Kansas
Kansas City Chiefs’ first-round defensive end George Karlaftis is ‘relentless’
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — One purpose the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs chosen defensive finish George Karlaftis within the first spherical of the 2022 NFL draft was his power. At Purdue, Karlaftis tended to go full pace on each play whether or not he was dashing the quarterback or defending the run.
Karlaftis confirmed this behavior on the sector throughout the early days of the Chiefs’ offseason practices.
“He goes 100 miles an hour,” coach Andy Reid mentioned after a current apply session. “Stroll-throughs, every thing. We needed to gradual him down.
“He strikes round nicely when he is in area. He is obtained good palms, it seems like … however that motor might be the factor that jumps out at you. He goes and goes.”
The Chiefs are going to wish that power from Karlaftis, their solely vital pass-rush addition, as they try to revitalize a unit that fell to twenty ninth in NFL sacks final season. Karlaftis had 29 sacks in 26 profession video games at Purdue.
“Relentless,” Karlaftis mentioned in explaining his type of play. “I get after the quarterback. I cease the run. I really feel like I am a 3‐down participant, I am an all‐round participant that may do something and every thing that is requested of him, so I feel I deliver that to the desk. I really feel like I am very, very constant. I really feel like my greatest soccer is forward of me. … I have been solely enjoying soccer for about six to seven years now, so I am actually excited to develop beneath an amazing system, nice teammates, nice group.”
Karlaftis obtained a late begin in soccer as a result of he was born in Greece, the place soccer doesn’t have a lot presence, and lived there for a lot of his childhood. He moved along with his household to the USA when he was 13 and remains to be rising throughout the recreation.
As soon as he obtained began in soccer, Karlaftis discovered he was not solely good at it, however loved it as nicely.
“My mother and father pushed me to do nearly each sport possible,” Karlaftis mentioned. “While you discover the one you’re keen on, work as laborious as you probably can at it. I feel there’s not a complete lot of sense of dedicating nearly your complete life to doing one thing that you do not do to the utmost potential each single time you are on the market.”
“I really like every thing about it,” Karlaftis mentioned of soccer. “I really like the offseason. I just like the psychological and bodily problem and pressure and the chess recreation. I like each single play is a single problem, each pre-snap, after the ball snap, throughout the play, whether or not it is executing your project, making the play, doing the appropriate factor, having the proper method and having to try this over and over and being excellent.
“On prime of every thing else, you’re keen on the locker room, proper? You like the connection and the bond you make with the teammates and every thing that comes with that.”
ESPN rated Karlaftis its No. 79 general participant within the 2019 school soccer recruiting class. He had gives from Alabama to Notre Dame. The Chiefs took him with the thirtieth general choose on this yr’s draft, however his late begin in soccer is a purpose to imagine his ceiling is rising.
“All of the those that we spoke to at Purdue simply mentioned all of his greatest soccer is in entrance of him,” Chiefs normal supervisor Brett Veach mentioned. “He had a water polo background, being born in Athens however getting to return over right here with a late begin to soccer, he picked it up rapidly. One factor that’s widespread in everybody that you simply discuss to about George is his strategy to the sport and the way essential it’s to him.”
The Chiefs misplaced one in all their prime pass-rushers from final season in defensive finish Melvin Ingram, who signed as a free agent with the Miami Dolphins. However Chris Jones and Frank Clark, who’ve been first and second on the crew in sacks in every of the previous three seasons, are returning.
Their presence may imply loads of pass-rush alternatives for a rookie defensive finish.
“While you’re a defensive lineman, you need to get one-on-ones, whether or not that is me or whoever,” Karlaftis mentioned. “You need to get guys which can be enjoying subsequent to you who’re actually, actually good gamers. Clearly, they’re nice gamers and that simply means extra success for me and the entire unit.”
Kansas football’s season has spiraled into frustration as the team suffered its fourth consecutive loss, falling 38-27 to TCU at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium.
The Jayhawks (1-4, 0-2 Big 12) have yet to find their rhythm, and after a promising start, the issues that have plagued them all season persisted, costing them yet another winnable game.
Inconsistent Quarterback Play
Jalon Daniels, who came into the season with high expectations, has struggled to find consistency. His 15-for-34 performance for 179 yards against TCU marked another game where his passing efficiency was below 50%. Despite showing flashes of potential, Daniels has not completed a game with more than 200 passing yards this season. His inconsistency in key moments, particularly the late interception in this game, continues to hold the Jayhawks back.
Missed Opportunities on Defense
Kansas’ defense has had its moments, like OJ Burroughs’ interception, but they’ve been unable to consistently apply pressure. TCU’s quarterback Josh Hoover torched the Jayhawks for 356 yards and three touchdowns. The lack of defensive stops, combined with missed tackles and breakdowns in coverage, have become a recurring problem. WR Jack Bech’s 10 catches for 131 yards highlighted how TCU’s offense exploited KU’s vulnerabilities in the secondary, regardless of the fact that Mello Dotson and Cobee Bryant were preseason Thorpe Award watchlist nominees.
