Position Overview: Secondary
Until the start of training camp late next week, we will take a look at the Chiefs 2009 roster and break down the 80 players based on the nine position groups. We’ll also provide perspective on what each position has done in this decade of Chiefs football.
Of all the position groups on the Chiefs roster for the 2009 training camp, none is as strong as the secondary. There are six solid players in the back row and while none has shown Pro Bowl ability, the youngsters still have time to grow and produce.
Nobody on the Chiefs 2008 defense had a good season. Safeties Jarrad Page and Bernard Pollard struggled, but a lot of their problems can be traced to the holes in the front seven ahead of them. Rookie cornerbacks Brandon Flowers, Brandon Carr (left) and Maurice Leggett had moments of very good play, and times when they were reminded they were wet behind the ears playing the toughest position in the defense.
With the possible additions of veteran safety Mike Brown and draft choice cornerback Donald Washington into the group, the secondary becomes a potential strength in what has been a weak defense.
Here’s how the positions break down.
CORNERBACKS
Jackie Bates (undrafted rookie/39 games-27 starts at Oregon and Hampton/143 tackles, 0 sacks, 5 INTs.) He will have to make impressions quickly if he’s to fight through the roster and grab a spot on the corner. In the off-season work he showed some athletic skills and he’s likely to get some work as a punt returner. If he can step forward on special teams, he might earn himself a slot on the roster.
Brandon Carr/Pre-Camp Starter (2nd season/16 starts/77 tackles, 0 sacks, 2 INTs.) Coming out of Division II football, not much was expected from Carr by the media and fans. Not so with Herm Edwards and his coaching staff. They knew from the get-go that Carr had the talent to compete and he was thrown right into the mix. He was having a good rookie season until he hurt his shoulder at mid-season. From that point on, he became a bit tentative and was not the tackler he had been before the injury. Remarkably, he was able to start 16 games. Carr took some bumps and bruises to his body and his psyche last year, but then that’s what happens to rookie corners. He’s shown the disposition to learn and grow.
Ricardo Colclough (6th/42 games-1 start/41 tackles, 2.5 sacks, 1 INT.) The label most often attached to him is under-achiever. A former second-round draft choice, Colclough is with his fourth NFL team in six years and his production has not matched the level where he was drafted by Pittsburgh. He was brought in last year when injuries piled up on the corner and played sparingly on the defense, while making contributions on special teams. In the off-season, Colclough actually flashed some of those physical skills he has and for awhile worked his way into the first defense and even the top nickel back spot. He can return punts and kickoffs as well. If Colclough can produce good consistently good snaps in the pre-season, he should be a factor for a roster spot.
Travis Daniels (5th/61 games-28 starts/126 tackles, 0 sacks, 3 INTs.) He’s a former fourth-round draft choice that has enjoyed an underwhelming career to this point. With the exception of his rookie season in Miami and then last season in Cleveland, Daniels has been a seldom used backup with limited production in the kicking game. In his first year with the Dolphins, he started 14 of 16 games; but since then he’s started 12 times in the last three years. Improved special teams play is the only way he’s going to make the ‘09 Chiefs. 
Brandon Flowers/Pre-Camp Starter (right) (2nd/14 games-13 starts/78 tackles, 0 sacks, 2 INTs.) Going into the season, there was a lot more attention on this Brandon on the corner than the other. As a second-round draft choice, Flowers was much more prominent. But like his partner on the other side, Flowers turned in a solid, if unspectacular rookie season. Overall, he didn’t embarrass himself and the troubles he had were those that all rookie cornerbacks and some veteran cornerbacks learn to deal with over a career. His 91-yard TD on an interception return against the Jets and Brett Favre was one of the few big plays the Chiefs had during the ‘08 season. The only concerns about Flowers come because of his size; at 5-9, how much pounding can he take?
Londen Fryar (undrafted rookie/42 games-34 starts at Central Michigan/160 tackles, 0 sacks, 7 INTs.) He can get all sorts of advice from his father (former NFL receiver Irving Fryar) about the pro game, but son must find a way to cover guys who were as talented as his old man in his prime. Fryar didn’t leave much of an impression from the off-season work. Like the rest of the undrafted rookies, he will have to become a special teams demon quickly if he plans to have an NFL career.
Maurice Leggett (2nd/12 games-3 starts/32 tackles, 0 sacks, 1 INT.) And here’s proof that undrafted rookies can fight their way through the roster and make the team. Leggett was the surprise of the ‘08 rookie class and ended up winning the team’s Mack Lee Hill Award; it was a well-deserved honor. There’s one thing this young man from Valdosta State can bring to the party that can’t be taught: speed. But he combines that flash with good instincts and toughness. Leggett also was up and running ahead of other rookies in the kicking game because of how much time his college team spent on special teams in practice. There are long-term concerns because of his slight frame at 185 pounds. How long can he stand up to the pounding in the NFL? Leggett finished last year with a bum shoulder.
