Kansas City Chiefs’ defense continues to fill positions, look to build on last season’s success

By Calvin Silvers

It was the fourth straight training camp practice for the Kansas City Chiefs on Monday, switching things up in the heat as they used their 10-10-10 practice format. This format is more of a mental practice, as the players only wear shells. It’s a good way to get a lot of work done but take the physicality off.

While this takes away the tackling aspect, the defense is still working towards building on the success from last season. The defense came into training camp knowing they had some positions to fill, but the injury bug has taken its toll already, especially in the defensive back room.

For the cornerbacks, they’ve been able to throw in the likes of Kelvin Joseph and Joshua Williams, but they’re waiting for that one person to break through.

“Josh has been out there, Kelvin, there’s a lot of guys mixing in there, but somebody has got a surface and if not, it just gets tough,” defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo said. “You know, you can 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.”

One of those athletes includes Bryan Cook, who had an impressive showing in Sunday’s practice with multiple pass breakups. Despite suffering a leg injury to close out the 2023 season, he seems to be closing in on 100% in training camp.

“The one thing about Bryan is he goes a hundred miles an hour all the time,” Spagnuolo said. “He’ll tell you he was a little bit rusty getting back into it, but I think it’s kind of smoothing out for him right now.”

While three-year corner Trent McDuffie has his spot solidified, he also has some new techniques to learn.

With the defense losing L’Jarius Sneed, McDuffie will likely be asked to play more outside after playing the nickel position last season.

“On the outside, on the island, you got to be a technician and come into this camp knowing that I might have to do some more of that,” McDuffie said. “Has me each and every day just working little by little on technique.”

It’s a good reminder that the Chiefs will make cuts to their roster as the season nears. For the linebacker unit, this is especially important, as fewer men means they’ll have more responsibilities on their plate, but the defense wouldn’t want it any other way.

“One of the things we do like being is multiple, and when guys can play different positions like Leo (Chenal), he’s kind of all over the place. Drue (Tranquill) is, you know, Drue’s got to play some like MIKE linebacker.,” Spagnuolo said. “You got to start thinking about guys and dual roles, and then all of a sudden the number of guys shrinks, so guys are going to have to have dual responsibilities.

The team knows the fanbase will be expecting this defense to either take another step or at least perform just as well as last season, and that brings no pressure to any chief on that side of the ball.

“Being here the past two years, this defense has just consistently gotten better and better and I think we’re a group of guys that every day we come out to practice, every day we go into the meeting rooms, we have a purpose and we’re out there to prove that last year wasn’t a fluke,” McDuffie said.