It’s very probably that one of many Kansas Metropolis Chiefs’ new defensive starters in 2023 will likely be second-year security Bryan Prepare dinner — and it didn’t take lengthy for his management to be examined in the course of the staff’s coaching camp at Missouri Western State College in St. Joseph.
In reality, it solely took till the primary fully-padded follow on Friday.
After tight finish Travis Kelce hauled in a move throughout a 7-on-7 interval, he turned upfield and ran by way of arm tackles. One from cornerback DiCaprio Bootle got here in late — and Kelce let the defender know the way he felt about it.
That’s when Prepare dinner got here in to interrupt it up. His mission to make cooler heads prevail was about extra than simply defending his teammates.
“Clearly you’ll be able to see they had been riled up a bit,” remarked Prepare dinner throughout his press session after follow. “I simply wished to get by way of follow: get to the reps as a lot as doable. In terms of a degree the place we’re losing time by chatting an excessive amount of, that’s after I’ll come out and say, ‘Guys, come on.’”
So Prepare dinner handed his first on-field management check, exhibiting the mindset we have to see from an ascending chief. That’s to not say he minded seeing all-time nice’s mood flaring.
“It was type of good to get in a scuffle, although,” laughed Prepare dinner. “I used to be like, ‘I see you Kelce — getting just a little hearth beneath you.’ That stuff additionally does encourage us to be extra captivated with it.”
Prepare dinner himself is a passionate participant. Simply ask these round him.
Spags yesterday: “Guys that can blurt it out loud and proud, whether or not they’re fallacious or proper, I like these guys. [Bryan] Prepare dinner was like that final 12 months.”
Nick Bolton final week: “If he’s 100% fallacious, he makes you consider he’s 100% proper.”
That is one solution to reward Prepare dinner’s confidence
— Ron Kopp Jr. (@Ron_Kopp) June 2, 2023
Defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo hasn’t been the one one to say it. Linebacker Nick Bolton additionally spoke about it in the course of the offseason.
It’s simply a part of the way in which Prepare dinner tasks his ardour. However that’s not his No. 1 precedence.
“[Making] certain everybody in entrance of me is doing job,” stated Prepare dinner of his major focus. “[Making] certain everyone seems to be doing what they should do with all of the checks happening — as a result of the quicker they play, the quicker I can play. As soon as everyone seems to be in place in entrance of me, we’re good.
“I’m making an attempt to get my guys to know what we’re taking part in on each down as a lot as doable. That’s the place my head is at.”
By all accounts, Prepare dinner has at all times had the mindset to passionately lead a protection. However he’s additionally had a participant from whom he might be taught: Justin Reid. The previous Houston Texans security got here to Kansas Metropolis in the identical offseason that Prepare dinner did, however is getting into his sixth NFL season.
It took a second for Prepare dinner to seek out the phrases to explain how Reid has impacted his younger profession.
“He has years on me,” he lastly stated. “The place do I even begin?
“There may be a lot to be taught from him outdoors of soccer — [like] life. Coming in as a rookie, you don’t know something. [I learned] from him off the sector: how you can handle by way of life, how you can handle this example [and] being comfy in entrance of the cameras.
“On the sector? Simply being prepared: being a professional. It boils all the way down to the whole lot.
“He’s taking part in at a excessive stage… No matter he is aware of, I attempt to choose his mind about sure issues — but it surely’s about the whole lot. You may’t simply pinpoint one factor… it’s fixed studying from him.”
Being a security is all about with the ability to do all of it; no good security could be a one-trick pony. That goes not just for their place but additionally with their function throughout the protection: from the again finish, the security ought to find out about the whole lot that’s occurring.
“I’m making an attempt to be taught and concentrate on as a lot as I can in regards to the guys round me,” Prepare dinner reiterated. “So when the time comes and the bullets are flying, I can assist whoever — wherever they need assistance with [things] — from the rookie to the vet. Folks have mind farts on the market; it will possibly get messy.”
When the pace of the sport does get the very best of a teammate, Prepare dinner desires to be the dependable, reliable one that can get them again on observe. That’s good to have in any participant at any place — however being a security comes with an expectation of management, which Prepare dinner definitely embraces.
Nonetheless, it’s just the start for the 23-year-old participant. As his profession continues, his communication expertise (and understanding of the sport) will solely develop. That’s one thing that’s been hammered into him since he entered the league.
“Proceed to develop, proceed to develop, proceed to develop,” Prepare dinner emphasised. “As time [goes on], we’re going to maintain constructing — like advantageous wine.”
