Kansas City Chiefs Training Camp 2017 Preview: Pass Rushers
By Ben Almquist
Kansas City Chiefs Training Camp Preview
All The Rest
Much like with the inside linebacker position, there is no real telling how many outside linebackers the Kansas City Chiefs will go with this year. This is a position that can fluctuate quite a bit, but you expect your starters to be on the field for nearly the entire game. That gives the Chiefs a lot of options with the competition here.
Frank Zombo – 8th Year
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The Chiefs will probably keep more than four outside linebackers this year, and Frank Zombo will likely make the cut. He’s not flashy, and not a guy you want to rely on long-term. However, Zombo is the kind of guy who can step in at any linebacker position on the field for a team. He’s also got solid Special Teams value.
Marcus Rush – 1st Year
If the name Marcus Rush sounds familiar to you, that’s because he was all over headlines last year when he racked up six sacks, an interception, and two forced fumbles in preseason. However, despite that performance, Rush still didn’t make the 49ers team. He ended up playing two games for the Jaguars but made no impact. I don’t expect him to make the Chiefs roster.
Earl Okine – 1st Year
I’m not giving Earl Okine much of a chance to make the Chiefs roster this year. You never know who will step up and impress, but it seems unlikely that Okine is going to beat out anyone else on this list of players.
The Chiefs have a lot of potential with their pass rushers, but it needs to translate to production on the field. Don’t let anyone lie to you, sacks are absolutely a good indication of how a team is getting after a quarterback. Over the course of a full season, teams that consistently get after the passer will have more sacks. That’s just common sense.
The Kansas City Chiefs have built a very strong roster for the 2017 season and beyond. However, they need some major improvement in the pass rush this year. That rests almost entirely with the outside linebackers. Having a healthy Justin Houston should help that out a lot, but the rest of the group must be better as well.