Cornerback L’Jarius Sneed said he relied on film study and technique in his pro debut.
One week into his professional football career, L’Jarius Sneed looks the part of an important piece in the Kansas City Chiefs secondary. Not only did the rookie cornerback come up big with an interception of Deshaun Watson but he played strong against the Houston Texans wideouts all night.
The Chiefs ended up with a 14-point victory in Week 1 over the Texans, and Sneed’s ability to rise to the occasion in his debut was a major facet in the defense’s ability to stymie Houston early.
As a fourth-round pick (and at the tail end of that very round), Sneed came into the game overlooked by national media and for good reason. No one is going to expect much from a Day 3 prospect making his debut. However, Brett Veach, the team’s general manager, has insisted all along that Sneed was his top choice heading into Day 3 and that his skill set was ideal for Steve Spagnuolo’s defense.
Coming into the league, Sneed’s top-end speed or aggressive style were not questioned. Instead, he faced questions of competition (Louisiana Tech) and development on technique and route recognition. He also played safety during his final season for the Bulldogs which meant a conversion back to cornerback for the Chiefs was going to require some adjustment.
“I was nervous when I first got out but I trusted my film study during the week and my technique and what I’d been doing all week, so I knew I was gonna be all right,” said Sneed after the game.
A very notable aspect of Sneed’s performance was the lack of any flags all night. The Chiefs played a very clean game overall, but a rookie defending the likes of Will Fuller V downfield isn’t an easy assignment. “That’s something we always worked on during training camp—getting hands on early at the line of scrimmage, down the field don’t be touching and grabbing.”
When it came to his first career interception, one made possible by Tyrann Mathieu‘s hit on Watson as he threw the ball, Sneed stated that he thought he was going to drop the pass initially. “It was just floating. Those are the hardest balls to catch right there.” Fortunately, he came down with it and returned it 39 yards.
The Chiefs had a vision for Sneed when they selected him in late April of what he could be with enough experience and coaching. No one knew he would be needed so soon, but he’s proved he’s up to the task.
Sneed and his teammates now have a few days off before they must return and prepare for the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 2 for the team’s first road game of the year.