Chiefs add Coleman to safety ranks

The Kansas City Chiefs have bolstered their inexperienced safety line with the signing of Kurt Coleman following his departure from the Minnesota Vikings during the final round of roster cuts. In order to fit Coleman on the 53-man roster, the Chiefs have placed Joe Mays on the short-term injury list after the linebacker underwent wrist surgery. The 26-year old joins a Chiefs team that holds a huge emphasis on their safeties, playing four throughout much of last season, and Coleman will join undrafted rookie Daniel Sorensen and veteran Kelcie McCray as back-up for starting pair Husain Abdullah and Eric Berry.

Playing four safeties last season gave reserves Quintin Demps and Abdullah the chance to stamp their mark on the league and establish themselves in this Chiefs starting line-up. The loss of Demps and starter Kendrick Lewis during the offseason, as well as second-year prospect Sander Commings, has left the Kansas worryingly short in terms of safety options.

In Coleman, the Chiefs will feel confident of having signed an experienced player who can play a huge role in the early stages of this season. At odds of around 33/1 with Betfair.com to win this year’s Super Bowl, there aren’t many betting fans who believe the Chiefs have a chance this season, but that’s not to say Kansas won’t be in the mix come the play-offs.

After being selected by the Eagles in the seventh-round of the 2010 draft, by now-Kansas head coach Andy Reid, Colemen went on to start 29 of 59 regular-season games during his four seasons in Philadelphia, racking up 221 tackles, 11 defended passes and seven interceptions. The former Ohio State star’s best season for the Eagles came in 2012 when the safety finished the year with 93 tackles, four defended passes and two interceptions during his 14 starts under Reid.

by  Matthew Straubmuller 

Coleman saw his number of defensive snaps drop from 905 to 74 in 2013 following the departure of Reid to Kansas, falling down the pecking order under new Eagles boss Chip Kelly. Coleman’s final season in Philadelphia saw him record 14 tackles in 15 games without making a start, leaving the Eagles at the end of the season before making a brief stop with the Vikings.

Back under the wing of head coach Reid, Coleman will be hoping to replicate the form he produced during 2012 and help the Chiefs into the play-offs this season.