KC Chiefs: Tyrann Mathieu newcomer to watch in training camp

By Leigh Oleszczak | Jul 21, 2019

KANSAS CITY, MO - MAY 23: Kansas City Chiefs free safety Tyrann Mathieu (32) catches a ball during OTA's on May 23, 2019 at the Chiefs Training Facility in Kansas City, MO. (Photo by Scott Winters/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

The KC Chiefs have Super Bowl aspirations in 2019 and training camp will be as big as it has ever been for Chiefs Kingdom.

Grant Gordon of NFL.com published a piece on training camp storylines to watch within the AFC West. In the article, he listed Tyrann Mathieu as the newcomer to watch in the Kansas City Chiefs training camp this summer.

Gordon wrote,

"By signing Mathieu, the Chiefs got themselves a stud at safety who can really play just about anywhere in the defensive backfield and hugely improve the defensive unit against the pass and rush. More than all that, though, Mathieu brings a swagger to the Chiefs that was absent."

This is all very true. As soon as the Chiefs signed the Honey Badger, fans really started to believe that the defense could be turned around in 2019. Mathieu was a great safety for the Texans last year and spent several years kicking butt and taking names in Arizona for a number of years before that.

More from Kansas City Chiefs

Gordon continues with,

"They had plenty of star power in their defensive ranks, but perhaps there was more pomp than pop, as a unit that featured the since-departed Justin Houston and Dee Ford (Eric Berry played sparingly) allowed 421 points, ninth-most in the NFL and the highest total among playoff-bound teams."

Losing Justin Houston, Dee Ford, and Eric Berry wasn’t a great scenario for the Chiefs this offseason, but they added two talented defensive players with Mathieu and Frank Clark, who also could have been considered for the newcomer to watch title.

"Nothing turns a shootout into a blowout like a defense that brings the wood and brings some attitude making a stand. That’s what the Chiefs need, and that’s what Mathieu can provide."

Mathieu is going to be one of the many differences among this defense in 2019. He was a gem for the Texans last year and if he can stay healthy, he’ll be a huge impact player in the secondary and will help mentor rookie Juan Thornhill in 2019.

When looking back at last season, the Chiefs defense was what failed the team when push came to shove. They couldn’t stop the Patriots on three straight third and longs in the AFC Championship Game and that ended up costing the Chiefs a trip to the Super Bowl.

Next. Top Five Defensive Chiefs Heading Into Training Camp. dark

The hope this year is that even with the teardown of last year’s defense and rebuilding it this year is that they’ll be able to do enough to get this team back to where they were last year, but in the most important game of the year this time around.

Tyrann Mathieu will play a big part in that.

Home/Kansas City Chiefs