Jason La Canfora talks Chiefs, Broncos
Aug 15, 2015; Glendale, AZ, USA; Kansas City Chiefs safety Eric Berry (29) against the Arizona Cardinals during a preseason NFL football game at University of Phoenix Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
While La Canfora is not sold on the offense yet, the defense evokes a different feeling. Kansas City finished second in points allowed last season and seventh in yards against. With the return of a multitude of players including Eric Berry, Kansas City appears locked and loaded again.
“Defensively, they can get after the quarterback,” La Canfora said. “There are a lot of good things they do there like Eric Berry’s return. I was there pretty early in camp … and just the emotional spirit and mental lift. You could see it. I don’t discount that. Football is a game where people can start buying in and believing.”
“…I don’t like to get too high on what I see in practice, but Marcus Peters, if he can keep his head screwed on straight, he could be a plug-and-play, real shutdown cover-corner, man-up on you, beat-up-on-the-receiver type, pick-the-ball-off-deep kind of guy,” La Canfora said. “He has that ability. Obviously, there are questions about character and he has to stay on the straight and narrow.”
While most of the divisions have a clear front-runner, the AFC West has brought about multiple opinions. Some believe Denver is in line for a fifth consecutive division championship, while others see the Chiefs and San Diego Chargers as the teams to beat.
La Canfora didn’t name a favorite, although he did point out what to expect out of the Mile High city this season.
“I think that division is pretty wide open,” La Canfora said. “I really do. I think Denver has to reinvent themselves. We were talking to John Elway at our seminar earlier and I wish I had my notepad with me. He must have said ‘run the ball’ 100 times in five minutes. They are about getting Peyton to the finish line, not having Peyton chuck-and-duck in September and October.
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