Four Thoughts Kansas City Chiefs Training Camp: Day 11

4. De’Anthony Thomas

Another day, another De’Anthony Thomas could be special segment. Two tweets:

Thursday cannot get here fast enough.

In just about ever practice report there is something about Thomas destroying a linebacker in a drill or 11-on-11 play with quickness and speed. And this isn’t some random linebacker, but all-Pro Derrick Johnson that Thomas is making look silly. Yes it is practice, but it should mean something that the competition is one of the best inside linebackers in the game.

We’ve talked about how the projected improvement from the tight ends should help open up a lot of things for the wide receivers if only because they’ll be able to suck coverage into the middle of the field or pull a safety off of Dwayne Bowe. What we may see also is the need for safeties to be fully aware of Thomas when he is on the field.

At some point teams are going to have to put a more athletic player on him in order to prevent big plays. This should allow some more one-on-one opportunities for guys like Bowe downfield. Donnie Avery seemed to be the benefactor of this on a couple of plays in Saturday’s practice.

Again, this is practice, which is why Thursday will be such a big deal. But if Thomas is anything like he has been in practice on actual game days then the ceiling for where the Chiefs offense could potentially go just to a significant bump upwards.