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Breeland Speaks talks about impact of rookie class in Chiefs win over Broncos

By Matt Conner

KANSAS CITY, MO - OCTOBER 28: Breeland Speaks #57 of the Kansas City Chiefs and teammate Reggie Ragland #59 make a tackle on Phillip Lindsay #30 of the Denver Broncos during the first quarter of the game at Arrowhead Stadium on October 28, 2018 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by David Eulitt/Getty Images)
KANSAS CITY, MO - OCTOBER 28: Breeland Speaks #57 of the Kansas City Chiefs and teammate Reggie Ragland #59 make a tackle on Phillip Lindsay #30 of the Denver Broncos during the first quarter of the game at Arrowhead Stadium on October 28, 2018 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by David Eulitt/Getty Images) /
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Kansas City Chiefs rookie Breeland Speaks says it was time for the defense to take care of the offense on Sunday after having things the other way around for so long.

It’s taken some time, but Breeland Speaks and the rest of his rookie class are making waves for the Kansas City Chiefs defense.

The timing is perfect for the Chiefs because the defense could use a shot in the arm. Injuries to Eric Berry and Justin Houston over the long-term as well as numerous short-term injuries—the latest coming with Anthony Hitchens ribs—means the defense will feature more rookie reps as the season wears on.

Speaks was the team’s second-round pick, a large, physical defensive lineman who has been tasked with getting after the passer due to injuries to Houston and Tanoh Kpassagnon. General manager Brett Veach stated his belief that Speaks would be an instant contributor for K.C. and midway through this season, his words are starting to sound prescient.

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Speaks came up big for the Chiefs on Sunday in a win over the Cincinnati Bengals with a timely fumble recovery and sack. After the game, Speaks mentioned that the defense knew it was on them to keep the Broncos from capitalizing on a Patrick Mahomes interception and closing the gap.

“The offense has had our backs for so many weeks, we had to have their backs for a change,” said Speaks in a post-game interview with the Chiefs own staff of reporters. “Everybody stepped up to the plate. Everybody knew the job they had to do and everybody did it.”

Speaks has been tasked with considerably more playing time since Houston has been out. Speaks had 60 total defensive snaps to his credit in Weeks 1-4, but in the four games since then, he’s averaged 64 snaps per game. That sort of game experience is invaluable for Speaks’ development and for the Chiefs to see what they have on-hand among their pass rushers.

Speaks gives credit to his fellow rookies for their own strong efforts as well, especially as defensive tackle Derrick Nnadi and linebacker Dorian O’Daniel showed up strong as well in the win over Denver. The Chiefs are now 7-1 and learning to rely more and more on their rookie class.

“You’ve got a lot of guys from the SEC and ACC,” says Speaks. “We play ball. We put our nose down. We fight hard and that’s been our M.O. for everybody in my class.”

Given the lack of a return date for Justin Houston and Eric Berry, the rookie class will be key for the Chiefs moving forward as to how they handle the rest of the season. The offense can certainly carry the majority of the load given how much talent is present on that side of the football, but the defense sounds ready to answer the call in the future if given the chance.

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