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Kansas City Chiefs: What does Breeland Speaks bring?

By Travis Steffen

OXFORD, MS - OCTOBER 14: Mississippi Rebels defensive tackle Breeland Speaks celebrates after a Vanderbilt Commodores safety during the third quarter of a college football game on October 14, 2017, at Vaught-Hemmingway Stadium in Oxford, MS. (Photo by Austin McAfee/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
OXFORD, MS - OCTOBER 14: Mississippi Rebels defensive tackle Breeland Speaks celebrates after a Vanderbilt Commodores safety during the third quarter of a college football game on October 14, 2017, at Vaught-Hemmingway Stadium in Oxford, MS. (Photo by Austin McAfee/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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1 January 2016; Ole Miss Rebels v Oklahoma State Cowboys; Ole Miss Rebels defensive lineman Breeland Speaks (9) during a game in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by John Korduner/Icon Sportswire) (Photo by John Korduner/Icon Sportswire/Corbis via Getty Images)
1 January 2016; Ole Miss Rebels v Oklahoma State Cowboys; Ole Miss Rebels defensive lineman Breeland Speaks (9) during a game in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by John Korduner/Icon Sportswire) (Photo by John Korduner/Icon Sportswire/Corbis via Getty Images) /

It seems that Speaks has a remarkable arsenal of talent that hasn’t entirely been fully opened. He showed flashes of possible greatness in college. If he can unlock and perfect some of his hand fighting and rush moves, he could be an elite talent much like Tamba Hali was for Kansas City.

For him to have success in his first season, we are going to have to see some development with his pass rushing. Having a plan when rushing the passer and not relying on just pure strength. Tackles are stronger and faster at the NFL level, and he will have to be more creative if he wants to continue to have success.

While he was a solid player in college, he never consistently dominated. Sure he had games like his ones against LSU and Mississippi State where he was almost unblockable, but it wasn’t consistent.

Related Story: Tanoh Kpassagnon Film Review

I want to see what Speaks will do on the edge in the preseason. I know that there are the comparisons to Hali, and he has potential to become a great edge rusher, but I felt that the best of his game in college came from the interior as a three-tech. I would love to see him next to Chris Jones on the inside with Tanoh Kpassagnon and Justin Houston on the outside.

Kpassagnon showed more abilities getting around the edge than what I saw from Speaks. While I think Speaks can become an excellent pass rusher on the outside, Tanoh has the bend around the edge that you can’t simply teach a player. It has the potential to make him a star if he can perfect it. I think it will be a great battle between the two, but I would like to see Speaks have more playing time on the interior.

That will likely happen as both Veach and head coach Andy Reid have spoken this offseason about him kicking inside on obvious passing downs. I think that he has the strength to still keep up with guards, but his quickness could give the interior linemen trouble.

Next: What can we expect from the offensive line in 2018

While Speaks has some up-and-coming talents, I expect him to have a learning curve as well. While not as raw coming out of college as Tanoh, he still has a ways to go before he is considered like Hali in the NFL. He will likely have some flashes in his rookie season but inconsistent as he tries to perfect his craft. All in all, I think Speaks could be something extraordinary in Kansas City.

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