Chiefs: An Outlook for Cornerbacks – Who are the Chiefs counting on at Cornerback? What about the “new guys”? I think it goes beyond rookies, so we need to take a look at players signed, the 2nd year players as well as rookies and UDFA’s.
Now in his third year as a CB with the Chiefs, Charvarius Ward has solidified himself as a very capable player with a high ceiling. I won’t illuminate further but my outlook for Ward is very high profile. Attention to Bashaud Breeland must be made. He turned in a average bit of work in 2019 but his late and post season was very good. Our problem is that he is likely going to start out on a four game suspension or worse due to non-football “legal” problems. The Chiefs will need to figure out who is ready, who gets game snaps and find a player beyond Rashad Fenton as a starting Corner. Keep in mind that Rashad Fenton’s play mostly slot last season but showed well playing outside in postseason play.
So, who is it we are waiting and watching for? Will Brett Veach go to the NFL “Get a Guy Agency”? I found a recent article at ChiefsWire.com by Charles Goldman who picked four potential players who would fit the type of signing that Brett Veach might make. One of them was a fit: High draft pick who didn’t fulfill expectations with the Buccaneers: MJ Stewart (2nd round CB selection). That intrigued me and it fits the type of thing Veach is wont to do, so it got me thinking about available Free Agent CB’s.
My focus though is on players that are in-house and capable of fulfilling their promise. Here I’m considering Charvarius Ward and Bashaud Breeland as givens, so I am going to focus on informing you that — despite my worries — it appears that things are going to be “up-to-date in Kansas City!”
Focal Point CB: Rashad Fenton
Rashad Fenton rolled into the mix in 2019 and played some good football. He appeared in 11 games in 2019 with 11 tackles, 1 INT and 4 PD in 15 snaps per games played. He is not an outside CB — yet — and during the regular season saw his work in the slot. During the playoffs he did play on the outside and it worked well. He is probably more suited to that role with his skill set. Fenton was a “pleasant surprise” in 2019. From a 6th round draft pick to a potential starter in a single year? Heavens. At the same time, I do not think Fenton should be counted on as the “starter” without further proof. Early games are going to be crucial for Steve Spagnuolo, and CB coach Sam Madison, to see just how much faith they can place in Fenton’s capabilities. If Fenton comes through, then my worry-wart list is reduced by a factor of one… but CB will remain my biggest position group of concern.
What I see as the most immediate exposure is at the CB position even with Fenton growing into a starter quality CB. There are observations that need to be made about this: Bashaud Breeland’s likely suspension, and leveraging Fenton to a starter role are two major items of concern. In 2019, Fenton was thrust into play a lot earlier than was expected and he handled the assignments well. Fenton will need more playing time and he must show he has grown on his 2019 experience, which is the right type of outlook to have for him.
Rashad Fenton is 5-foot-11, 190 lbs., and has enough speed needed for the NFL. I hope to see is a growth in maturity in the game by becoming a dependable defender and since it will likely be as a starter, my hopes are that he has grown in the off-season.
Sam Madison, the Chiefs CB Coach, was pleased with what he saw from Fenton in 2019, believing he was playing each snap at NFL speed. This bodes well for season two, but it is also the season where players run into the proverbial wall. The thing that happened for Fenton was, Kendall Fuller injuring his thumb, and that forced him into the game far more quickly than was planned.
Madison, speaking to reporters after the season gave pretty good sunshine for Fenton, saying he could play outside too and the Chiefs used him in both roles. Many worried Fenton’s combine performance in the 40 which was the official time of 4.52. Keep in mind that this was blowing out a cleat and running barefoot for the last part of the 40. Speed is not an issue. The worry was his “twitchiness”, and basically being too “handsy” with the receivers. Also, at 4.52, consider that he’s a step faster than Marcus Peters.
Despite his development in 2019, it was impeded in week 14 when he injured his hamstring and was out for three games, returning to play in week 17. He played well from the last game of the season throughout the playoffs and the Super Bowl.
