Chiefs’ Frank Clark came on late in 2019. Here’s why it will carry over to all of 2020
Within days after the Chiefs’ 2018 season fell one game shy of the Super Bowl, general manager Brett Veach had his targets in mind. Tyrann Mathieu in the secondary. Frank Clark up front.
He saw Clark as a “disruptive player,” both as a pass rusher and an edge-setter in the run defense.
The Chiefs didn’t see that player in the first half of 2019. They did in the second half — and the postseason.
The mid-season turnaround wasn’t a coincidence. He wasn’t flipping a proverbial switch. Mentally, he became sharper. Physically, he became healthier.
And it’s the reason Clark is exuding optimism as training camp opens at Arrowhead Stadium — he’s already there, both physically and mentally, this year.
“I had a slow start last year,” he said. “I really don’t care about excuses, but I had a slow start. I had some things hold me back. I was so adamant about getting back. If you were around me last year, you know how adamant I was about getting back and how much I wanted to heal up as fast as I could and try to do some things.
“God has a plan, of course. Things came around when they did.”
Clark had only one sack in the first six weeks. He sat out two games over the middle of the season with a pinched nerve in his neck, an injury crippling enough that coaches eventually suggested he take some time to heal. He would later acknowledge worry he hadn’t properly introduced his talent to Kansas City after signing a $105.5 million contract. One problem compounded the other.
He caved to resting for a couple of weeks. He returned his old self, the player Seattle had grown to know and the player Veach had coveted.
Clark finished with 12 sacks over his final 11 games, including five in the three playoff contests. It’s that Frank Clark that walked to the podium Tuesday to speak with media on a Zoom call.
On any defending championship team, they hear about of potential of complacency. But over a short window last year, Clark saw both ends of the spectrum — the highs and the lows.
It’s a thing of the past, yet a motivator for the present.
“Yeah, we won the Super Bowl last year, but that was last year,” Clark said. “Some guys get cocky. They love that feeling. They love that emotion of winning and carrying that on to next year. And it don’t really do (crap) for them on the field this year. Us being champions, nobody cares about that. I know our coach doesn’t care about that. That’s nice. It’s cute and all, but we got stuff to do this year.”
It’s the same “we,” at least for the most part. The Chiefs have kept their defensive line largely resembling last year’s group, a point solidified by the long-term extension with Chris Jones.
A point Clark made sure to underscore.
“We look at each other and understand what’s asked of us,” Clark said. “We understand the type of pressure that’s put on players like us. We embrace it too. It’s fun.
“We want to be the two best defensive linemen to ever play the game together. That’s one of the things we always talk about. We got a few years to do something great. That’s the reality of the game. You’ve got a few years to do something great and bet the greatest you can be at doing it. Why not do it?”