Donald Washington (4th-round draft choice/37 college games-24 starts at Ohio State/102 tackles, 1 sack, 2 INTs.) Probably the biggest surprise of the Chiefs ‘09 draft, he joins the battle in the secondary with great athletic ability that did not consistently reveal itself with the Buckeyes. His production for Jim Tressel was hardly that of a top-level prospect. Washington also had off-the-field problems that led to his suspension at one point. Washington’s physical gifts will get him playing time as a rookie on defense and he should be a major contributor in the kicking game.
SAFETIES
Mike Brown (left) (10th/100 games-99 starts/415 tackles, 5 sacks, 17 INTs.) There are a lot of things that he brings to the Chiefs table that could help this young team. But that will only happen if he stays healthy and produces on the field and Brown has had trouble doing that over the last half of his career to date. In his first four seasons he missed one game; in the last five seasons he’s missed 44 games with (in order) Achilles tendon, calf, broken foot, knee and calf injuries. Has Brown been unlucky, or is his body breaking down? That’s the question everyone – including Brown – wants answered. He’s a heady and passionate player and could be a big help. He won’t make this team in the training room.
Jon McGraw (8th/86 games-12 starts/167 tackles, 0 sacks, 4 INTs.) He was easily the team’s best special teams performer last year, which may be damning him considering how bad the performance was of the Chiefs kicking game. McGraw is steady and smart player who can also make contributions in the defense. Last year he was regularly used in a three-safety scheme that was alternately very successful and disastrous. McGraw was a free agent after the ‘08 season and Pioli/Haley brought him back with a new contract. That says something right there about what they think he can contribute to this team in the coming season.
DaJuan Morgan (2nd/15 games/19 tackles, 0 sacks, 0 INTs.) Like a lot of the ‘08 Chiefs draft class after the first three picks, he has a bull’s eye painted on his back. In his rookie season, Morgan was handled the same way that the coaching staff worked with Bernard Pollard in his first year back in ‘06. He got limited playing time on defense and struggled with some of the mental adjustments in the game. If that staff was still here, then Morgan would benefit from that approach. But a new regime is in the building and that leaves Morgan struggling to make adjustments without much in the way of experiences from last year. He always thinks hit first, coverage second and that’s dangerous for a safety in the NFL. Morgan needs big production in the kicking game if he’s to stay in a red and gold uniform.
Jarrad Page/Pre-Camp Starter (4th/48 games-34 starts/185 tackles, 1 sack, 10 INTs.) What he lacks in speed, Page more than makes up for in intelligence and toughness. From the first days he walked into the building, he impressed everyone with his maturity and leadership ability. So far Page has outplayed his standing as a seventh-round draft choice. But the question that must be answered is whether the Chiefs have seen the best Page has to offer? Can he elevate his game even more? The ‘09 Chiefs need him from the middle-third of NFL safeties to the top-third.
Bernard Pollard/Pre-Camp Starter (right) (4th/48 games-31 starts/189 tackles, 1 sack, 3 INTs.) He’s made big plays in his career, but most of them have come on special teams. Pollard had an OK season last year, but a lot of his problems came because of the front-seven in front of him. Fitting correctly in the running game is something the strong safety must always do. But if the line and backers are struggling to fit, the domino effect rolls backward onto the safety. It will be interesting to see how Clancy Pendergast tries to use Pollard on the pass rush; he has the speed, quickness and hitting ability to have more than the one sack he’s picked up in 31 starts.
Ricky Price (undrafted rookie/49 games-34 starts at Oklahoma State/159 tackles, 3 sacks, 1 INT.) From the first practice, Price needs to make an impression on Haley, Pendergast and special teams coach Steve Hoffman. That and a few injuries to other guys are the only ways he’s going to be able to beat the roster log jam at safety.
CHIEFS ALMANAC/DEFENSIVE BACKS
Likely number of DBs on final roster: 8 or 9.
- A pre-camp prediction on the final nine: Flowers, Carr, Leggett, Washington, Page, Pollard, Brown, McGraw, Colclough.
DBs that started in this decade: 21.
- Left Cornerback (8): Eric Warfield 51,Ty Law 33, Pat Surtain 17, Brandon Carr 14, Pat Dennis 13, Ray Crockett 12, William Bartee 5, Dewayne Washington 1.
