Watch It: K.C. Chiefs Players To Monitor Going Forward

Watch It: K.C. Chiefs Players To Monitor Going Forward – The Kansas City Chiefs have emerged from the toughest part of their schedule with just one loss. The season has not been without its struggles, but HC Andy Reid and DC Steve Spagnuolo have managed to get the most out of a roster that seems constantly in flux, due to injury. As some return and others step into new roles, there are a handful of players, on both sides of the ball, who deserve closer examination.

Injury could certainly be a factor, in Austin Reiter’s lackluster play. The fact remains, Mahomes has lacked confidence in the interior of the offensive line, and not without reason. On Monday afternoon, against the Buffalo Bills, Daniel Kilgore stepped in, allegedly to allow Reiter time to heal. Regardless of whether this was simply a coach’s excuse or honest proclamation, Kilgore performed admirably in relief. If he continues that level of production, Reiter won’t get his job back. Sustaining that level of production won’t be easy though. Plenty of NFL backups have popped, in their first action, only to fade with the full spotlight on them. For that reason alone, Kilgore bears watching.

After a pedestrian rookie year, Khalen Saunders looked to be ready for a role, in the Defensive Tackle rotation. Unfortunately, an injury in the first game of the season has sidelined him to this point. With the Chiefs designating him to return from injury, it will be interesting to see what roll he plays and what players see a reduction in their workload as a result. While Brett Veach’s 2019 draft class remains highly regarded, quality production from Saunders, this year, would certainly help solidify its status.

Seventh round picks don’t generally make much of an impact, the first time they hit the field. Nick Allegretti, has proved an exception to that rule. After losing Kelechi Osemele, Chiefs founds themselves with a deficit of nastiness, at the Right Guard spot. Allegretti provided that in abundance, against Buffalo, crushing an opposing defender so thoroughly the refs called a sympathy hold. Much like Kilgore, Allegretti’s performance bears watching going forward, as play can fall off when opposing teams dedicate time to game-plan for a player. Unlike Kilgore, however, continued quality reps, from Allegretti, could be huge for the Chiefs’ future, as he is under contract through 2022, with his largest cap hit being just over a million dollars. Allegretti’s success can do more than just help them win games, this year, it can fundamentally alter their draft strategy, in 2021.

Chiefs have seen a lot of turnover, due to injury, from the Defensive End position. With Alex Okafor again sidelined, due to injury and Taco Charlton nursing a Knee injury (though he may still play), the return of Mike Danna, likely against the Jets, could prove a welcome boost. Danna hasn’t been exceptionally productive, but he he plays with discipline and consistency. His athleticism also allows Spagnuolo some flexibility, particularly with Zone Blitzes. If Danna can maintain his early season performance, post-injury, it will go a long way towards maintaining Chiefs level of production on defense. If his injury lingers longer than expected, Chiefs may need to see what they can get out of Demone Harris or Tim Ward.

The injury Charvarius Ward suffered, to his hand, is impacting his play on the field. With physical press-coverage as his calling card, this really shouldn’t come as a a surprise. If L’Jarius Sneed were healthy, right now, the Chiefs would probably be resting Ward. Reliable options exist at CB in Bashaud Breeland and Rashad Fenton, but no viable option to replace Ward, as the third CB, is currently available. If his struggles continue, K.C. may have to turn to increased contributions from Antonio Hamilton, Tyrann Mathieu and Tedric Thompson. If Ward can settle down, the defense will be in a much better place.

After spending most of his snaps on special teams, Willie Gay has carved out a role as Chiefs third LB in base personnel. Unfortunately, with the Chiefs defense primarily leaning on Nickel and Dime personnel, this hasn’t equated to a lot of snaps. Fans must be patient with Gay’s development. While his dynamic athleticism is impressive, it bears consideration that players, with his talent, rarely fall to the 2^nd round. While some of this may have been due to character concerns, I think most of it relates to his limited experience in college. Gay will be a star in Chiefs defense, but it’s going to take time. Don’t expect anything more than a complementary role, this year.

Summary: Players To Monitor

With the easier stretch of Chiefs schedule coming up, the team must remain focused. They’ve shown the ability to beat teams without their A-game, but the loss to the Raiders also proves a cautionary tale. Perhaps their best hope for consistent performance comes from the new players on the Offensive Line: Nick Allegretti and Daniel Kilgore. If they can continue to play at a high level, the Chiefs offense will be unstoppable. On the other side of the ball, K.C. need to get healthy. Injuries to Charvarius Ward, Khalen Saunders and Mike Danna, has limited Steve Spagnuolo’s options. If that group can get healthy and return to form, we should see more consistent performances, from that side of the ball. Willie Gay will be a star player, in the future, but his role remains limited, for now. The Chiefs don’t need him on the field for every snap, but the more of the defense he’s able to absorb, the better. Against dynamic pass catching backs, like Aaron Jones and Alvin Kamara, Gay’s athleticism can really shine. GM Brett Veach has assembled some excellent depth, now it’s up to the players to realize their potential, so that the Kansas City Chiefs can do the same.

Ransom Hawthorne — ArrowheadOne

Come back at noon today to read a piece by David Bell called,

“Thunder and Lightning: From the Air and Ground”

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