Inability to Close Games
Kansas has had opportunities to win, leading at different points in the second half of games, only to collapse in critical moments. Against TCU, the Jayhawks led 24-21 after an early third-quarter touchdown, but a special teams blunder—a punt return touchdown—shifted momentum. Granted, there was a blatant missed block in the back call, but the Jayhawks couldn’t respond as TCU outscored them 17-3 the rest of the way.
Kansas will need to regroup as they prepare for Arizona State next week. With frustration mounting and the season slipping away, the Jayhawks must find answers soon to salvage what’s left of a campaign that began with high hopes.
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The Kansas City Chiefs have their second road game in a row on Sunday, with Week 4 bringing a matchup against a bitter AFC West rival.
Jim Harbaugh and the Los Angeles Chargers, 2-1 on the season, await the reigning Super Bowl champions. While Kansas City has a controlling recent lead in their series against Los Angeles, it’s a new era of football in California. On the other hand, injuries and a suspension to Derwin James could make things challenging for the home team.
How will the game unfold? The Kansas City Chiefs On SI crew makes its predictions for Week 4 of the 2024-25 campaign.
Joshua Brisco: The Chiefs are a much better (and healthier) football team than the Chargers. Even as a long-term believer in the Jim Harbaugh/Justin Herbert duo, I’m selling LA’s stock in the short term. The 2-1 Chargers have wins over the Carolina Panthers and the team who lost to the Panthers (the Las Vegas Raiders). They’re decimated by injuries, and even if Herbert is able to play vs. Kansas City, he’ll be playing through a high ankle sprain behind a patchwork offensive line. Travis Kelce is in a perfect position to get back on track especially while Derwin James is suspended, and I’d be shocked if KC lost this game.
Still, I can’t shake the idea that this is a low-scoring Carson Steele show where the Chiefs take an early lead and get out of LA without putting much on tape. Despite making semi-serious 13-10 predictions throughout the week, I do believe KC will put up a few more points without James or Joey Bosa on the field, but I don’t expect tremendous fireworks on the Chiefs’ business trip.
Prediction: Chiefs 20, Chargers 10
Jordan Foote: Until proven otherwise, I’m going to stay convinced that the Chiefs will do just enough to get by in non-playoff games. This weekend shouldn’t be any different, and the Chargers will give them plenty of room for error anyway. Similar to Brisco’s assessment, I think Harbaugh and Herbert will be a successful pairing down the line. With so many injuries stacking up and the offense not being potent yet, though, it’s hard not to roll with the Chiefs here. They’re a more complete and healthy team at this juncture (which is saying a lot). Look for Kelce to score his first touchdown of the season in Week 4.
Prediction: Chiefs 24, Chargers 17
Zack Eisen: The Chiefs head to Los Angeles to face a banged-up Chargers team. They will be missing their starting tackles and two of their three best defensive players. Also, their starting quarterback is banged up. It sets up for a comfortable Chiefs victory. However, that’s not how they have played games over the last two seasons. Getting the offense on the right track would be nice for Kansas City. It starts with Patrick Mahomes, who hasn’t been himself to start the year. This game could be a chance for him to get himself and the rest of the offense back on track. Establishing Xavier Worthy and Travis Kelce would help build confidence for the unit.
Prediction: Chiefs 24, Chargers 17
Mark Van Sickle: The Chargers are hurting with several key players missing the game or not playing at full strength. This seems like a good game for Kelce to break out. We’ve all been waiting for it! I also think this is the day we see Carson Steele get his first regular-season touchdown as a Chief. The defense should be able to smother Herbert. The Chiefs and Chargers typically play close games but with everything working against the Chargers this week, I’ve got to take the Chiefs by double digits.
Prediction: Chiefs 31, Chargers 17
Read More: Travis Kelce Explains Mindset Amid Lack of Targets, Touches on Offense
GIRARD, Kan. — The Southeast Kansas Fallen Firefighters Memorial gets a revamp.
The memorial was built in 2003, and the statue put in place in 2017.
Firefighters began cleanup at 9:00 a.m. at the Girard Fire Department.
Teams from across Southeast Kansas also helped put down new rocks, felt paper, and edging.
A memorial service is held each October, but this year they wanted to make the memorial look more fresh.
Girard Fire Department Captain, Daulton Crays, says it’s also a way to continue paying tribute.
“This is important to us. The memorial is to honor all of the fallen firefighters for Southeast Kansas. So it’s important to us to carry on their legacy and keep this looking good and take pride in it,” said Daulton Crays, Girard Fire Department Captain.
“Multiple agencies and multiple individuals have put forth the effort and the time to make sure that this was going to be something that, you know, not only the fire department can pay tribute to, but also the public can see and also pay tribute, especially those people that have family members on our memorial. They can come here anytime and visit it and see it,” said Thomas Vacca, Southeast Kansas Firefighters Honor Guard President.
Vacca hopes the memorial will last for generations to come–continuing to pay tribute to those lost.
The plan is to host a Southeast Kansas Fallen Firefighter Memorial on October 20, and everyone is invited to attend.
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