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Kansas City Chiefs: Early position impressions from training camp

By Lyle Graversen

SAINT JOSEPH, MO - JULY 31: The team runs drills during Kansas City Chiefs Training Camp on July 31, 2011 in Saint Joseph, Missouri. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)
SAINT JOSEPH, MO - JULY 31: The team runs drills during Kansas City Chiefs Training Camp on July 31, 2011 in Saint Joseph, Missouri. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images) /
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KANSAS CITY, MO – DECEMBER 16: Defensive end Chris Jones
KANSAS CITY, MO – DECEMBER 16: Defensive end Chris Jones /

The Defensive Line

* Chris Jones looks poised to have a big year. That guy is high energy all the time and looks as strong and fast as we’ve seen him in KC. I’m really excited to see what Jones can do once the regular season roles around.

* Allen Bailey didn’t stand out much to me the days I was there. I think we can expect more of the same from him, nothing flashy, just a solid rotational guy that helps stop the run.

* I thought Xavier Williams looked good when I was in camp. I was high enough on Derrick Nnadi that I thought he may beat out Williams in camp. After watching a couple of practices I don’t think that will be the case. That’s not because I was disappointed in what I saw from Nnadi, but because Williams looked even better than I expected. He was as strong as advertised for a run stuffing nose tackle type, but he also moved better than I anticipated and got some good push up the middle on a few occasions. I’ll keep a close eye on him in the preseason, but I’m wondering if Williams will actually be a better interior player on passing downs than Allen Bailey.

* Derrick Nnadi looked stout at the point of the attack but looked a little slower off the line than Williams right now. Could that improve as the game slows down for Nnadi? Sure, but he looks like a pure run stuffer at this point early in his career.

* Dee Liner is massive but I didn’t see him do much of note on the field.

* Jarvis Jenkins was the only other defensive lineman that looked dependable enough to get much playing time this season. Maybe one of the other guys will catch my eye in the preseason but right now I think Jones, Bailey, Williams, Nnadi, and Jenkins are the guys you’ll see on Sundays this fall. If you made me pick a sixth based off what I saw in camp I’d probably go with TY McGill.

Let’s talk about the linebackers next.

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