| | By John Clayton
ESPN.com
RIVER FALLS, Wis. -- It's hard going to Chiefs camp and not think about Derrick Thomas. Just like the Chiefs 2000 press guide that shows an image of Thomas over Arrowhead Stadium, Thomas personified the Chiefs franchise.
You miss his smile, his incredible ability to pass rush, the big
plays on the field and how -- even in his later years -- he could change the
outcome of a game. Life in River Falls, Wis., is different for the Chiefs
this summer. The franchise that for more than a decade was built around
Thomas' star power is surviving with a different image.
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Thomas may be gone but his spirit lives with the defense. Gunther
Cunningham replaces star power with scheme power. For years, the Chiefs have
been loaded with exceptional athletes on defense. Instead of featuring one
player, the Chiefs will attack everyone on defense.
"Our system is more attacking more pressure," linebacker Donnie
Edwards said. "Instead of letting the offense dictate to us what we are
going to run, we run OUR stuff and teams will have to adjust to us. Mike
Shanahan may script 15 to 20 plays of his West Coast offense and you feel
them out as a defense. Now, if we have a blitz called, we are going to
blitz. We are not going to feel teams out."
The Chiefs showed off a little of their prowess against the Vikings in Monday's scrimmage. Cornerbacks James Hasty and Cris Dishman, who is
having his best camp in years, stick close to receivers in man coverage.
They are oblivious to their age of 34.
Linebackers all have speed. Edwards is one of the fastest in
football. Middle linebacker Marvcus Patton has good movement for a middle
linebacker. Lewis Bush, who came over from San Diego, also runs well.
The buzz around Chiefs camp is that this might be the most talented
Chiefs defense since 1995 when Thomas and Neil Smith were in their primes.
"Neil and Derrick were such dominating players that any time you
would get into a bad coverage on a play, one of those guys would run up the
field and hit the quarterback," defensive coordinator Kurt Schottenheimer
said. "It's too early to tell if we are better than that defense. I don't
know if we have the player who can take over a game. We have a bunch of
players who are quality athletes, work hard and understand what they are
doing."
The closest thing to a star is Edwards, who has three consecutive
100-tackle seasons. Edwards will be the featured player in this defense. In
some ways, he's a more complete linebacker than Thomas, in being able to drop into
coverages and hold up well against the run.
Finding Edwards on the field won't be easy for blockers.
"I will come from the end with a rush," Edwards said. "Sometimes,
I'll get into a three-point stance like a defensive end and drop into zone
or man coverage. Offenses will have to account for me."
Edwards has played in Thomas' shadow for five years. Many have
thought he should be a Pro Bowler, but voters leaned toward Thomas' sacks.
In five years, Edwards had 12 sacks. In this defense, his numbers should reach double digits.
"I was really upset not making the Pro Bowl," Edwards said "What
else can I do? I spent a lot of time during the offseason thinking about my
life and how I do things. I know I get respect now. I can't let me not
making the Pro Bowl affect my morale or how I play."
With the league tendency toward recognizing mobile linebackers who
do everything, Edwards should have the numbers to join Chad Brown, Junior
Seau and others in the Pro Bowl this season.
"Derrick was in a class by himself as probably the best pure pass
rusher I've ever seen," Patton said. "Donnie can really get at it. He's so
talented athletically. He can do everything -- cover, rush. He can do both at
the same time. Derrick is going to be missed, but to unleash a player like
Donnie and let him do some things, I'm looking forward to it."
The Chiefs also feel good about their defensive line with the three
tackle rotation of Chester McGlockton, Dan Williams and John Browning.
"Anyone of those guys can take over a game and dominate,"
Schottenheimer said. "We added Duane Clemons (nine sacks in Minnesota last
season), who is a good pass-rusher. Eric Hicks has developed as a defensive end.
The secondary can ultimately be the strength of the defense."
How confident are the Chiefs? Backup linebacker Ron George blurted
constant verbal diatribes at Vikings offensive players. And he's the backup.
John Clayton is the senior NFL writer for ESPN.com.
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