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Kansas City Chiefs: Top ten training camp battles to watch

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 30: Daniel Sorensen #49 of the Kansas City Chiefs celebrates with teammate Jordan Lucas #24 after an interception return for a touchdown during the first quarter of the game against the Oakland Raiders at Arrowhead Stadium on December 30, 2018 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by David Eulitt/Getty Images)
KANSAS CITY, MO – DECEMBER 30: Daniel Sorensen #49 of the Kansas City Chiefs celebrates with teammate Jordan Lucas #24 after an interception return for a touchdown during the first quarter of the game against the Oakland Raiders at Arrowhead Stadium on December 30, 2018 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by David Eulitt/Getty Images) /

4. Safeties (second string)

I’ve gone on the record as saying I think that safety may be the most improved position from last season on the Chiefs roster. I firmly believe that the combo of Tyrann Mathieu and rookie Juan Thornhill will prove to be one of the best in the NFL as early as this season. There may be some that would include Thornhill in the safety competition, but having been a massive fan of his college play, I think he’s a lock to start as a rookie over the guys that were on the roster last season.

The trio of Daniel Sorensen, Jordan Lucas, and Armani Watts all return from last season with the hopes of earning a spot in the remade defense. Sorensen and Lucas were the Chiefs two best safeties last season, but that’s a pretty low bar to clear given that K.C.’s safety play overall last year was pretty abysmal. We could spend all day debating if that was more the fault of the players or the coaching/scheme but the bottom line is that the safety play wasn’t good enough and the Chiefs went out and added two new starters to the group as a result.

Now Sorensen and Lucas have to prove to the new defensive staff that they are better than what they put on tape last season. If they can, they have a chance to earn serious playing time as K.C.’s third safety. That spot sees plenty of snaps in the sub package and therefore would have a chance to be a regular contributor.

Watts is in a slightly different position. He was injured early in his rookie season and never really got a chance to prove what he could do. While Watts flashed playmaking ability in college (which the Chiefs were sorely lacking last season), he also showed some mental mistakes in coverage and pursuit angles that he’ll have to prove he’s risen above in order to bypass guys like Sorensen and Lucas who have more NFL experience.

Regardless of who wins this battle, one of these three are going to have to contribute on this defense (even if the starters stay healthy) so the Chiefs need one of them to step up and show they are capable of more than what we saw at the safety position last season, otherwise it will be special teams only, or worse, the unemployment line for the losers.

We’re now ready for the top three camp battles of training camp.

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