Chiefs’ Biggest Questions: Bryan Cook, Justin Reid impact on Year 2

Heading into the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs’ season, I’m persevering with my “10 Greatest Questions” sequence concerning the workforce. Up to now, we’ve lined six questions:

In the present day, we flip our consideration to the Chiefs’ security room.

What does 12 months 2 seem like for Bryan Prepare dinner and Justin Reid?

Within the 2022 offseason, the Chiefs underwent a large changeover of their security room. Veteran security Juan Thornhill did stay, however the Chiefs let long-term stalwarts Tyrann Mathieu and Daniel Sorensen go away in free company. Sorensen and Mathieu had been important elements of the protection for a few years however had been on the bottom of the getting older curve.

The Chiefs opened the 2022 free company interval by signing former Houston Texans security Justin Reid. Reid flashed top-end security play in his first two years with the Texans however didn’t have the identical affect his final two years with a rebuilding roster. The Chiefs had been in a position to signal Reid to a contract under the highest of the security market, however the hopes had been that Reid’s play would return to what his first two years in Houston regarded like.

The Chiefs would additionally draft Cincinnati security Bryan Prepare dinner within the second spherical. Prepare dinner didn’t have the identical notoriety as former Cincinnati star teammate Ahmed “Sauce” Gardner, however he was an necessary stabilizer to an elite Cincinnati protection. Prepare dinner wouldn’t want to begin in his rookie 12 months however would nonetheless get necessary developmental reps because the sixth defensive again within the Chiefs’ dime bundle. Drafting Prepare dinner additionally gave the Chiefs an in-house possibility to exchange Thornhill, who was within the final 12 months of his rookie deal.

Whereas there was a variety of pleasure for the brand new security room, the onboarding course of proved harder than anticipated. Reid, specifically, struggled to get his footing on this protection. Defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo is understood for having one of many extra expansive playbooks. Since his safeties are chargeable for lots of the protection calls and changes, it takes time to get adjusted to the Chiefs’ protection.

Nonetheless, by the top of the season, Reid’s play improved considerably. Spagnuolo adjusted Reid’s position, permitting him to rotate down into the field and canopy extra tight ends in man protection, which took benefit of his measurement and physicality. Reid’s tackling additionally improved over the course of the season. As soon as the Chiefs had been capable of finding a job that higher suited Reid, his play improved considerably.

Prepare dinner didn’t have the identical onboarding points as Reid — primarily as a result of the Chiefs didn’t must play him typically. Prepare dinner’s common season efficiency was neither spectacular nor regarding, however there weren’t many flashes of high-end security play. Nonetheless, that every one flipped within the postseason. Prepare dinner was ready to make use of his athleticism to fly downhill and make important tackles wanting the sticks but additionally flashed the processing, vary, and ball abilities to make performs from deep.

By the top of the season, the Chiefs’ safeties went from clear query marks to optimistic elements of their protection. Loads was made about how the Chiefs’ protection was considerably higher after the bye final season, and there have been many elements to that, however one of many largest causes was that the Chiefs’ safeties improved significantly over the course of the season.

Going into 2023, the Chiefs have continuity of their security room. Thornhill did go away in free company however was rapidly changed by former Buccaneer security Mike Edwards. Edwards was overtaxed by an injured Buccaneers protection, taking part in a whopping 94% of snaps. He’s been a situational security for many of his profession, which inserts what the Chiefs wanted. With Prepare dinner and Reid, there are not any questions on who will likely be taking part in each security snap subsequent season.

Nonetheless, there are questions on how Reid and Prepare dinner will carry out in 2023. Reid’s a bit simpler to undertaking since now we have a big pattern of him taking part in, however the duality of his play all through the season leaves questions on what model of Reid we’ll get. Was his robust finish to 2022 a mirage, or did the Chiefs discover methods to unlock his play by switching his position?

Talking of roles, Reid and Prepare dinner are solely completely different physique varieties from what Mathieu and Thornhill supplied. Reid and Prepare dinner don’t have the identical protection abilities, however each are bigger safeties who received’t wrestle to cease the run and deal with. Due to this variation of talent set and physique kind, how does Spagnuolo modify his protection? Does Spagnuolo develop into extra keen to rotate both Reid or Prepare dinner down into the field postsnap — which might give the Chiefs some much-needed assist in run assist?

Reid dabbled in protecting tight ends in man protection, however can both security cowl slot receivers? The extent of versatility both security brings means the extra Spagnuolo can add to his playsheet, so determining what number of completely different roles Reid and Prepare dinner will likely be crucial to determining the ceiling of the cross protection.

On the subject of Prepare dinner, I’ll be fascinated to see what he appears like in a full-time position. Of all of the rookies that contributed on protection final season, we all know the least about Prepare dinner. Edwards has spoken about how superior Prepare dinner feels on this protection, however how does he look over a bigger pattern when the bullets are flying? Prepare dinner arguably brings one of the best mix of measurement, explosiveness, and vary the Chiefs have had since Eric Berry, however can he put all his traits collectively as a starter? If Prepare dinner had any struggles in 2022, the Chiefs didn’t must play him, however now, he will likely be trusted with each protection name and accountability.

General, the ground of the Chiefs’ protection feels stable. The cornerback room has loads of continuity, and the entrance seven returns most of their contributors from 2022. The protection room largely remained intact, however it nonetheless appears like we don’t learn about them.

For the Chiefs to achieve their ceiling defensively, it should rely on Reid and Prepare dinner having robust seasons. I’ll be fascinated to see how they observe all through the season.