfback).

As has been nicely documented, the group does not have a fullback this yr, so does that sign Reid’s schematic basis has formally advanced? Or will we see tight ends Noah Grey or Blake Bell in three-point stances on Sunday?

If that’s the case, watch Grey as he latches onto a defender. He has taken many steps as a participant heading into 12 months 3, however the blocking could also be what has grown probably the most.