Focal Point CB: L’Jarius Sneed CB/S
The Chiefs drafted L’Jarius Sneed for multiple reasons. Two big factors had to have been his play speed plus other factors, such as his length and versatility. In 2019, he was asked to move back to Safety but the three preceding years Sneed played CB and it is here that I think he must be deployed, though his versatility will become a big asset to Spagnuolo’s defense. The thing that kept him lower in the draft was that he played at Louisiana Tech, viewed by most as a second tier program — but wait!
I wrote in an article not long ago that this depression of his round selection was a big advantage for the Chiefs, so obtaining him in round #4 was another Brett Veach “Gem”. At 6-0-192, Sneed has the length to play a significant role in 2020 for the Chiefs secondary. I fully believe that the Chiefs would have used Juan Thornhill as the Free Safety (single-high) with Breeland playing the dog, Mathieu disguising his task for each play while Spagnuolo would use Daniel Sorensen and Armani Watt’s effectively swapping in players for specific jobs on specific plays. I am still sure that Watts will have a niche on the back end of the defense.
Sneed will be honed to develop and take on a CB role, hopefully as the #3 CB due to his talent. His versatility will fit very well with what Spagnuolo does in disguising coverages and his time as a safety imbues his potential importance to the secondary. For this reason, as the season progresses, I believe the fans will see Sneed’s snaps increased each week, working to get him the experience needed to become a reliable component at CB. We do have such a need to see him succeed “quickly.”
If Sneed seizes the opportunity, we might well be able to count on the CB position as being more of a strength than any of us might envision. It will take some time to fold it all together and to get it to mesh at NFL game speed. Perhaps in a league dealing with the Covid-19 virus, his inexperience will not be glaring.
I have mentioned Sneed’s bona fides in the previous article but they are worthy of review. He had 2 starts as a true Freshman and played top notch football in the CUSA championship game with a crucial INT. His Sophomore and Junior years he played CB, starting 6 of 11 games, with 30 Tackles, 1 Int and 6 PBUs. As a Junior he started 12 of 13 games with 59 tackles, 1.5 sacks, 3 INTs (1 was a pick-six) and eight PBU’s. For 2019, Sneed moved from corner to safety for the 2019 season due to team need. He won second-team All-Conference USA honors and scored his third NCAA TD, having 3 INT’s, 73 tackles, 3.5 for a loss, along with 6 PBU’s. There is a lot to look forward to with Sneed’s arrival in KC.
Add to his credentials his underwear numbers where L’Jarius Sneed recorded a 4.37-40, a 41-inch vertical, and a broad jump of 131 inches (10-foot-9). Those are beyond respectable numbers for all CB’s at the scouting combine and if coupled with his game numbers, as well as his game tape, shows a player who is raw due to the talent level faced, but who will be up to NFL speed quickly Of course, I hope that’s from the season opener onward.
For the Chiefs needs in 2020, Sneed’s skill compare favorably to Juan Thornhill’s and Tyrann Mathieu’s in that he has played both Corner and Safety so, he has the ability adn twitch to shift to the Slot when needed. Veach and crew had great vision to see his worth and scoop him up in the 4th round.
Look. He surprised everybody watching the combine. If I am any judge at all of player talent, Sneed is the player who will burst onto the scene and garner attention quickly as he works up to NFL pace. Plus, once he gets the necessary coaching from Sam Madison, to work out the kinks, to get his alignment set and work on his hip switching he should be good. Once he puts to bed the grabbiness that observers so worry about, he can be better than good.
Sneed’s Highlight film is illuminating. See it here:
Ward, Breeland, Fenton, Sneed and Antonio Hamilton: Can Be a Formidable CB Crew!
It’s far better to see both Fenton and Sneed worked into the mix at CB, even when Breeland returns. Getting over the hump with Breeland out is going to be a key to the success of the secondary and even then: Cornerback is the Chiefs primary weak point until the players prove out.
Less Focus on Where Guys Were Drafted,
More on, What They Bring to the Table
Far better is the approach to the Chiefs secondary weakness to have these two young guys grow quickly into significant roles at CB. DC Steve Spagnuolo will have to counter inexperience with deployment and task assignment while using his coverage disguises to counter various threats of NFL opponents.