- Right Cornerback (9): Pat Surtain 33, Dexter McCleon 28, Eric Warfield 26, William Bartee 21, James Hasty 16, Brandon Flowers 13, Ray Crockett 3, Maurice Leggett 2, Benny Sapp 1.
- Strong Safety (6): Greg Wesley 74, Sammy Knight 33, Bernard Pollard 31, Willie Pile 5, Shaunard Harts 2, Jason Belser 1.
- Free Safety (5): Jerome Woods 59, Jarrad Page 34, Greg Wesley 31, Shaunard Harts 15, Jason Belser 7.
DBs Drafted by Chiefs in this decade: 14.
- Second-Round: William Bartee 2000, Bernard Pollard 2006, Brandon Flowers 2008
- Third-Round: Greg Wesley 2000, Julian Battle 2003, DaJuan Morgan 2008
- Fourth-Round: Donald Washington 2009.
- Fifth-Round: Pat Dennis 2000, Alphonso Hodge 2005, Marcus Maxey 2006, Brandon Carr 2008.
- Seventh-Round: Shaunard Harts 2001, Willie Pile 2003, Jarrad Page 2006.
Top 10 Chiefs DBs With Interceptions In The Decade:
|  Player |   Games |   Interceptions |   Return   Yards |
   TD |
| Greg Wesley |
118 |
29 |
542 |
0 |
| Eric Warfield |
87 |
17 |
236 |
3 |
| Dexter McCleon |
41 |
10 |
20 |
0 |
| Jarrad Page |
48 |
10 |
69 |
0 |
| Patrick Surtain |
55 |
8 |
132 |
0 |
| Jerome Woods |
65 |
8 |
173 |
2 |
| Ty Law |
32 |
6 |
13 |
0 |
| James Hasty |
16 |
4 |
53 |
0 |
| Ray Crockett |
29 |
3 |
8 |
0 |
| Sammy Knight |
32 |
3 |
39 |
0 |
| Bernard Pollard |
48 |
3 |
23 |
0 |
Again, a most excellent review by Bob and thanks for this, Bob. For no reason in particular, call it gut instinct, two names jump out at me in this report:
MIKE BROWN: If he can stay healthy, IF is the operative word, this guy will make a tremendous difference for the Chief’s D. He’s like what Bob Sanders does for the Colts in that guys will play harder so as not to dissapoint him.
Intangible asset to the max, but only IF.
RICHARD COLCOUGH: The Steelers seldom miss on early picks but did on this guy. Why is that? Lack of skills? No. Lack of confidence? Maybe. Lack of smarts? Unknown to me. Lack of coachability? Maybe.
Anyway, Colcough seems the wildcard in this defensive secondary as to whether he’ll realize and play up to his potential ….. or fall back in the pack.
Weren’t Surtain and Flowers the starting corners in Game One against the Patriots? I didn’t think Carr started until Surtain went down with that injury…
Oh, and is it a good thing or a bad thing that in three years Jarrad Page has more INT’s as a Chief than Surtain or Law(the two veteran corners to whom we paid far too much money so they could magically whisk us to a Super Bowl)
That’s my biggest concern, the smallish size of the corners, I think Carr and Flowers did a pretty decent job on coverage. The two shoulder injuries are a bit worrisome. Hopefully the addition of Haley’s conditioning program will help alleviate some of that stuff. I really like Bates, I’ll be keeping my eye on that guy.
I think the switch to the 34 should benefit Pollard maybe more than anyone. Playing closer to the line of scrimmage or even as the eighth man in the box is where he will excel, I’ve always felt he’s really an undersized LB. I know one thing, he wont be afraid to introduce himself to backs and receivers, and when he does, it’ll be with bad intentions.
This is the one area where Herm left us in better shape than he found us. The starting four are all young, solid players. Pollard and Flowers have the potential to be great. Leggett was a true diamond in the rough and Colclough was worth a roll of the dice. Add in some experience and leadership with Mike Brown and some freakish athletic talent with Washington and this secondary could be top 5 sooner rather than later.
They do need a pass rush this year though…..
Brought to you by another ‘Real’ Rin daddy-o ’search’ and ‘chek’ network…
I smell the fragrance of Flowers, but the ‘Carr’ needs some repairs and perhaps an upgrade. As the late great Bill Grigsby would say, “Asa Llama Lake-um”.
Goodnight.
Bold Prediction:
Jarrad will turn the ‘page’ to a new chapter of chiefdom. Brace yourselfs my friends for an era of consistent pro bowl appearances by ‘JP’..
