Chiefs getting more out rookie DBs than anticipated | KCSN Daily 2.3
Chiefs getting more out rookie DBs than anticipated | KCSN Daily 2.3
Plus final injury report, KCSN podcasts, transactions, quotes and more Chiefs news
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The Chiefs spent a ton of draft capital this offseason revamping the defensive secondary. A first-round pick, a second-round pick, a fourth-round pick and two seventh-round picks were expended on either cornerbacks or safeties.
Starting all the way back in the team’s rookie minicamp, that group has grown and since exceeded all expectations.
“Yeah. We didn’t really know what to expect,” Chiefs DC Steve Spagnuolo said. “I mean look it – when you draft somebody in the first round, you know, there’s some higher expectations there. I feel like Trent (McDuffie) has met them in what he’s done, and we know he was out for a long stretch too. I always think that’s very impressive – when you miss that much time as a rookie and then you can get back in the swing of things and Trent has not only played the corner position, but he’s played nickel.”
Beyond McDuffie, the team didn’t really know what they were getting. They certainly didn’t know how ready any of the other players would be from the jump or how they would grow into their roles over the course of the 17-game NFL season.
“ The other guys were a little bit unknown although what we liked about them and what (General Manager) Brett (Veach) identified was the length and some speed and some traits,” Spagnuolo continued. “And you know I think the coaches have done – (Defensive Backs Coach) Dave Merritt and (Safeties Coach) Donald (D’Alesio) have done a great job with those guys to get them ready to play and so have the players. I mean they embraced it. Bryan Cook has been tremendous in terms of – I mean he’s passionate about football. That’s the one thing that’s stuck out right from the beginning and we need as many passionate football players on our squad as we can get.”
There’s a reason that Chiefs HC Andy Reid has likened this group to Ronnie Lott, Eric Wright and Carlton Williamson with the 1981 San Francisco 49ers under Bill Walsh. That reason is that they now find themselves playing for all the chips in Super Bowl LVII. Furthermore, this group of players in the secondary can play a big part in the reason why they win it all.
KC Laboratory - Chiefs injury updates and impact on Super Bowl roster:
KCSN’s Kent Swanson, Craig Stout, and Matt Lane react to the recent Kansas City Chiefs injury updates and discuss how they impact the Super Bowl roster. —
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Friday Injury Report:
Chiefs:
DNP: CB L’Jarius Sneed (Concussion), WR Mecole Hardman (Pelvis), WR JuJu Smith-Schuster (Knee), and WR Kadarius Toney (Ankle/Hamstring).
LP: LB Willie Gay Jr. (Shoulder).
FP: RG Trey Smith (Ankle), QB Patrick Mahomes (Ankle), RB Isiah Pacheco (Wrist), WR Justin Watson (Illness), and RB Jerick McKinnon (Ankles).
Designations: WR Mecole Hardman (Doubtful), WR JuJu Smith-Schuster (Questionable), WR Kadarius Toney (Questionable), LB Willie Gay Jr. (Questionable), and CB L’Jarius Sneed (Questionable).
Eagles
DNP: G Landon Dickerson (Elbow), OT Lane Johnson (Groin), C Cam Jurgens (Hip), CB Avonte Maddox (Toe), DE Robert Quinn (Foot).
LP: CB James Bradberry (Rest), WR A.J. Brown (Rest), DT Fletcher Cox (Rest), DE Brandon Graham (Rest), C Jason Kelce (Rest), OG Isaac Seumalo (Rest), CB Darius Slay (Rest), DE Josh Sweat (Rest).
FP: None.
Designations: None.
Key:
DNP (Did Not Participate), LP (Limited Participant), FP (Full Participant), NIR (Not Injury Related).
Notes:
The Chiefs are not required to report the practice status of Clyde Edwards-Helaire until he has been activated to the 53-man roster.
Transactions:
2/3 - Signed reserve/future contract - DL Daniel Wise
(Photo via NFL)
Remember, vote for Kansas City Chiefs 2022 NFL Fan of the Year Nominee Dr. Amy Patel. You can vote multiple times until polls close on Wednesday, Feb. 9. Click the image above to listen to KCSN’s BJ Kissel exclusive interview with Dr. Patel.
KCSN Update:
KCSN’s BJ Kissel sits down with Pro Football Focus' Trevor Sikkema to get his early matchups to watch in Super Bowl LVII as the Kansas City Chiefs take on the Philadelphia Eagles.
Quotable:
“It was so good to see redemption for him. He works so hard. After we put him on the bench, he didn’t give up. He just kept coming to practice and working on his catching and I told him just the other day – maybe a week and a half before that game – I said, ‘Man, you are doing great here in practice.’ And his confidence was getting better and better and when we needed him the most, he stepped it up and did a great job for us. I couldn’t be more happy for the kid and I couldn’t be more happy for the group. The guys who have been working hard – the other 10 guys out there on the field that have been working and blocking things up and doing it all year and we finally got some payback.” - Chiefs ST coordinator Dave Toub on Skyy Moore
“So, when we lost to the Bengals last year – we lost on a Sunday I think it was. I don’t know if it was a Saturday or Sunday game – but I was kicking that Thursday. I really attacked the offseason. I really just wanted to work on my technique and hone it in. So, I felt like I had a great foundation going into the season and then when you do have an injury – kind of fluke thing where the turf just went out from under my plant leg – you kind of start from square one again. So, I had to make some adjustments technique-wise because you’re not going to feel the same, it’s going to take some time to get the mobility again and get the strength again, so I’ve made some small changes and I feel like I’ve really ironed those out. And I’ve been in a good rhythm the past couple of games, but you have to be able to face adversity and make adjustments, and that was the first time in my career where I really had to do that because I do pride myself on having everything kind of figured out going into training camp and then I’m kind of on auto-pilot.” - Chiefs K Harrison Butker on what has changed for him since Week 1
Quick Hits:
From the Chiefs: Frank Clark and Travis Kelce mic’d up for the AFC title game? Yeah, this is good content.
From the Associated Press: An interesting stat from Josh Dubow on Andy Reid’s record in games involving the Chiefs and Eagles.
From the practice field: If you’re among those concerned about Willie Gay Jr.’s shoulder injury, here’s a look
From Houston: Texans’ new head coach DeMeco Ryans spent a season playing under Chiefs HC Andy Reid in Philadelphia.
Important dates ahead:
Reece’s Senior Bowl - Saturday, Feb. 4 at 2:30 PM ET.
NFL Honors - Thursday, Feb. 9 at 9:00 PM ET.
Super Bowl LVII - Sunday, Feb. 12 at 6:30 PM ET.
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