*****The Nick Bolton Thread*****

[Dante84]

More to come!

Bolton played in all 13 games as a true freshman (22 tackles, one sack) after earning Dallas Morning News first-team all-state honors at Lone Star High School (130 tackles, 16 for loss, five interceptions). He went from promising youngster to SEC star in 2019, earning first-team all-conference honors after leading the league with 8.9 tackles per game (107 total, 7.5 for loss), intercepting two passes and breaking up eight others in 12 starts. He was named second-team Associated Press All-American, first-team All-SEC and a Butkus Award finalist in 2020, leading his defense with 95 tackles and 7.5 tackles for loss (including two sacks), while breaking up five passes in 10 starts. Bolton's father, Carlos, played football at Louisiana Tech. -- by Chad Reuter

Overview
When you think about strong, forceful inside linebackers, Bolton is the type of player you might be envisioning. He's going to fall below typical NFL starter standards from a size standpoint, but his rugged frame and forceful demeanor help make up for it. Play recognition and pursuit instincts help carry him to the football and he's a message-sending striker when he gets the runner squared up. He has functional short-area burst between the tackles but will struggle to run down the outside run if he's not close enough to the action. He will need to lean heavier on his instincts to help speed him up because of size and speed limitations. Bolton plays with good field recognition when dropping into zone and has a history of making plays on the football in coverage. He's a three-down linebacker who can make an immediate contribution on special teams and has the potential to become a future starter.
Strengths

• Very tough with a physical edge.
• Plays with demeanor teams look for in the middle.
• Field-savvy with instincts to diagnose misdirection.
• Identifies and communicates.
• Heavy hands with good pop to take on blocks.
• Pursues ball-carrier with patience and leverage.
• Fluid alterations to his pursuit angles.
• Excellent feel for attack timing downhill.
• Meets runners with violent collisions in the hole.
• Strikes like he's trying to send a message.
• Great awareness and ballhawking as spot dropper.
• Has enough man-cover talent to play on all three downs.
• Thrived on kick- and punt-cover teams early in his career.

Weaknesses

• Average lateral quickness traps him behind climbing blocks.
• Inconsistent to strike and separate from blockers.
• Needs to improve angles to elude box traffic.
• Might need to take a few more chances as a pro.
• Top-end speed appears below average.
• Loses ground when pursuit flows wide.
• Below-average lateral agility as open-field tackler.
• Will have to play quicker to deal with NFL slashers.

.@_nickbolton2 gets the call from One Arrowhead Drive �� pic.twitter.com/1XgaCeBy8R

— Kansas City Chiefs (@Chiefs) May 1, 2021

[ThyKingdomCome15]

Yes! I was just going to post about him. CP read my mind.

He made some nice plays the second half. Chubb had been running over guys. Bolton caught him the backfield once and just slung him into the ground. I was really impressed.

There was another play where him and I think Wharton met a RB in the backfield. Both went to Missouri schools. Mitch Holthus pointed that out.

[Rausch]

I saw 4 plays today that made me say "damn, I didn't expecct that."

Hitchens has probably had 4 of those in the last two years.

Play the young guy. Cut bad-bait and move on...

[Pitt Gorilla]

Originally Posted by MahomesMagic

They never take the guys I want at lb.

Oh well, hopefully we get someone good with our 2nd 2nd.

Bolton IS good, you ****ing idiot.

[KChiefs1]

He is so ****ing great!!!!

MIZ!!!!!!


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[Ming the Merciless]

This may be the absolute homer in me, but I am convinced this dude will be great.
I know stuff happens and injuries etc, but I haven't been this excited about a LB in a while.

[KChiefs1]

Chiefs rookie LB Nick Bolton brimming with confidence after playing well in NFL debut

https://theathletic.com/2829050/2021...-in-nfl-debut/

KANSAS CITY, Mo. —

Every rookie in the NFL making their debut, especially when it comes on opening day, wants to make that one impressive play that demonstrates their talent. The sooner such play occurs, the better.