Safe at Safety
Daniel Sorensen has a role to play and Spagnuolo will utilize him effectively, especially playing up in the box or even as a pass coverage linebacker at times. Spagnuolo used Dirty Dan effectively close to the LoS and he is an excellent football mind who can even take on LB duties for Pass Defense. Tyrann Mathieu’s credentials are tops and Juan Thornhill is going to be adding to his FS credentials mightily in 2020 despite being placed recently on the PUP. Armani Watts adds to the back end of the defense which is a good crew to take the pressure off the Corners in front of them. Besides this, Thornhill plays center field extremely well at a level of play that I envision as “Pro-Bowl” quality play. The future is very bright for the safeties and this gives the Corners trustworthy back end coverage.
Having both Fenton and Sneed tossed to the Lions early may end up being a big blessing for Spagnuolo. It may hurt a bit early on, but the fault will lie with Bashaud Breeland and not Spagnuolo, Sam Madison or other players on the roster. Too, there are other guys out there that I cannot anticipate how well they fit for 2020, such as Alex Brown and Chris Lammons, both UDFA acquisitions and returnees from 2019. The coaches appear to have a very favorable view of both players from their work and player ethic from last year. The Chief’s brought in other UDFA’s such as Rodney Clemmons and Lavert Hill as well.
Focal Point CB: Tulane’s BoPete Keyes
I want to mention my expectations for BoPete Keyes. I expect his development time will likely be most of the season. I think Keyes is a fit for KC’s secondary. He is not as far along as Fenton was nor Sneed. Apparently though, Spagnuolo’s feed to GM Brett Veach had the Chiefs move up to get the pick required to take in the draft. I have read they worried another team would select him hence the trade of picks that allowed his addition.
Keyes is going to be a future contributor in the secondary and maybe a lot more. Although, he’s starting the season on the PUP due to an injury last season which kept him out of the Senior Bowl. I have not discovered where he stands on rehab. This is another wait’n see situation.
Focal Point CB: Free Agent Antonio Hamilton
While I am referring to the outlook for the secondary, review if you will, the comments by Sam Madison about the addition of Antonio Hamilton — added as a Free Agent — along with Rashad Fenton, L’Jarius Sneed and hopefully BoPete Keyes, will find a role in the secondary quickly. In an interview these players had DB Coach Sam Madison’s attention (from USAToday):
Hamilton. We brought him in to be able to come out and compete but when you look at the landscape of offenses this year, you’re going to have three wide receivers on the football field every single time so you need to find that third corner,” Madison said. “Having an opportunity to draft Sneed, a big corner, physical guy, knows how to attack the ball at the highest point. Those are the things for each and every last one of our guys that we need to get better at as the percentage is 50/50 of balls thrown downfield. Sneed, Keyes, you look at Hamilton, we brought in men to come in and solidify themselves.
Competition is good stuff. For Antonio Hamilton, he is now in his 5th season and the learning curve won’t be a foreign subject for him. Fenton, Sneed and Hamilton will all get a lot of one-on-one tutelage as the coaching staff will give high intensity attention to get them ready for the season opener. I know that Hamilton has said he is anxious to prove he can be an NFL starter. Time will tell. At the very least Hamilton can be a role player, with NFL Experience, with the CB Group having high priority needs. Indeed, it is my wager that all three players will reap early benefit of the Chiefs coaching staff as this “irregular” season begins.
With more than $13M now in Cap space, it is possible that Brett Veach can work a trade to bring in a high-level contributor, to add to the mix. It would not hurt my feelings one bit if the Chiefs made that investment. After the Cornerback group, Veach will still have to figure on Linebackers, the next most needy consideration in my outlook – though I am high on having Willie Gaye, Jr. prove the point that he is a round one quality talent.
Perhaps the Cornerback room has in-house solutions already and fans must sit and wait to watch it unfold. After all, the Chiefs under GM Brett Veach, have done well spotting talent to bring aboard via the draft and free agency, to fit what the Chiefs need and what they do.
David Bell – ArrowheadOne
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