Are you of a mind that the Chiefs have multiple position battles going on to determine a starter? I no longer believe that to be the case and think, at present, decisions have been made for who will start at all positions, but one.
Andy Reid will start the ones and play them for about one quarter.
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This will be an eye-opener for some who think this or that position group is a problem. Who knows, perhaps we all will have big surprises in store for us, in the first pre-season game.
Left Tackle
I have thought about this topic all along and watched what has happened in Camp closely. It appears to me that the LOT role was an important contest between two players: Kingsley Suamataia and Wayna Morris. As Wednesday’s practice rolled to a conclusion, I think the outcome is pre-determined and you will know who lines up in Front of Mahomes in the first preseason game. It is my view, that Kingsley Suamataia will be that player on the left side of the offensive line in Jacksonville, making my prediction from two weeks ago, come to fruition.
Also, do not get me wrong about Wanya Morris. I think he has talent and when he was drafted in the 3rd round in 2022, I praised that choice. I do get my share of OU games to watch. I have wondered about moving him inside. I am sure he could succeed as the ROT as well. That’s something to watch for during preseason games. Here is a brief look at Morris in action in training camp:
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At a Chiefs press Conference, Assistant GM Mike Borgonzi has this to say about Suamataia:
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“He really is a prototype left tackle with his
athleticism and length. That’s what we see
him as. But he can play both, which is
good, having the versatility to do both.”
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Note: Kingsley was the BYU starter at ROT in 2022, but last year, the starter at LOT.
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In fact, I thought the Chiefs would do something completely different in the draft, and I failed to take into account the familiarity of Reid and other staff members with BYU coaches and players. Veach selected Suamataia, who I did think was a potential round-one player, with their 63rd pick, in late round-two. For whatever reason, Suamataia lasted that long in the draft. I think the Chiefs were fortunate to be able to select a quality LOT that late in the draft.
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Wide Receivers
The WR group also has resolved to the top three players, so the starters are already determined: Marquise Brown, Rashee Rice, and Xavier Worthy. This is not to say that there aren’t players vying for the next 3 spots, but they are not starting positions. I am still having thoughts, second thoughts, and questions about who these players will be.
Getting the deep game back is going to be huge for the Chiefs. Mahomes, deep to Marquise Brown:
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The thing I like about this threesome is the speed and how they contribute either deep or in crossing routes. Worthy has quick feet and good hands. The rumor about drops is nonsense.
Think also, about the TE Group, who will likely be comprised of Kelce, Wiley, Gray, and Irv Smith! We have all seen each of these players in action in the Training Camp of 2024 and I like the things that I have seen.
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So, the real position battles for WRs are: who will be WR #s 4-5-6? (It’s true, they could keep seven WRs on the active roster, but I think camp will resolve that to only six players). In this regard, I think the potential of Nikko Remigio comes into play, plus the S/T roles that Mecole Hardman, Kadarius Toney, and RB Louis Rees-Zammit (LRZ) could well play. Toney and Hardman have an inside track to secure a roster spot. Also, Hardman possesses over-the-top speed. Example from training camp? Mahomes to Hardman, deep:
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We’ll have to wait and see how this works out.
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I am a Xavier as a savior believer also, even knowing there will be a learning curve number of games to get him fully up to speed. Here’s another video of how lethal Worthy’s speed is:
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My guess about WR #4 is Justin Watson because of his known rapport with QB Patrick Mahomes. That would leave two positions to fill and here I question whether Skyy Moore will be among the three players. From the posture of the coaching staff, I think Kadarius Toney will be used as a WR/RB in position #5 and Mecole Hardman will round out the WR Group to six players. Still in all, there is no position battle until one evaluates #4-#6.
So What Is the Only True Position Battle?
Cornerback
My answer is: Who will be the #2 CB, of course?
The #1 CB on the roster is Trent McDuffie, hands down, no questions asked. McDuffie was an ace draft pick by GM Brett Veach in 2022. Here is a training camp video with McDuffie defending Hollywood and getting a PBU. He was right with Brown all the way!
