Kansas City Chiefs Training Camp 2017 Preview: Inside Linebackers

Kansas City Chiefs Training Camp Preview

DJ Alexander – Inside Linebacker

The only member of this group to make the Pro Bowl in 2016 was a guy who actually played very little in the defense. DJ Alexander made the NFL’s all-star game by being one of the best Special Teams players in the entire league last year.

DJ Alexander is everything you look for in a Special Teams ace. He flies down the field, plays with good lane discipline, and is a sure tackler. That’s a winning combination for Dave Toub any day of the week. It paid off pretty well for Alexander too.

However, those same attributes didn’t really show up when he stepped on the field on defense. DJ Alexander often looked a little lost and out of position when he got on the field due to injuries. Player Special Teams and playing defense are very different. Success in one area does not guarantee success in the other. We saw that in 2016.

The Chiefs won’t be letting DJ Alexander go unless multiple players step up on Special Teams this year. The last couple of players on the roster for many position groups are there solely for their work on kick and punt coverage. DJ Alexander is one of those guys, and he’s good at it.

Prediction

DJ Alexander is a shoe in for the Kansas City Chiefs roster. He may not be very high on the defensive depth chart, but he’s a star on Special Teams and that goes a long way. The Chiefs won’t replace him unless they somehow have just too many guys to play Special Teams…and they’re all better than Alexander. Unlikely.