Coaches often outnumber players surrounding the blocking sled when the defensive linemen start banging away and working on the finer points of hand placement, hip level and rip-through in the unforgiving sun during the early days of Chiefs training camp.
Until the veterans arrive, the defensive tackle unit is relegated to an army of two. Third-round draft pick Derrick Nnadi and undrafted free agent Dee Liner have gotten all the up-close-and personal attention they could ask for from defensive line coach Britt Reid.
“My teammate Allen Bailey, he told me really just come every day to practice with a purpose because it’s going to be a grind,” Nnadi said.