;0
daddy-o
over and out
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Colclough’s a good one to watch. I agree with PVC that the CBs appear to be undersized, particularly Flowers. I’d be tempted to throw him in at FS, so he can read and react to the ball, and maybe put one of the safeties in at corner to jam. I’ve always thought that ‘backs with his size and skill set are better suited for hiding behind LBs and making plays on the ball and coming up in run support (this little guy is ONE KC DB that did NOT have a shoulder injury and he CAN tackle).
Like Mo’ Leggs’ speed. If KC can get that speed on the field, it will definitely add something. I’m concerned about seeing Flowers matched-up against top-level WRs with size. You either telegraph safety help to his side, or telegraph an obvious 1-on-1 in the WR’s favor.
I have BIG concerns about the corner play. That’s why my face brightens up even hearing “might be”s about Colclough and Leggett, because Carr and Flowers have had help from 2 deep safeties that they will NOT have this year.
Make no mistake. This D is being built to hold the center with the front 3 and get PRESSURE from the LBs. If it takes 5 hats to GET that pressure, I bet that’s what they’ll DO. So the job description at corner has changed.
I HOPE that making earlier breaks on the ball will HELP, but the fact is, THIS defense really wants to single up down the field and bring an extra hat UP the field, compared to LAST season’s D. It’ll be about making a play on the QUICK pass, rather than having 7 guys playing coverage for 5 seconds. And that might pit the CBs against the steepest learning curve of ALL the defenders transitioning to 3-4, REGARDLESS of all the attention on the Hali/McBride experiment.
Real Rin
daddy-o affirms once again why He is me, and ‘fake’ Rin has 
eyes… leave the heavy lifting to an All Pro – 
Maurice ‘Deion’ Leggett is a keeper even tho his rookie mistake cost KC a loss to TB 2008 (failed to stay with his man & instead moved toward line of scrimmage – result a TD pass over his head to his man.)
Carr too as Flowers bloomed in ‘08 – Herm Edwards great coaching and eye for talent on full display with nee via these three gems.
Pollard has been ‘The Bonecrusher’ that he was advertised as while Page has sometimes tackled like Bettie, but both are keepers too.
The rest?
A collection of the halt (McGraw), lame (Brown), unproven (Morgan), journeyman (Daniels), & the never was (Colclough).
Hopefully, ‘check’
doesn’t mismanage the ample talent herein; that remains to be seen.
Rin Tin Tin: Bill Grigsby is still alive.
That ‘fake’
rin doesn’t know anythin’, huh.
Of course Real Rin
knows that Bill is alive – the question is: does Bill know?
dont be suprised if legett beats out Carr for the #2 CB spot. Legett had as much passes defensed (6) as Carr with far less playing time.
http://hosted.stats.com/fb/playerstats.asp?id=8906&team=12
http://hosted.stats.com/fb/playerstats.asp?id=9052&team=12
He seems to have really turned his game up to another level in OTA’s.
[...] things first. Bob Gretz covered the Chiefs secondary heading into training camp and predicts the starters will go unchanged from [...]
Our backfield, for the most part is solid. A little tweaking here & there can only result in improvement.
I’m a little surprised that Rin actually likes one of the Chiefs players aka… The Bonecrusher.
The reason our backfield was put on display last year was obvious. The front 7 were unable to keep the ball in front of them.
It’s a crying shame that the most tackles last season came from our backfield, subjecting their smallish frames to injuries. One can only hope those days are behind us.
If our starting front 7 can grasp & maintain the complicated Pendergrast 3-4 defense early. I see more opportunities for our talented backfield to capitalize on any opponents miscues.
After reviewing the above responses, It’s both good & evident to see that Bob’s faithful minion’s are satisfied with the backfield as well.
I will concur with Rin, Herm Edwards had a good eye for backfield talent.
Bob, You have provided an excellent insight & analysis from your recent subjective observations of the boys in red. Many Thanks.
Also, your pre-camp predictions are great fodder for us fans. I would not at all be surprised of how accurate your predictions pan out. Go Chiefs
[...] things first. Bob Gretz covered the Chiefs secondary heading into training camp and predicts the starters will go unchanged from [...]
Another good article by the great Bob Gretz. I expect the secondary to be the strongest part of our defense. I expect Carr, Flowers, and Page to all be pro-bowl players. I think the experience that Carr, Flowers, and Leggett gained last year will serve them well this season. They played well in the Cover 2, but I also watched games last season where all three guys played well in man. For the secondary to play as well as they did last year without the lack of a pass rush speaks volume of how well and talented our secondary is. And with the addition of Brown I expect it to be even better this seaosn.