The captain is back, and made his presence known. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports
Inside Linebacker: DJ is back!!! And he is clearly ready to play again and make up for missing the 2014 season. The addition of Derrick Johnson alone is a huge improvement to a group that struggled mightily last year. And Johnson reminded us what we were missing last year early on when he darted into a running lane to shut down a goal line attempt by the Cardinals.
The Cards got the touchdown almost immediately afterwards, but it was still good to see a Chiefs linebacker making a play in the middle. DJ will be a key factor in the success of the Chiefs defense this year.
Next to Johnson, Josh Mauga has been the expected starter. The Chiefs surprised everyone when they re-signed Mauga, who was not very impressive in 2014. However, it appears the Kansas City staff feels that he may be a viable starting option at the other inside linebacker spot.
Mauga missed the game with an injury, so we didn’t get a chance to see if the staff is right about him. However, with the way his contract is structured, it is very unlikely that his job is in any kind of danger.
In the place of Mauga, rookie Ramik Wilson got the start…and boy, I wouldn’t be upset if he got more of them. Wilson was making plays. An interception and team-leading six tackles summed up an impressive first performance for him. I don’t see Wilson as the strong side linebacker in the future, but he may be able to earn the start there for 2015. That would be some great value out of a fourth round pick.
Another rookie also impressed on Saturday night. Undrafted free agent, Justin March, looks like a diamond in the rough. He’s considered “undersized” for the position, but he sure doesn’t play like it. He crashed down on the line of scrimmage, took on multiple blockers, and was solid in being where he needed to be. I doubt he’ll be in the starting mix for the 2015 season, but he is the kind of guy that makes you excited about the future.
Next: Defensive tackle looks solid even without Poe