Steve Spagnuolo praises new Chiefs DE Carlos Dunlap after first practice
Reporting for duty 🫡 @Carlos_Dunlap pic.twitter.com/RLLARRpf9z
— Kansas City Chiefs (@Chiefs) August 4, 2022
Carlos Dunlap participated in his first training camp practice with the Kansas City Chiefs on Thursday.
The veteran edge rusher is getting his bearings with the Chiefs after having just arrived with the team this week. He’s still in the early stages of learning Steve Spagnuolo’s playbook and defensive scheme, but the defensive coordinator is confident that his skill set will translate. Right now, it’s just a matter of getting him comfortable and finding out what he can do.
“Yeah listen, he’s done it for a long time and the system he was in Cincinnati all those years was kind of conducive to him,” Spagnuolo told reporters. “Mike Zimmer had him for a long time and what they were doing— it was a four-down (linemen) system, call it what you want. We’re multiple now, so we’re in a couple of different things. I think he functions well outside. We’ve talked to him about him playing inside, we’ll see where that goes. I’m not really sure. I want to get him comfortable at one spot first.
“But again, I go back to the length, and he knows how to get to the quarterback, sometimes that’s just innate. I always say 70% of pass rush is want to, not necessarily technique.”
We know that Dunlap still has the want when it comes to rushing the passer. He’s just four sacks shy of becoming the 40th player in NFL history to record 100 career sacks since they became an official stat in 1982.
As for what Dunlap brings off the field, Spagnuolo is still getting to know that part of the player. Asked whether it was important to get another vocal leader in the room, Spagnuolo stopped short of calling Dunlap “vocal” and explained that there are many ways for veteran players to lead.
“Yeah, you just never know,” Spagnuolo said. “Not every veteran is a vocal leader. I don’t know that about Carlos (Dunlap) yet. I don’t know if he’s the silent assassin leader or if he’s the vocal leader or if he just leads by example. I don’t know him well enough, we’ll figure it out, though.”
We’ll soon find out the type of leader and player Dunlap is, but if his introductory press conference is any indication, he’s willing to contribute to team success both on and off the football field.
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