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21	August 2018

ted defense, a unit

Three years ago Authentic Quenton Nelson Jersey , a little-known and undersized running back out of Abilene Christian led the Kansas City Chiefs in rushing, filling in admirably for an injured Jamaal Charles.

These days, Charcandrick West finds himself fighting for a job.

That alone is a sign of just how much deeper and more talented the Chiefs' stable of running backs is this season. Kareem Hunt led the league in rushing as a rookie, but there is a crush of ability and experience nipping at his heels.

"There's a good number of backs here that we have," offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy said, "and we're very, very blessed and fortunate. We just want to watch these guys compete."

These guys: West, who managed just 72 yards on 18 carries last season; Spencer Ware, who led the Chiefs in rushing two years ago before sustaining a season-ending injury in preseason; Kerwynn Williams, who started six games last season for Arizona; Damien Williams, who appeared in 58 games over the past four seasons in Miami; and Darrel Williams, perhaps the biggest dark horse of the bunch.

Williams backed up Leonard Fournette and Derrius Guice the past few years at LSU, a big reason why he went undrafted this past April. But many scouts believe he has the talent to succeed, noting he averaged 5.7 yards a carry last season 鈥?better than Guice, a second-round pick.

"I probably say this every year, but the talent pool has gotten deeper," Bieniemy said. "I look forward to it. Why? Because it brings out the best in each and every one of them."

There are a multitude of reasons why the Chiefs have invested so heavily in the position.

For one thing, the value of running backs has swung back to the positive after many had written them off in the era of the pass-happy NFL. Offensive coordinators have started to utilize them in creative ways Authentic Will Butcher Jersey , employing them as pass-catchers and blockers along with running.

No wonder three running backs were selected in the first round of the draft, and four more in the second round, headlined by Saquon Barkley going to the Giants at No. 2 overall.

Then there's the misfortune that has befallen Kansas City at the position.

Twice the franchise lost Charles to season-ending injuries in his prime, the first time resulting in Jackie Battle leading the team in rushing. Then, after Ware's transition from fullback to running back led to a breakout season, he tore up his knee in last year's preseason game against Seattle.

The Chiefs were fortunate that Hunt emerged as a bona fide star, but they nonetheless headed into the season with a relatively shallow backfield. West handled some spot duty, and Akeem Hunt and an aged C.J. Spiller saw action, but it was quarterback Alex Smith that was second on the team in rushing.

General manager Brett Veach hardly wants new quarterback Patrick Mahomes II to do likewise

"In my mind and obviously in Brett's mind 鈥?because he's the one who did this 鈥?you can't have enough of those guys," Chiefs coach Andy Reid said. "We figured, listen, if we have a chance to get good players lets go ahead and better ourselves, let the competition be there and see what happens. I'm expecting Spencer to be back, but you never know, and you've got kids that can play."

The depth has already paid off the first week of camp, giving Hunt a chance to rest a stiff hamstring Friday and Ware an opportunity to slowly get back into game shape.

"I've never shied away from competition," Ware said. "My ultimate goal is to make my team better and to get better as a player 鈥?to make myself more valuable for my team and let them be able to use me in any way they can."

NOTES: Rookie FS Armani Watts was back on the field Saturday after tweaking his ankle. "He needs reps now," Reid said. "If you're going to make this team you have to show it." ... West took a shot to the head during the team's first padded practice and was being evaluated by team doctors.
Jalen Ramsey got his hands dirty Tuesday for the first time since the birth of his daughter.

Ramsey reported to Jacksonville Jaguars training camp and jumped right into the mix with the first-team defense Bo Scarbrough Jersey Elite , taking part in drills, talking trash and breaking up passes.

Sweat, grass, dirt. It might have been the messiest Ramsey's hands have been since he skipped the start of camp to remain in Tennessee with his girlfriend, Bre, and newborn daughter, Breelyn. That's because the All-Pro cornerback, whose hands might be as valuable as anyone's on that side of the ball, made a deal with Bre that he wouldn't have to change diapers.

"We've been best friends since high school so we've always kind of talked about how the process would go a little bit," Ramsey said. "Of course, everything's different when it actually happens, but for the most part, we have really good agreement that I won't necessarily have to change diapers."

So what is Ramsey's part of the trade-off?

"She changes the diapers; I feed her," he said.

Ramsey became a first-time father last Wednesday, the day the Jaguars reported for camp. He missed four practices to spend extra time with his family. Coach Doug Marrone excused his absences.

"It is good when everybody is together, everyone is back in and everyone is in a good place mentally," Marrone said. "Just having that balance in your life, making sure everyone is good at home Blake Martinez Jersey , making sure everyone is OK, making sure everything is set. Then you can get here and then you can focus and put your mind on what you need to do. It is always good when you can get everyone back in here, and I am glad everything worked out well."

Marrone had planned to work Ramsey in slowly, but the ultra-competitive, lock-down cornerback refused to stay on the sideline during his first day back. The Jaguars had to like what they saw, even though they've seen similar from him for two years now.

Ramsey played in every game in two seasons and emerged as one of the league's top defenders.

He expects to be even better in Year 3.

"We're going to see when the season starts, right?" he said. "We're going to see. And y'all will see. Y'all will see. I never give myself like goals. I guess you could say like, 'Oh, I'm going to have this many interceptions; I'm going to have this many" pass breakups.

"But what I can tell you, though, that I will do is I'll make sure I prepare myself and I'm ready to go out there and give it my all so I'm not letting anybody down, my teammates, coaches, my family, y'all, fans. I can tell you that much."

He gets one of his toughest tests in the team's season opener at the New York Giants and against three-time Pro Bowl receiver Odell Beckham Jr.

"Let's get this out the way right now: He's a good receiver. We all know that," said Ramsey, the fifth overall pick in the 2016 NFL draft. "But y'all know me at the same time. Yeah Josey Jewell Jersey Elite , he's good. But I'm good, too. If y'all want to say he's the best at his position; I'm the best at my position, so we're going to go at it. We're going to give the people a show the first game of the season.

"He's going to have some wins; I'm going to have some wins. I just plan on having more wins."

Ramsey is the outspoken face of Jacksonville's vaunted defense, a unit that was among the best in the league in 2017. The Jaguars return 10 starters on that side of the ball, including all four in the secondary, and expect to be even more dynamic in their second season together.

"At the end of the day, win games," he said. "If we can win games on the defensive side of the ball. We can always ask for more: More turnovers, more touchdowns, more opportunities giving the ball back to the offense. Just more of everything."

Except diapers.

"It feels good" to be back, Ramsey said. "Miss my little girl already, but it feels good. It was cool. It was good. Long few days, but everything that I could have dreamed of."
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