Alvin Kamara has high praise for Tyrann Mathieu and Chiefs defense

Alvin Kamara has a lot of respect for Tyrann Mathieu and the Chiefs defense.

There’s no doubt that the Kansas City Chiefs defense is doing everything they can in preparation for the New Orleans Saints offense, and one player in particular is likely receiving a lot of attention: running back Alvin Kamara. Every team in the NFL has to respect his big-play ability, and the Chiefs defense will be no different in their attention and focus both before and during the game on limiting his options.

Kamara has been a tremendous threat to score from anywhere on the field from the moment the Saints drafted him in the third round of the 2017 NFL Draft. (It was the same round the Chiefs grabbed Kareem Hunt). His addition has given the Saints offense, which was already dangerous with Drew Brees at the helm and Michael Thomas as their top target, another wrinkle that makes them very difficult to defend.

Now in his fourth season with the team, Kamara has 154 carries for 723 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns on the ground. He’s added another 77 catches for 699 receiving yards and 4 touchdowns as a pass catcher, giving him 1,422 yards from scrimmage on the season with three games still to play. He’s on pace to likely best his career high of 1,592 yards from scrimmage, set back in ’18, for his most productive season to date.

That sort of dependable production, and his ability to break the game wide open at any point, is why the Saints signed Kamara to a $75 million extension to keep him through the 2025 season. It’s why defenses around the league are forced to respect the dynamic running back.

Yet if you ask Kamara, the respect goes both ways—at least in Week 15. When asked about the upcoming matchup between the Chiefs and Saints, Kamara had plenty of praise for the Chiefs defense from front to back. In remarks to reporters on Thursday, Kamara noted their own playmakers and said “They make a lot of plays.”

"“Man, they’ve got a great defense. They’ve got some dudes on there that make a lot of plays, they’ve had a lot of production. Their defensive back group, I mean, one of the more active in the league I think. Up front they’re solid. Their linebackers make a ton of plays. I mean, they’re just solid all around.”"

Specifically, Tyrann Mathieu’s name kept coming up again and again. Kamara, who attended Tennessee in college, says he recalls watching Mathieu play from his days at Louisiana State and realizing just how great of a defender he was even then. This year, the Chiefs safety continues to play that sort of role as a team leader on a winning franchise. Kamara says it best:

"“Yeah, if I’m being completely honest, and uncensored, Tyrann don’t give a f***. That’s like the main thing I see. Just seeing him. I mean, I was watching him at LSU, watching him in the league do his thing. I mean, he’s just one of those dudes that’s got the heart, that heart bigger than most out here. I mean, he’s got a big heart, man. It shows on the field. He makes plays, and he does things that you don’t see a lot of people do, you haven’t seen a lot of people been able to do.“Man, I mean, I remember watching them. I’m trying to think what year. I think 2011, I went down to Alabama, the Alabama-LSU game and just watching Tyrann and I’m like, ‘Man, this dude is crazy. Like he’s out there doing what he wants to do.’ That’s my first real memory like dang, Tyrann’s a beast. And then, obviously in the league, he’s had a heck of a career so far. I mean, he’s still going and still getting better and still just excelling.”"

So far this season, Mathieu has 59 total tackles, 9 passes deflected and 6 interceptions for the Chiefs in 13 starts, and he seems very likely to earn another All-Pro mention at season’s end.

The Chiefs and Saints kick off on Sunday at 3:25 p.m. C.T.