The Chiefs are walking into this matchup with a very specific hope: that tighter coverage can turn Denver’s shaky hands into a problem again.
Kansas City overhauled its secondary this offseason with a clear purpose. The back end needed to be sturdier when the pass rush didn’t finish the job, and the Chiefs set out to fix that.
But there’s another wrinkle to this plan, one that could matter tomorrow night. If the coverage stays sticky enough, the Chiefs believe they can force the Broncos into the kind of drops that haunted them last season.
That’s not a small issue. According to Nick Kosmider of The Athletic via TrueMedia, Denver had the second-most drops in the NFL last year, with 17 from wide receivers. That total was tied for fifth-most among receivers as a group.
The problem didn’t stop there once the postseason arrived. Kosmider also noted that Broncos receivers dropped six more passes in the playoffs, the most of any of the 14 teams in the field. Three of those came in Denver’s three-point loss to the Patriots in the AFC Championship game.
Denver responded by making a change on the coaching staff, with Sean Payton firing receivers coach Keary Colbert and bringing in Ronald Curry. Curry, who coached for Payton in New Orleans and played receiver in the NFL, took a close look at the issue and the reasons behind it.
“You always address the issues, no matter what it is,” Curry said. “So if that was an issue getting here, I feel like, knock on wood, these guys caught the ball excellently all camp, all offseason.
We work on it in between drills, as far as those guys catching the ball, if they’re not in on special teams. As a receiver, you’ve got to be able to run and you’ve got to be able to catch, and that’s what we harp on.”
Curry said plenty of teams lean on the Jugs machine, but he wanted his group working in settings that looked more like real games. That meant different drills, different timing and more stress on the body than just standing around firing off repeat catches.
“A lot of guys feel like they catch 100 Jugs (machine passes) and they’re good, but the ball is coming right at ’em,” said Curry. “So you want to try to put them in positions where they’re catching the ball without burning their legs up.
“We sit back there, and I’m a former quarterback, and Kyle (Kempt) has been helping us from the quality-control position in throwing these guys the ball and just coming up with different drills that are better game-like (situations). “
Curry believes the work has paid off, but the only real test comes when the games start counting. For Kansas City, that uncertainty is part of the opportunity. The Chiefs are hoping their revamped secondary can make Denver’s old issue show up again.
“The more you do that, the better, and then you just harp on it. Just like anything, you coach it.
Now, you might not get it the first time, but you try it again, and you try it again until it becomes muscle memory, and then you build that confidence and that callus. I think those guys have done that over the last couple of months.”
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Andy Reid and Mahomes have both said they believe Benson can handle the assignment, which is the kind of vote of confidence a young lineman needs this time of year. Still, there is a real difference between talking about potential and absorbing a live rush against a division opponent, and the Chiefs will find out quickly whether this sudden shuffle can hold up when the game starts to matter. [Read more 🡒]
Gracie Hunt Is Already Fueling Chiefs Opener Buzz
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The luncheon has become part of the annual ramp-up, a chance to celebrate the franchise and build some anticipation before the first real test arrives. Kansas City is looking to rebound after missing the playoffs last season, and Patrick Mahomes is expected to be ready for Week 1 despite a recent injury, so theres already a little extra attention around how the opener will look once the lights come on. [Read more 🡒]
Chiefs Fans Are Turning The Season Opener Into A Full Ritual
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The shopping spree is only part of the ritual. For plenty of fans, game day comes with its own set of traditions and superstitions, from what they wear to how they prepare before watching the first snap. It is the kind of seasonal habit that turns a regular opener into something more personal, with every shirt, cap and jersey carrying a little extra meaning once the games begin. [Read more 🡒]