The Kansas City Chiefs defense looks a whole lot different this season after a ton of key players bailed in free agency, but they’re still clocking in at seventh in the league, giving up just 19.3 points per game. That’s a pretty wild stat, and a huge chunk of credit goes straight to a retooled secondary that’s seeing some serious fireworks from rookie corner Mansoor Delane, the sixth overall pick from April’s draft.
Delane’s Instincts Are Shining Through
Defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo, aka Spags, was talking up Delane’s monster Week 4 performance against the Las Vegas Raiders. He’s loving what he sees from the rookie playing opposite second-year pro Nohl Williams. Spags straight up said Delane is “on a progression upward” and admits he’s usually super hard on corners, always wanting more. But even with that tough love, he gave props to Delane’s tackling, even if one play against Vegas got outside. You know coaches, they remember those little things.
Spagnuolo thinks Delane has totally put that early-season shoulder injury out of his mind. Remember that nasty Week 1 play where he snagged a spectacular interception but also aggravated his shoulder? Yeah, that one. Spags saw Delane’s willingness to jump into run support and noted how physical he was back at LSU. The Chiefs definitely “guilt those guys into being physical” out there, so it’s clearly a good fit for Delane’s natural game. Even after “undercutting one at practice yesterday that he was not supposed to,” Spags knows Delane’s got a knack for those picks, he just needs to make sure “the coverage says that you can do that.” And hey, he even told the kid, “‘Don’t fall the ground anymore so you don’t get hurt.’”
The Tandem That’s Got Spags Buzzing
It’s not just Delane flying solo; it’s the combo with Nohl Williams that’s really turning heads. Spagnuolo called them a “pleasant surprise.” He was honest, saying he “didn’t know how that was going to go” with a rookie and a second-year guy holding down the fort. But these two are playing aggressive, exactly what the Chiefs want from their secondary.
Sure, there are still some kinks to iron out, like penalties and “leverage things.” Spags mentioned a couple plays late in the game where he thought Delane “should have taken away.” But hey, they’re living with “some rookie mistakes and some second-year veteran mistakes” because, all in all, he thinks “those guys have been pretty solid for us.” Oh, and speaking of rookie picks, undrafted safety Xavier Nwankpa has one too, despite only seeing two defensive snaps.
These young guys are clearly making an impact on a reloaded Chiefs defense. They’re aggressive, they’re making plays, and they’re bringing some much-needed energy. Keep an eye on Delane and Williams as they keep growing this season. If they can clean up those small mistakes, this secondary could be even scarier.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Arrowhead Pride.
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