There are advantages to having preseason games. I may need to say that again for many Kansas City Chiefs fans… but I’ll spare you. The reason I’d say that has to do with shoring up the final roster spots, and honing in on the backups for certain very important position groups. Let’s take a look.
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The Next Frank Clark
While none of us knows what will become of the Frank Clark court case(s) coming up within the next year, we can anticipate that if Clark plays at the same sorry level he played at in 2020, he (and his contract), will be expendable next offseason. That may be easy enough said, but the realities of that possibility means the Chiefs will soon be shopping for their next pass rushing phenom as soon as the first half of this season is under their belt. Not that I expect GM Brett Veach to make a move during this season, but the powers that be, in the background and back rooms at One Arrowhead Way will begin to become, “A churning urn of burning funk” as James Taylor used to sing, and the Chiefs scouting dept. begins to consume the midnight oil.
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In the meantime, let’s take a look at who might already be on the roster, who might be Frank Clark’s eventual successor.
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Mike Danna
Danna is a second year man out of Michigan and stands, 6-foot-2, and 261 lbs.. Danna may seem like the first player up who could take Clark’s place, but I don’t see that potential in him. Still, Danna may be part of the “DE by Committee” approach next year, or until Veach can locate a suitable replacement.
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Alex Okafor
If Okafor can stay healthy, a big if, but in the event Okafor is able to remain available, he could provide the necessary pressure needed to make a suitable DE opposite Chris Jones… for one year. Okafor turns 31 years old this coming February so that might be asking a bit much. He played 11 games for K.C. in 2019 and 10 games last year, so it looks like his utilization will be as a rotational DE at best.
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Tim Ward
Ward just turned 24, is entering his prime and has had a very good camp and preseason. Trusting the Chiefs DE future to an inexperienced player like Ward is not what you’d expect from a Steve Spagnuolo defense, but this is exactly why we watch preseason games. Ward, #92, is an important player to watch and while I think he already has a 53-man roster spot locked up this season, he may be playing for a much expended role in the future.
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In a piece by Charles Goldman for ChiefsWire called, “6 Chiefs players to watch in preseason Week 3 vs. Vikings” he lists Tim Ward as one of those players. Goldman had this to say about Ward:
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“After the Chiefs cut veteran DE Taco Charlton this week, Ward is closer to the 53-man roster than he’s ever been. Still, Ward has a lot to prove if he intends on being an NFL starter, but for now, he looks like solid depth that should see a fair amount of snaps in the second half against Minnesota.”
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The players he says to watch vs the Vikes include: Trey Smith, Daurice Fountain, Jody Fortson, Devon Key, Omari Cobb and Ward.
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Josh Kaindoh
Kaindoh was the Chiefs 4th round pick this year (144th overall), but had exactly zero sacks for Florida State in his last year there. He’s all potential at this point and I doubt we see him excel until 2022 at the earliest, if he’s going to at all. IOW, I’m not so sure DL line coach and DC Steve Spagnuolo, will be counting on him to be a pass rushing specialist this year or even next year for that matter. You know the age old saying about the best “ability” is availability and since Kaindoh has only started in ten games for the Seminoles over the past two seasons, he’s seems to be mostly potential, down the line, at this point.
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Surprise DE Candidate:
Tershawn Wharton
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Tershawn Wharton, a UDFA out of Missouri S&T, was a shocking surprise in 2020 and while you may be surprised to see his name show up here, he did have 2 sacks last year… while playing the DT position… coming in his rookie year… produced on less than half of the defensive snaps no less! Wharton has been getting a lot of buzz in training camp this year plus the same is happening in preseason games. The following may have been a second rep — with the first one being won by Trey Smith — but Wharton has been getting the better of the Chiefs best OL, across the board:
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Although he’s been relegated to defensive tackle specifically, he’s one inch taller than Frank Clark and approximately the same weight (255-to-260 lbs.). There’s been talk about some of the Chiefs iDL being moved around by Brendan Daly and Steve Spagnuolo during the coming season, which also would allow Chris Jones to move back inside on any given play. Jones has been singing his own version of “The Monster Mash” no matter where he lines up.
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With DTs being flexed inside or out, Chris Jones can be paired up with the opponent’s least talented offensive lineman and so we can look for players like Jarran Reed and of course, Tershawn Wharton, to get their shots in a DE. Here’s Wharton highlighted by Craig Stout:
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While I like the idea of Reed and Wharton giving the opponents they face all they can handle up the middle on passing downs, you can get a glimpse of Wharton as an edge rusher from the clip above, as well as the clip below:
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Here’s Matt McMullen explaining Wharton’s impact in 2020.
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Wharton wears #98 and is 6-foot-4, 255lbs. and appears just as likely to become Frank Clark’s heir apparent than any other player on the roster, as of now. Before I end this Wharton love fest, here’s one more:
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The Offensive Line
On the offensive side of the ball, I’ll once again be keeping my eyes on this newly cemented OL. They’ve looked amazingly good so far, but I want to see Patrick Mahomes take advantage of his fresh faced brick wall up front, be patient in the pocket and go bombs-away to Tyreek, or Mecole, or Travis or Pringle, or Fountain, or Fortson, or, or, or, or………….
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To help you keep track of the 80 players still on the roster… we’re going to paint by numbers once again tonight. Note: the following players in gray have already moved on from the team:
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I know that many of you, like me, are not thrilled about the name change for Arrowhead Stadium. So, before the game gets going, here’s a look at the unveiling of “GEHA Field” at Arrowhead Stadium.
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Please don’t shoot the messenger.
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One More Thing
I’ll also be keeping my eyes out for this guy…
… and not just because he wears my favorite number –> #22.
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Mahomes Snaps in PS Game 3
I’ve gone round and round about the way Andy Reid would utilize the three preseason games this year, and I’ve assumed he’d treat PS Game Two like the old PS Game Three, where the starters play the first half of G3 and then are done and don’t play at all in G4. However, Andy Reid has said Patrick Mahomes may play the whole first half here in their last preseason game.
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However, it was just four days ago that Charles Goldman reported that Reid was unsure about Mahomes snaps.
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I’d be surprised if Mahomes plays very much into the second quarter, but, I also expect the new OL to play a full half and possibly into the third quarter.
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Kent Swanson, Matt Lane and Craig Stout break down this preseason game v the Minnesota Vikings on the KC Sports Network’s YouTube channel:
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Curious Question of the Week
If Jerick McKinnon makes this roster — which seems like a given right now — can the Chiefs have two players nicknamed “The Jet” on the same roster?
–> Mecole Hardman and Jerick McKinnon?
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Go Chiefs!
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Laddie Morse — ArrowheadOne
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