KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Rookie cornerback Marcus Peters again had the big play of Kansas City Chiefs practice on Monday. In a two-minute drill featuring the starters on both sides of the ball, Peters cut in front of Jeremy Maclin to make an interception of an Alex Smith pass on fourth-and-goal from the 4.
The play is one reason Chiefs secondary coach Emmitt Thomas, the franchise’s career leader in interceptions and a Pro Football Hall of Famer, recently said of Peters, “He’s what we’ve been missing back there. He’s a guy that can intercept the ball and get turnovers back there."
Even after his strong play at training camp, including the day when he had three interceptions at practice, I thought Peters might move back to the bench after Sean Smith completed his three-game, season-opening suspension. I figured Chiefs would then go with Smith and Phillip Gaines as their starting corners, with Peters entering the game in obvious passing situations.
The Chiefs can’t afford to do that, particularly given their trouble intercepting passes last season – the Chiefs had only six picks in 2014. Peters needs to be in their lineup on every snap.
Unless he regresses, look for Peters to be an every-down presence for the Chiefs, during Smith’s absence and after he’s back.