On Thursday, the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs accomplished their remaining coaching camp apply of the yr.
The group has formally laid the groundwork for the 2022 NFL season with all the apply periods and group conferences over the previous a number of weeks. From right here on out, the group will change over to regular-season mode and provides gamers a style of what that’s like for the rest of the preseason.
We’ve realized loads about this group through the course of coaching camp, as they supplied a singular glimpse into what we are able to count on for the long run. Right here’s a take a look at eight overarching takeaways from everything of the group’s coaching camp:
Chiefs leaning into the youth motion in secondary
AP Photograph/Kamil Krzaczynski
The Chiefs are leaning closely into the youth motion that they’ve occurring within the secondary this season, particularly on the cornerback place. The group launched veteran cornerbacks Deandre Baker (a former first-round decide) and Lonnie Johnson Jr. (a former second-round decide, who they traded to amass) due to the arrogance they’ve of their younger cornerback group.
First-round decide Trent McDuffie will undoubtedly play early and be an enormous a part of the group’s plans on protection. Fourth-round decide Joshua Williams, seventh-round decide Jaylen Watson and seventh-round decide Nazeeh Johnson determine into Kansas Metropolis’s plans on the cornerback this season. Proper now, DC Steve Spagnuolo is figuring out how effectively that group of younger corners responds to adversity.
“All of the younger corners have been enjoying actual effectively,” Spagnuolo mentioned. “Dave (Merritt) and Donald (D’Alesio) have been doing an awesome job with them. We’ve acquired to determine all of it out. To me, it nonetheless comes again to the way you reply in a recreation. Now, they’ve acquired some extra video games to go right here. Greater than something, how they reply when it doesn’t go effectively. That’s actually what I’ve my eye on. Yesterday, we didn’t have some snaps that went effectively for some guys and I’m seeking to see how they (reply). Particularly at that place, proper? You may’t put your head within the sand or else they’re coming proper again at you.”
How the rest of the preseason shapes up may very well be the distinction between a few of these rookies enjoying a reserve position and incomes alternatives with the starters shifting ahead. It doesn’t matter what, it appears as in the event that they’ll all contribute in some form or type, which is an enormous optimistic for the group.
JuJu Smith-Schuster seems like the brand new WR1 in Kansas Metropolis
AP Photograph/Charlie Riedel
If I needed to identify one participant who has taken over for Tyreek Hill because the Chiefs’ WR1 throughout coaching camp, the reply can be Smith-Schuster. Clearly, the ability units and kinds are vastly completely different, however Smith-Schuster is somebody who has picked up the slack in Hill’s absence.
Outdoors of perhaps Travis Kelce, Smith-Schuster has been essentially the most spectacular participant at coaching camp on offense. He has boasted nice chemistry with Patrick Mahomes instantly, however he’s additionally wanting nice in his personal proper. He’s been getting open virtually at will through the course of coaching camp, even on the performs when he’s not thrown to.
It may be a while earlier than Chiefs followers get to see it, with Smith-Schuster coping with a sore knee and probably sitting the rest of the preseason, however he’s the true deal. He’s poised to be an enormous a part of the offense in 2022.
12 months 3 may very well be particular for Willie Homosexual Jr.
AP Photograph/David Banks
No. 50 was simply the best-looking defender from the group’s 2021’s coaching camp, however accidents helped stifle that success from carrying over into the common season. This yr, Homosexual has been again with a vengeance at coaching camp, enhancing upon his efficiency from the yr prior.
Homosexual’s closing velocity is one thing to behold, together with his elite athleticism flashing on almost each snap. His instincts to knife into the backfield and get into throwing lanes have been equally as spectacular. This may very well be the yr that Homosexual turns into an every-down linebacker for the Chiefs. The bodily attributes are actually there, it’s only a matter of whether or not to teaching employees trusts him with these duties.
Chiefs’ defensive position might shock some folks in 2022
AP Photograph/Charlie Riedel
Forward of the 2019 NFL season, when you had requested Kansas Metropolis Chiefs followers their largest place of concern, they’d have mentioned the cornerback room. The entire sudden, the group goes out and indicators Bashaud Breeland and Mo Claiborne, Charvarius Ward takes his recreation to a brand new degree, Kendall Fuller turns into a flexible piece, and now the group has what seems to be a really strong cornerback group.
