Early in its coaching camp at Missouri Western State College in St. Joseph, the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs had been lacking essential items in its line of defense. Chris Jones was (and nonetheless is) amid a contract holdout, Turk Wharton began on the bodily unable to carry out (PUP) checklist and Mike Danna suffered an early-camp calf damage.
In current days, Wharton and Danna have returned to the sphere, however the entrance will nonetheless want reps to satisfy the extent of play the remainder of the protection has reached — significantly on the again finish, the place the Chiefs return almost each starter from final season.
The second yr within the system for gamers resembling Trent McDuffie, Joshua Williams and Jaylen Watson means larger hopes for his or her 2023 manufacturing.
“The expectations for the fellows which were right here is that they might take this factor up a notch and wouldn’t make those self same errors they made final yr right now,” stated defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo on Tuesday. “For essentially the most half, that has occurred, however there have been some guys the place focus wasn’t nice — and I take a look at [them], and I say, ‘You made that very same mistake final yr. You shouldn’t be making that now.’ That’s that group. For essentially the most half, they’ve been fairly good.”
The anticipated starters at cornerback are McDuffie (within the nickel), L’Jarius Sneed and Watson, with Williams incomes seems in Watson’s position relying on the sport and scenario. Watson and Williams gained top-team reps collectively the previous two days, with Sneed persevering with to be sidelined with knee swelling.
“At instances, it’s up and down, however [Watson and Williams are] lightyears forward of the place they had been final yr — in order that half’s good,” stated Spagnuolo. “Within the midst of coaching camp, all people has an off play right here or there, however the expectations for them are a lot increased now than they had been a yr in the past — and we attempt to hold that expectation up excessive.”
McDuffie, Watson, Williams, cornerback Nazeeh Johnson and security Bryan Cook dinner make up the “Fab 5,” a nickname given to the quintet by defensive backs coach Dave Merrit throughout coaching camp final yr. The 5 defensive backs had been every chosen by Kansas Metropolis in the course of the 2023 NFL Draft.
Of the 5, McDuffie has confirmed to be a superb first-round choice. Johnson’s season, nevertheless, has ended following an ACL damage. The opposite three, together with Watson, are anticipated to take the subsequent step in 2023.
Having gone via a 20-game season (together with the playoffs) helps.
“All the pieces simply slows down within the course of, simply appears loads slower than it did final yr,” stated Watson. “All the pieces’s occurring so quick within the offense, shifting so quick. Now that I do know what I’m doing and the fellows I’m taking part in subsequent to, I can transfer extra quick and be extra snug.”
A key cog within the efficiency of the unit as an entire would be the efficiency of Cook dinner, who goes from being a backup behind established veteran Juan Thornhill to being the man. To Spagnuolo, it’s been up to now, so good in what he has seen in Cook dinner.
“Bryan’s actually acquired to turn into the quarterback of the protection — him and Nick [Bolton] — particularly the quarterback on the again finish,” he stated. “One advantage of Bryan is he’s at all times on the lookout for suggestions. He got here the opposite day eager to do some extra drills. That’s one factor that he’s acquired. We noticed that once we had been taking a look at him out of Cincinnati. He’s working, loves soccer, [is] enthusiastic about soccer — and we’re banking on him in that regard.”
As security Justin Reid spends time within the field or defending the slot, it can now be the 23-year-old Cook dinner organising the protection and making the calls. Now that Thornhill has moved on to the Cleveland Browns, a number of gamers have complimented Cook dinner on his enthusiasm as the brand new starter.
“Bryan’s at all times been an individual who has at all times been within the playbook, is aware of what he’s doing again there,” stated Watson. “He stayed loud and assured final yr behind Juan as effectively, so we knew if he went down, Cook dinner can be the subsequent man prepared. He’s simply continued to try this this yr. He’s been a frontrunner placing us in the appropriate positions, and he’s doing an excellent job.”
Cook dinner weighed in on his broadened position when he spoke to the media in late July.
“On the finish of the day, [in] the place of security, my object is to get everybody lined up and able to play,” stated Cook dinner. “Truthfully talking, I’m the final line of protection, so if I’m confused again there, and I don’t know what’s occurring that’s a really huge drawback — particularly for the fellows in entrance of me. So my goal is to be as assured — be as prepared — as I may be. That manner, the ten (or the 9) that’s in entrance of me — as a result of I do know we acquired J. Reid subsequent to me — [can] be taking part in as quick as we presumably can.”
Spagnuolo added that the first objective of Kansas Metropolis’s first preseason sport on Sunday will likely be sound tackling. If the objective isn’t met, the protection will likely be again to the fundamentals subsequent Tuesday.
Having been across the block as soon as, the defensive backs incomes the highest reps are effectively conscious of the drill.
Observations
You’ll find my full observations from Tuesday’s apply right here.
Submit-practice chat and press conferences
If you happen to can’t see the above (Apple iTunes) embed, click on right here. The press convention can also be out there on Spotify.
Harm report
Didn’t apply (as a result of damage): RB Clyde Edwards-Helaire (sick), TE Jody Fortson (proper shoulder injured on 7/28), CB L’Jarius Sneed (knee swelling on 7/31), WR Kadarius Toney (knee injured on 7/23)
Restricted: RB Isiah Pacheco (hand, labrum)
Returned to apply: WR Cornell Powell
Tweet of the day
Our John Dixon compiled all of Tuesday’s tweets right here. Right here is the tweet of the day:
If you happen to had been at coaching camp at present, that was new offensive assistant Kevin Saxton who gained the quarterback problem nailing the rubbish cans. He’s the all-time passing chief at Emory & Henry Faculty and younger coach to observe.
— Matt Derrick (@mattderrick) August 8, 2023
Good eyeballs on friend-of-the-site Matt Derrick.
Quote of the day
Linebacker Nick Bolton on whether or not he is able to hit somebody in a sport: “Sure, ma’am. It’s been lengthy overdue.”
What’s subsequent?
The Chiefs return to the sphere on Wednesday morning for his or her fifteenth full-team coaching camp apply. It’s a “Season Ticket Member Day,” which isn’t open to the general public.
The exercise begins at 9:15 a.m. Arrowhead Time, and it leads right into a time off on Thursday. Offensive coordinator Matt Nagy will handle the media following the apply as your entire group indicators autographs. Right here’s the entire 2023 coaching camp schedule.
