By MATT PIKE
St. Joseph Post
ST. JOSEPH, Mo. - The Kansas City Chiefs defense is still discovering its identity during training camp, working to replace some key pieces from last year's squad.
With a defense full of new faces, people have had to learn new roles to step in and fill holes left after the losses of guys like L'Jarius Sneed and Willie Gay.
But overall, safety Bryan Cook feels while everything does take time, the defense is developing well.
"Everything that you want to be polishing away so that we can be able to compete at our highest level come the regular season, you're going to take little rinks and kinks," Cook tells reporter's post-practice. "Obviously LJ went on and moved on, and props to him, but now we have the opportunity to come together as a team with new faces and new guys to be brought into the system, so it's a challenge but we're looking pretty good so far."
The Chief's secondary has had their work cut out for them during training camp, being challenged by some speedy receivers
Hollywood Brown, Xavier Worthy, Mecole Hardman, all guys who run a sub 4.5 40.
Cook says being challenged by all that speed has been great.
"4.3, 4.2, 4.3, 4.2, so that's a lot of work on our back end but every day we keep grinding, we get a chance to compete with them on the highest level," Cook explains. "Obviously 15 (Mahomes) throwing the pill the way he is, so just every day is a competition, every day we look forward to it."
In fact, during today's practice Worthy burned past Cook for what would have been a 50-yard score.
The past week of practice has seen Brown, Worthy, Rashee Rice, and Hardman all on the field at the same time making plays.
Offensive Coordinator Matt Nagy says they're very optimistic about this year's receiving room, but it's important to get them to work together.
"Being able to put those three guys together in unison schematically, learning how to win versus man, having a great feel and learning how to get open for Pat in zone, Kelce is phenomenal at that versus zone, so they get to watch Kelce in zone," Nagy says. "So, it's important that the three of those guys get together and we can move them around like pieces of the puzzle."
The Chiefs practice again tomorrow at 9:15 a.m.
INJURY REPORT
One new player was added to the injury report during Thursday's practice, while everyone who left practice on Wednesday remained out.
Safety Deon Bush was absent from practice today with an ankle injury. Nick Bolton remained sidelined with an elbow injury and Kadarius Toney sat out practice with an ankle injury.