Quick-forward to the 2022 NFL season and also you’re taking a look at a really related image with the defensive position group. The group goes out and grabs Carlos Dunlap and Danny Shelton to strengthen the defensive position. Frank Clark seems renewed and refreshed after some offseason adjustments. George Karlaftis has an awesome preseason debut. Tershawn Wharton seems to have taken a step up.
This defensive position group has gone from a possible concern to a possible energy of the group in a really brief time frame. Clearly, they’ll should show all of it within the common season, however there’s loads of cause to shift your considerations to pleasure.
Andy Reid reinvigorated to take offense to new heights
AP Photograph/Charlie Riedel
He gained’t precisely say it publicly, however Andy Reid appears to have taken exception to the concept that his offense gained’t be as profitable with out Tyreek Hill. He has a noticeably completely different vitality about him at coaching camp this yr, a lot in order that reporters have regularly requested place coaches about it all through camp.
“I imply simply check out the offense and what he did in Philly compared to what we’ve performed since we’ve been right here collectively as a gaggle for the reason that 2013 season,” Chiefs OC Eric Bieniemy instructed reporters. “So, one factor I learn about Coach, and he’s mentioned this, I’ll always remember this in 1999, ‘You both evolve otherwise you die out like a dinosaur’ (laughter) so it’s a must to stay versatile in what you do on this career as a result of all of us should develop and we simply can’t get caught on concepts considering that’s one of the best concept. We’ve acquired to all the time work to enhance.”
Reid and the remainder of the teaching employees appear decided to assist this offense develop and evolve round Patrick Mahomes. It may not be the identical because it was earlier than, however that’s not essentially a foul factor.
Isiah Pacheco, Skyy Moore primed for fulfillment on offense, particular groups
AP Photograph/Charlie Riedel
Two of the celebs of coaching camp, Pacheco and Moore, ought to contribute instantly in Kansas Metropolis. Pacheco has earned fairly a little bit of hype out of coaching camp as a seventh-round draft decide getting run with the first-team offense. Moore already had loads of hype popping out of the draft and that has solely intensified with each route ran in apply.
Whereas most followers are wanting ahead to their contributions on offense, they could see their largest contributions come on particular groups. Dave Toub has claimed that Pacheco will get each probability to be the group’s beginning kick returner in 2022. For Moore, he’s hoping that the rookie wideout can develop into the group’s beginning punt returner. Mecole Hardman and Trent McDuffie are up for that job too, however each are seemingly for full-time roles on offense and protection, respectively. Moore is the logical alternative ought to he carry out effectively sufficient within the preseason.
Justin Watson quietly rising by means of Chiefs’ WR ranks
AP Photograph/Charlie Riedel
After a breakout efficiency in preseason Week 1 the place he caught 6-of-7 passes for 45 yards and a landing, Watson is rising up by means of the Chiefs’ receiving ranks. The previous fifth-round draft decide has accepted the problem of filling in for others in a pinch. With JuJu Smith-Schuster and Mecole Hardman out of form lately, Watson has earned extra alternatives to work with Patrick Mahomes and the first-team offense.
Chiefs OC Eric Bieniemy lately praised Watson for his consistency.
“Properly I’ll say this about Mr. (Justin) Watson… (he’s) a constant participant,” Bieniemy mentioned. “And the factor about it, on a regular basis he goes on the market he’s working to enhance upon one thing and on a regular basis he’s discovered a technique to make a play, so (I’m) very happy and happy with what we’ve seen up to now, however he is aware of that he must proceed working and proceed enhancing on the little issues.”
Watson seems to be the proper depth participant for Kansas Metropolis and will show very important to the group’s success in 2022.
A number of gamers have an uphill battle to make the roster
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With coaching camp within the books, a number of gamers now have simply two preseason video games to showcase their abilities to the world. Andy Reid ramps up the reps of his starters because the preseason goes on, which implies that lots of the gamers working with the second-team and third-team gained’t have as many alternatives throughout these video games.
Gamers like RB Ronald Jones, WR Josh Gordon, WR Cornell Powell, RB Derrick Gore, DE Joshua Kaindoh and others are actually going to have a tricky time making the 53-man roster if they will’t capitalize on these few alternatives in these upcoming video games. Up to now, none of these listed have performed sufficient to be thought of locks to make the group. They should make their presence felt and provides Brett Veach a tricky determination to make when the following two waves of roster cuts roll round.
