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The Kansas City Chiefs added free agent CB Dunta Robinson this offseason and the veteran likes what he sees from his new team’s defense, especially safety Eric Berry.
“You’re talking about a guy that can play basically any position,” said Robinson when asked about Berry. “He can come in the box and tackle. He can line up on the field and get intercepted and you can ask him to line up outside on tight ends and cover those guys man to man. He’s as good as ever.”
That is pretty high praise coming from Robinson, who is entering his tenth year in the NFL and has been part of some pretty good teams.
“I think he’s on his way to becoming the best safety in this league as long as he keeps prepared, stay humbled the way he’s doing, and stay focused the way he’s been,” gushed Robinson. “He works his tail off. He’s probably the best safety that I’ve been around. I’ve been around some good safeties, but he’s probably the best and has the most upside.”
Berry was drafted in the first round by the Chiefs in 2010. He was elected to the Pro Bowl as a rookie, missed his second season with an ACL injury and bounced back last season and was a Pro Bowler once again. His game is far from perfected, however. Berry started slow in both his full NFL seasons and has struggled to cover tight ends.
The Chiefs plan to run a more aggressive defense under new defensive coordinator Bob Sutton. The new man to man scheme could help the Chiefs generate more pressure so that Berry doesn’t have to be in coverage for too long. If KC can force QBs to make mistakes when throwing at Berry, it could be a very good year for the KC defense. Berry showed as a rookie he can be deadly with the ball in his hands, intercepting four passes, returning one 54 yards for a TD.
Robinson wasn’t just impressed with Berry, however.
“It’s coming together well,” said Robinson. “It’s a great group of young guys that are hungry for knowledge and that want to be the best that they can be. They listen well, ask a lot of questions, and I think that’s the making of a good young secondary. I’m just here to fill in and help in any way I can help these guys max out their potential and to get what they can out of their career.”