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With the departure of L’jarius Sneed, a primary need was opened and who will line up opposite of Trent McDuffie became the question needing a solution in Training Camp and preseason games. In 2023, until he suffered a season-ending knee injury, that candidate would have been Nazeeh Johnson. At present, it appears to be a contest among three players: Nazeeh Johnson, Joshua Williams, and Jaylen Watson.
All have significant experience previously with CB Coach Dave Merritt and DC Steve Spagnuolo which gives them a leg up on the other competitors. I suppose my question becomes, can any player be a starter quality defender in the slot? I think watching how the defense aligns with the nickel defender is something to watch all during the game in which players are involved.
Not only that, but that player must be starting-level outside because it is very likely, that the Spagnuolo will move McDuffie into the slot for defending that receiver at times… or… he could be assigned the task of defending the opposing team’s top WR. If the Chiefs do indeed move McDuffie inside, then two starting quality players are going to be needed, outside!
This is where CB Kelvin Joseph comes into the picture, so I suppose that I must make it 4 players vying for a major role. Joseph was the 44th pick in the draft of 2021 (he played for Kentucky in the SEC), and has gotten reps with the “ones.”
What Spags said is important. He is looking for a player to step up and claim the role. Here is what Spagnuolo said at his part of the Presser on Saturday:
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“We’re going to have to find our next two
best players, however, that works out.”
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Saturday, he further noted the loss of Sneed created the opening and probably for two players. He affirmed that McDuffie was the new CB#1.
It’s also important to acknowledge that Johnson is coming back after an ACL tear and Jaylen Watson is recovering from a shoulder injury.
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“We know Nazeeh is dealing with his little injury
right now. Josh has been out there (and) Kelvin.
There’s lots of guys mixing in there, but somebody’s
got to surface. If not, it gets tough. You could have
the best pass rush in the world, but these receivers
get open quick if you’re not able to cover them…
So, we got some developing to do. We certainly
miss [Sneed], but somebody’s got to step up
there. I’m waiting for somebody to assert them–
selves and say — ‘I’m that guy that can do it.”
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I am hoping that the solution is in-house and think that Kelvin Joseph is one of the two players. I also believe Nazeeh Johnson can indeed man the inside role as well. That would be great, giving the CB group a big leg up on getting to a great solution. I am pretty sure that Charles Goldman views Johnson as a solution. Here is a quote from a Goldman Tweet a few days ago:
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Based on talent, Kelvin Joseph and Nazeeh Johnson have shown-up in camp. I am anxious to see both players vs. the Jaguars.
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I don’t know what happened with Kelvin Joseph and the Cowboys. He has played in 31 games total but only 5 in 2023. I hope that Dave Merritt is a fairy godfather for Joseph who had a ton of talent coming out of college. He had 4.35 40-yard dash speed. If Spags observes that he is in the mix. That is great news. I wonder about the character/persona situation with Joseph. For whatever reason, the Cowboys cut ties with him and I hope the issue wasn’t “Character” alone.
Ron Kopp, Jr. tweeted about Joseph in training camp:
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I think you can see why I believe there is one true starting-type role position battle and that is Cornerback. Losing a competitor and starter like L’Jarius Sneed was a crucial problem that needed to be solved. If a young CB is going to fit, he must be a good pass defender, but also a player not afraid to mix it up and play run defense with good contact and force. Special Teams play will also be a factor and S.T. Coordinator, Dave Toub, will also have input.
There are a couple more CBs to keep an eye on: Ekow Boye-Doe, and Mike Battle. In many ways, the back end of the CB position group presents an eye-popping number of Chiefs players. Plus, I also want to see 2024 late-round draft pick Kamal Hadden in operation as well.
The Chiefs indeed have several young players who could have import. Preseason games will teach us a lot. I will be watching with great interest, the LOT players, DEs, and especially the CBs. I am looking forward to the first chance to see these guys in action versus the Jaguars.
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David Bell — ArrowheadOne
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