The costume rehearsal for the 2024 common season was preseason Week 2 for the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs. The offense got here out and seemed the half, however the beginning protection nonetheless featured questions but to be answered.
Security Justin Reid was sidelined resulting from a quad harm, cornerback Jaylen Watson was unavailable to rotate in due to offseason labrum surgical procedure — and even linebacker Nick Bolton and defensive deal with Chris Jones have been held out as they work again to 100%.
It’s the continuation of a theme this preseason for the Chiefs’ protection: not having your entire unit out there all collectively. That has gotten to defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo, who expressed his emotions on the unit nonetheless working to change into complete.
“It’s extra irritating than annoying,” Spags advised reporters after observe on Tuesday. “I don’t consider we’ve had our high 11, 12, or 13 guys on the sphere for one play. That’s regarding and irritating.”
The shortage of taking part in time as a real first-team unit has affected the flexibility to judge the cornerback place behind Trent McDuffie — however even then, the gamers battling for the spot are out and in. Nazeeh Johnson missed spurts of coaching camp resulting from harm, then sat out Monday’s observe with a hamstring designation; Joshua Williams additionally missed Monday due to a hamstring harm.
“It’s making it actually troublesome which solution to go,” Spagnuolo stated of the cornerback competitors. “We’ve another sport, a few of these guys will play which are nonetheless preventing for jobs, however we are able to’t say that there’s a beginning different nook in all honesty.”
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The door has been left open by the trio of third-year cornerbacks for somebody like Keith Taylor, a fourth-year cornerback who signed to the Chiefs’ observe squad after final 12 months’s coaching camp. He spent all of 2023 with the group.
“He’s made numerous performs,” Spagnuolo famous on Taylor. “I feel he has had a extremely good camp. He’s proper within the combine within the battle. He has good dimension, so he’ll get on the market and play on this sport. We’ll see the place he’s on the finish.”
Taylor has 5 profession begins. He might not be the reply for the cornerback troubles, so the Chiefs could also be on the lookout for one other manner to enhance the room earlier than taking part in the Baltimore Ravens on September 5.
“Should you have been to speak to (head coach) [Andy] Reid or (basic supervisor) Brett [Veach], I feel they’d let you know they’re at all times wanting,” Spagnuolo responded when requested about the potential for including a veteran cornerback. “Sometimes Brett would come to me and say ‘hey, are you able to take a look at this man, or that man.’ I’m certain that can occur in these subsequent couple days.”
The potential addition would want to assimilate rapidly with the Chiefs as a result of the system is at its greatest when gamers are on the identical web page and assured with their duties. That’s what Spagnuolo remembers about final 12 months’s run to a championship.
“Once we form of had it rolling and taking part in fairly good, numerous it needed to do with the chemistry of the blokes,” Spags seemed again. “That doesn’t simply all of the sudden occur in any case this day off. Bryan Prepare dinner wasn’t right here for every week, Justin has been out for awhile, Nick. These are the chemistry guys, so we’ll simply must do it in observe within the subsequent two weeks earlier than we play Baltimore.”
With out coaching camp and extra preseason video games, the general public might be blind to the Chiefs’ progress on protection between now and the beginning of the common season. An exterior signing would sign a determined want, and that call might be made to make sure this workforce can nonetheless compete for a championship.
The onus falls on Spagnuolo to resolve based mostly on every little thing he is aware of and has realized in 16 years since changing into a defensive coordinator.
“We’ll must go along with slightly little bit of previous efficiency, guys with expertise,” Spagnuolo contemplated. “However sooner or later, you must go together with your intestine.”
