Chiefs: “Man, I’m Ready To Work!” – By this time last year, we had a good feel for the top three draft picks of the Kansas City Chiefs: Mecole Hardman, Juan Thornhill and Khalen Saunders. We knew, obviously, their talent based on their respective performance during their college careers. Yet we had no clue on how that talent and experience experience would translate on the professional level. More importantly, through the media, Chiefs press conferences, rookie mini-camps, and their personal Twitter feeds, we quickly learned of their individual character, their commitment, their personality, and their hopes for their fledgling careers as Chiefs.
2019: That Was Then
With Hardman — “The Jet” — we knew we had quite a character with no shortage of personality. Brash, loquacious, and self-assured, the speedy wide receiver reminded me of a number of class comedians I had while in high school. He quickly showed, however, underneath that swagger was commitment to excellence, a willingness to learn, and he was instantly able to give The Cheetah a run for his money in a footrace. With his warm smile and his witty banter, on and off the field, he was firmly entrenched as a Chief before even the first snap in week one at Jacksonville.
In almost direct opposition to Hardman, second round draft-pick, Juan “Black Kite” Thornhill, was not nearly as verbose. A man of few words, young Thornhill was soft-spoken when addressing the media. His hubris shone through during interviews, but the silent swagger was just as mighty as was Hardman’s. Thornhill bought into defensive secondary leader Tyrann Mathieu’s philosophy of playing “chess not checkers” in the backfield of the Chiefs defensive early on in training camp, and it not only showed, but also ensured the soft-toned safety was a starter week one last year.
Notice how Thornhill pays tribute to Tyrann Mathieu. The greatness of Mathieu shines through in many ways. Mathieu has overcome poverty and violence, a father in prison, drugs, 3 injuries in 3 years, as well as a natural disaster to his hometown and look at who he has become. In a committed relationship (to Sydni Paige Russell), a good father, a mentor on and off the field and a Christian man of values. His leadership in 2019 goes way beyond the field of play.
Saunders bubbly personality immediately shined through. Although he didn’t start showing up big until the last half of the season, he appears to be big time plus moving forward. Much of what we knew of him a year ago was encapsulated in a video of him doing a backflip to show off his athleticism:
The Here and Now: Willie Gay Jr.
Unfortunately, with the country still partially shut down by the COVID-19 pandemic, quarantine, lockdown (choose your favorite — or least favorite — word), we have yet to get a good look at or feel for our newly-drafted rookies… personally.
Certainly, Arrowhead One has covered our first round draft pick well in our numerous articles on the best rookie in the 2020 NFL draft. However, we’ve not yet done justice to our second-round draft pick, Willie Gay, Jr.:
Gay was picked 63rd overall by the Chiefs. Just as Clyde Edwards-Helaire is the best running back chosen in the draft, our Mississippi State alumni is the best linebacker of the draft (Brett Veach rocks, BTW!).
Let’s first get the negative out of the way. There were some issues with Gay during his senior year in college. The first was an 8-game suspension for academic fraud. The second was an alleged fight that injured their QB before a bowl game. Of the vetting process, Gay said:
“They asked me about everything — the quarterback situation, the suspension for the academic thing — and it’s not like I’m going to say it wasn’t my fault, because it was something that I could’ve avoided easily. I dealt with the consequences of it. It made me a better man; it made me a better person. It helped me appreciate the game of football. It made me really find the love of football even more. Now, I’ve grown from it and I’m ready to just play ball.”
So, our rookie linebacker has expressed remorse for both incidents, seems to have learned from them, and is poised to use them as motivation.
I don’t take much away from Gay’s mishaps in college. He’s a young man. Young men make mistakes and they learn from them. Although over thirty-years removed from my own dirty deeds of my youth, I dare say that ArrowheadOne editor-in-chief, Ladner Morse, would probably ban me from writing for our site if he knew the extent of my shenanigans during the time.
Editor’s Note: I participated in more “shenanigans” than you can shake a stick at during my youth. The key is learning and self-forgiveness.
Now on to what’s important … and, that’s the good stuff.
While this is in no doubt a comparison, I’d not disrespect the memory of a legend, nor put that kind of weight on the shoulders of a rookie, Willie Gay, Jr., is the most athletic linebacker that the Chiefs have drafted since they took Derrick Thomas #4 overall out of Alabama, in the 1989 NFL Draft.
Gay has spent his past four years in college, playing solely on skille, instinct, and athleticism. Once he soaks in the football knowledge to be divulged him by DC Steve Spagnuolo, Tyrann “The Landlord” Mathieu, Anthony Hitchens, and LB Coach Matt House… he’s going to be a force to be reckoned with.
“Man, I’m Ready to Work”
Gay has shown throughout his college career that he can learn, put his knowledge to good use and grow.
While our defense was good enough last year to help ensure a Super Bowl victory, our young Mr. Gay is the final piece to the puzzle. Combined with Dan Sorensen, Thornhill, Frank Clark, Chris Jones (hopefully), and the rest of the Red and Gold defense, along with Honey Badger leading by example, and Spags positioning his defense much like a master chess champion, the Mississippi native will thrive. Here’s what Mike Renner of Pro Football Focus had to say about the Chiefs pick of Willie Gay Jr.:
“He tested out on Isaiah Simmons levels of freaky at the combine with a 4.46-second 40 time, 39.5-inch vertical, and 11-foot-4 broad jump at 6-foot-1, 243 pounds. That would be one thing in a vacuum, but we’ve already seen it translate to the field with his 93.9 career coverage grade being the highest of any player in the draft class, regardless of position.”
I’m looking as forward to the Chiefs new linebacker — #50 — starting the first game at outside linebacker (SAM) this year, as I am his last game of the season in Tampa Bay, Florida, on February 7, 2021.
After all, that young man is ready to work!
Michael Travis Rose — ArrowheadOne
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