This Chiefs vet is making plays at training camp, and making case to become a starter
Chiefs linebacker Ben Niemann has made strides entering his third season in the NFL, and it’s showing on the practice field.
Niemann is consistently around the football. He attributes his ability to make plays during training camp, including a pick-six off quarterback Patrick Mahomes earlier in the week, to his growth in defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo’s 4-3 base defense.
“I think just being the second year in Spags’ system, I feel more comfortable,” Niemann said Friday. “In college, I didn’t play in the box. I wasn’t an in-the-box linebacker. In my rookie year (2018), we were in the 3-4 scheme, which was totally different night and day from what we’re in now. Just last year and this year have kind of been my first two years of experience as a true 4-3 inside linebacker.”
In 2019, the 6-foot-2, 235-pound Niemann proved to be a valuable backup and appeared in all 16 games, totaling 50 tackles on 409 defensive snaps. He also contributed as a core member of KC’s special teams, logging the fourth-most snaps (281) for the Chiefs.
The experience of playing on defense and special teams last season certainly contributed to the linebacker’s development over the past year as both an individual and as a member of the defensive unit.
“I think being in year two in the scheme now, we’re just trying to dive deeper understanding the full call,” Niemann said. “Last year, in year one, you’re kind of getting your assignment down and just trying to be in the right place, get aligned right.”
Familiarity is a plus, of course, but Chiefs coach Andy Reid pointed to another area that is helping Niemann excel through seven camp practices this summer.
“I think he’s put on strength over the year, and I thought that was big for him,” Reid said. “Ben has got a great football mind — (he’s) a coach’s kid and that whole thing.
“But the physical strength, I think he’s added to that. I think he’s probably more familiar with the scheme, obviously. I think all the defensive players are, but for him, personally, I think he’s gotten a little bit stronger.”
While Spagnuolo’s defense is set with two established starting linebackers — Anthony Hitchens and Damien Wilson — the spot vacated when Reggie Ragland signed with the Detroit Lion during free agency is up for grabs.
The Chiefs used a second-round pick on Willie Gay Jr., a speedy big-play linebacker from Mississippi State, but the starting job seems open for the taking less than three weeks from their regular-season opener against Houston on Sept. 10
Gay has a lot of catching up to do in the Chiefs’ scheme. COVID-19 didn’t allow the rookie to gain much-needed repetitions during a typical offseason workout program — this spring, that training that usually would’ve taken place in KC was conducted virtually.
With experience and playing time in Spagnuolo’s defense, Niemann might have the edge for now.
And if the Chiefs indeed turn to the 25-year-old linebacker to open the season as a starter alongside Hitchens and Wilson while Gay learns the scheme, Niemann has the confidence of his teammates.
“He’s smart, he knows the defense, he knows multiple positions,” Hitchens said. “He has the opportunity and he’s taking advantage of it right now. He’s been making plays all over during camp.”
PARTICIPATION REPORT
The Chiefs welcomed back defensive tackle Chris Jones (groin), wide receiver Sammy Watkins (groin) and cornerback Lavert Hill (hamstring) to practice Friday.
Jones, who had missed five straight days of on-field work, appeared to participate fully. Watkins and Hill, however, worked off to the side with a trainer when the Chiefs went to team drills.
Left tackle Eric Fisher, who suffered a concussion on the third day of practice, remains in the NFL’s concussion protocol.
Wide receiver Tyreek Hill (hamstring), linebacker Damien Wilson (undisclosed), offensive lineman Martinas Rankin (knee), Deon Yelder (groin) and Ricky Seals-Jones (leg) worked with trainers. Rookie cornerback L’Jarius Sneed (rest), defensive end Alex Okafor (calf) and defensive end Demone Harris (undisclosed) did not practice.
Rookie defensive end Mike Danna left practice on the back of a cart. Reid said after practice that Danna had “tweaked” a calf.
DEFENSE SHINES
Everyone knows the Chiefs possess one of the NFL’s elite offenses.
During Friday’s practice, the Chiefs showed they could go toe-to-toe with Mahomes and Co. by disrupting passing plays during team drills.
Defensive end Tanoh Kpassganon and linebacker Anthony Hitchens each tipped a pass at the line of scrimmage on consecutive plays. Safety Tyrann Mathieu recorded at least two pass breakups.
The backup defensive players also got into the action, with safety Tedric Thompson and rookie safety Rodney Clemons each snaring an interception during team drills.
While Reid is an offensive guru, he appreciated the defensive effort.
“The better we are on both sides of the ball and special teams, a better football team we’ll be,” Reid said. “I love the fact that they’re challenging, they’re going back and forth. Great energy. We got a lot of work for ones versus ones, which I think is important.”
OBSERVATIONS
The NFL’s and Chiefs’ media rules during training camp without fans in attendance — fans cannot attend this year because of the pandemic, with the exception of the Chiefs’ two season-ticket holder events — prohibit the reporting of personnel groupings (first- or second- or third-team units), specific formations/alignments, trick plays, situational plays and statistics.
Still allowed, however, are general observations about head-turning and notable plays:
• Mahomes simply continues to impress with throws not often seen. During a team drill, he rolled to his left and saw a crowd of bunched-up receivers and defensive backs in front of him. It appeared there wasn’t a window for a pass, but Mahomes made a quick sidearm throw with plenty of velocity and zipped the ball into the waiting arms of Demarcus Robinson for a short touchdown. By the way, Robinson has also quietly enjoyed a nice training camp.
• Defensive end Tim Ward, who spent the 2019 season on the non-football injury (NFI) list, came up with the defensive play of the day during a team drill. With the offense in a passing situation, wide receiver Jody Fortson ran a short crossing route near the line of scrimmage. Ward, who stepped back from rushing the passer, read the play and arrived just as the ball did to deliver a clean hit on Fortson. To his credit, given that he was upended by the hit, Fortson got up immediately and later produced a nice catch down the field against cornerback Rashad Fenton.
• During a team drill, backup quarterback Matt Moore delivered a perfectly thrown deep pass over the defense to connect with wide receiver Justice Shelton-Mosley for a touchdown.
• Backup offensive linemen Nick Allegretti and Ryan Hunter combined to deliver a devastating block on a defensive player during team drills. That opened a gaping hole for running back DeAndre Washington, who scampered in for a short touchdown run.
This story was originally published August 21, 2020 at 3:46 PM.
