By MATT PIKE
It was another hot day at Kansas City Chiefs training camp on the Missouri Western campus, but the Chiefs were still grinding hard preparing for the season.
This season will bring an expanded role for second year safety Jaden Hicks, after Justin Reid was not resigned this offseason, and moved on to the New Orleans Saints.
Safety Bryan Cook says he knows Hicks is ready for that expanded role because of his capacity to learn at a rapid rate
“As well as the fact that he’s always high energy, things like that, so you know sometimes if our vets are a little low that day, he’ll bring the energy, he’ll bring the juice,” Cook tells reporters. “And as I said before, he’s always ready to learn.”
Hicks, a fourth-round pick last season, had three interceptions and 27 tackles playing in every game last season behind Reid and Cook.
Theres also a big offensive line battle brewing during Chiefs training camp.
With a battle at left tackle, between Jaylon Moore and Josh Simmons, and a battle at left guard, between Mike Caliendo and Kingsley Suamataia, there’s some competition brewing during camp.
Defensive tackle Chris Jones says it’s good competition and adds it’s good for the offensive line, but also good for the defensive line as well
“You’ve got to enjoy this competition man, I think we’ve reiterated this over the years we have one of the hardest training camps, and I think after this training camp they’ll be able to evaluate and see who’s the best fit for it,” Jones says. “But I actually like it, because the change up amongst the offensive line, you’ve got so many guys that can play so many different places, guard, tackle, that it makes us better on the offensive line, and also challenges us on the defensive line.”
Suamataia played the final game of last season at left guard against the Denver Broncos, which gave the Chiefs the confidence to move him to the position after trading Joe Thuney
Day two of Chiefs Training Camp saw some more big plays from the offense, but also some big plays from the defense.
On the offensive side of the ball during camp, the Chiefs have been focusing on emphasizing explosive and big plays, going deep down field.
Defensive Coordinator Steve Spagnuolo says he doesn’t like it when big plays happen in practice.
“But hopefully it makes us better in eliminating those, because those will kill you in a game, I can remember one or two there today,” Spagnuolo points out. “But listen, the offense will make us better by doing that in terms of taking away those deep plays, because explosive plays in this league, when you give them up, usually that doesn’t bode well for points allowed.”
While the Chiefs offense is working to get back the explosive play, after struggling last season, the defense has done an exceptional job at containing the big play.
The Chiefs practiced again for just about an hour and a half today. They practice again tomorrow at 9:15 on the Mosaic Practice Fields.
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