In their second preseason game of the summer, the Chiefs lost to the Pittsburgh Steelers 17-7 on Saturday night. There was not much action as both teams struggled to get much done on offense until late in the game, but here are five things to take away from the game:
Darwin Thompson looked like Chiefs’ best RB for second week in a row
Thompson is quickly becoming a fan favorite on the back of his stellar preseason play. He led the Chiefs in rushing for the second week in a row with 30 yards on four carries. He also had another standout play in pass protection on the Chiefs’ only touchdown pass of the night. He has been better in pass protection than expected to enter the preseason. His two-game total is up to 81 total yards and a receiving touchdown.
Thompson got more work with the first team going into the game against the Steelers, and I would imagine that the trend continues this week. It’s time to see what the rookie can do with the first team as he has shown he may be the most talented running back on the roster behind Damien Williams.
Thompson has been explosive and fun to watch, and it’ll be exciting to see him carry that into the regular season. If Carlos Hyde was planning on making a case to be the backup running back, he has a lot of work to do in a short amount of time as Thompson continues to impress. I believe that Hyde will make the roster, but Thompson is running away with the position battle.
Continue …
The defensive line is scary good
The new defensive line looks like it could be one of the best in the league after Frank Clark and Alex Okafor made their preseason debuts. Everything was admittedly vanilla, but it looked pretty good for vanilla. Each player showed great individual effort rushing the passer and stopping the run.
There may have been some worry about how well the team was going to be able to affect the passer with the departures of Dee Ford and Justin Houston, but seeing Okafor get his first sack with Chiefs should be plenty of reassurance. Clark was inches away from notching a strip-sack himself.
It still seems that the Chiefs might have issue covering receivers down the field, but fans should breathe a little easier knowing a core defensive line of Chris Jones, Okafor and Clark will be able to get to the passer. If the Chiefs can get good play from depth guys like Derrick Nnadi, Emmanuel Ogbah and Khalen Saunders the Chiefs may still be near the top of the league in sacks by the end of the season.
Continue …
Herb Miller shines again
Miller has been one of the pleasant surprises in the first half of the preseason, with an interception and a forced fumble so far. The cornerback group is especially thin, and Miller’s ability to force turnovers creates a clear roster spot for the undrafted rookie.
Miller still has a lot to improve on; he was beaten a few times late against the Steelers, including giving up a touchdown late in the fourth quarter. The good news is that he was in a position to make a play even though he was initially beat on the route. He has the potential to be a contributor on the defense.
It’ll be interesting to see how the cornerback group looks by the time regular-season starts, but I believe it will be Kendall Fuller, Bashaud Breeland, Charvarius Ward, Morris Claiborne, Herb Miller and Rashad Fenton making the roster.
I wouldn’t be surprised if general manager Brett Veach adds another cornerback as the regular season nears. That group still needs the most work on the defensive side.
Continue …
Cody Thompson is making a case for the 53-man roster
Against the Steelers, Thompson led the Chiefs with seven receptions for 69 yards. His nine receptions for 88 yards lead all Chiefs receivers this preseason.
Thompson certainly helped his chances of making the final 53-man roster on Saturday. He was the bright spot in a second half that produced very little offensive success. Thompson has been impressive since joining the Chiefs as an undrafted free agent with his ability to get open, even without elite speed. Thompson brings great special teams value and looks to be a reliable option if needed at receiver, making him an interesting piece.
Marcus Kemp’s potential ACL injury improves the chances of Thompson making the roster. Thompson is a better option than Byron Pringle, who has been unimpressive so far this preseason, and Gehrig Dieter, who hasn’t seen the field yet due to an injury. If Thompson keeps up this kind of play, fans should not be surprised if he makes the roster.
Continue …
The preseason is boring
It’s always great that football is back, but seeing Patrick Mahomes on the sideline as we are forced watch Chad Henne and the other backup quarterbacks is a burden.
The game against the Steelers was very vanilla and really didn’t offer much excitement on either side of the ball. These games are important for evaluation, yes. Teams don’t want to give away much scheme before the start of the regular season. It is nice to see some of the younger players go out and compete for a job, but we know the reasons that everyone is tuned in to these games. They want to see star players out there making plays.
Thankfully, the regular season is almost here, but the Chiefs have to play two more preseason games. First up are the 49ers at Arrowhead Stadium at 7 p.m. CT next Saturday.
Go back …
