Sep 23, 2013; Denver, CO, USA; Oakland Raiders defensive tackle Vance Walker (98) during the game against the Denver Broncos at Sports Authority Field at Mile High. The Broncos won 37-21. Mandatory Credit: Chris Humphreys-USA TODAY Sports
VANCE WALKER
The injury list for the Chiefs defensive line is starting to get out of hand. Top end guys Mike Catapano (illness) and Mike DeVito (hand) have missed a significant part of practice with injuries, and some of the depth guys like Kyle Love and Kona Schwenke have also been battling injuries.
But even with those injuries we still haven’t seen much of Vance Walker with the first team defense. Will that change this weekend? Walker has been the Chiefs’ second best defensive lineman this preseason according to PFF, grading just behind Allen Bailey. It leaves one to wonder why he hasn’t seen many first team snaps.
Kansas City signed Walker this offseason with the idea of improving the pass rush from the defensive line. Both defensive end starters from last year, Tyson Jackson and DeVito, are considered run-stopping linemen more than threats in the pass rush. Teams adjusted at midseason to this fact and forced the Chiefs to generate a pass rush with their two defensive ends. It did not go well for Kansas City.
Walker is a guy who can help generate that pass rush, and so far he is doing it in the preseason. Hopefully he gets his shot to do it with the first team defense, especially given the team’s plethora of injuries.