For Chiefs rookie linebacker Nick Bolton, that took all of eight plays. He described the atmosphere on the field at Arrowhead Stadium on Sunday against the Cleveland Browns as fantastic, with a boisterous crowd of more than 72,000 fans surrounding him. And in the first quarter, Bolton gave Chiefs fans a reason to cheer louder. The play involved Bolton executing three tasks well. He got a good jump on tight end Harrison Bryant, who attempted to block him. He then set the edge as running back Nick Chubb began to bounce his rushing attempt to the field’s perimeter. And with quickness, Bolton shedded Bryant’s block and tackled Chubb for a one-yard loss.

“I’m just trying to prove to myself that I can play in this league,” Bolton said. “That boosted my confidence. After that, I was just playing fast and trusting myself.”

A pleasant positive for the Chiefs in their comeback victory over the Browns was Bolton’s performance. As a starter, Bolton improved his play as the game progressed and finished with seven tackles, which tied for the team lead with cornerback L’Jarius Sneed and free safety Juan Thornhill.

Listed at 6-foot and 232 pounds, Bolton displayed his blend of strength and speed while not missing tackling opportunities against Chubb, a two-time Pro Bowler.

Before Wednesday’s practice, Bolton said that after reviewing the film of Sunday’s game, he gave himself a B-minus grade. Defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo predicted last week that Bolton would commit the usual rookie mistakes in his first NFL game. But Bolton’s main mistake — overeagerness on Browns plays that involved misdirection or play-action — can be considered minor when compared to how the rest of the Chiefs’ defense played in the first half without star safety Tyrann Mathieu and star defensive end Frank Clark.

“I thought Nick did a pretty good job,” coach Andy Reid said Monday. “He had a couple of real secure tackles that were important for us. It looked like mentally he was able to digest everything that they threw at him. If he did make a mistake, he fixed it the second time around.”

The biggest challenge against the Browns, Bolton said, wasn’t physically executing his assignments or the tempo of the game. Instead, Bolton didn’t want to make a mental error before the Browns snapped the ball. The most important teammate for him was linebacker Anthony Hitchens, the eight-year veteran who was next to him for most of his 45 snaps (76 percent of the Chiefs’ defensive snaps).

“It’s just reassuring to know that what you’re thinking before the snap, he is giving that confirmation that that’s right,” Bolton said of Hitchens. “That’s the biggest thing he gave me during the game. Going into the week, he gives me tips and keys of how to study film. He’s been a blessing for me.”

In the NFL Draft, the Chiefs, with the first of two second-round picks, used the 58th pick to select Bolton, who was the 39th-ranked prospect in the class, according to Dane Brugler, The Athletic’s NFL Draft analyst. A two-year starter at Missouri, Bolton was a team captain who recorded 95 tackles, 7½ tackles for loss, two sacks and five pass breakups.

The Chiefs learned in the offseason and in training camp that Bolton is a fast learner. He had repetitions at each of the major linebacker positions, and he performed well in the preseason. Spagnuolo rarely doles out a lot of snaps to rookies on opening day, doing so only when the unit’s circumstances demand such. But Spagnuolo acknowledged last week that Bolton’s skills and development were noticeable enough for him to be a part of the Chiefs’ game plan.

“He’s definitely starting way faster than I did last year,” second-year linebacker Willie Gay said of Bolton last month after the Chiefs’ preseason finale. “He’s smart and, of course, he’s athletic. To be on a level mentally as he is, it’s fun to watch him.”

During the draft, Gay used his Twitter account to predict the Chiefs were going to select Bolton and to express his approval of the team’s decision. Before becoming teammates, Bolton and Gay began their friendship four years ago when they met at a recruiting camp at Mississippi State.

Bolton was one of the first Chiefs to learn that Gay, who sustained a toe injury in the preseason finale, was going to be placed on the injured reserve list, forcing him to miss at least the first three games of the regular season.

“He sent me an encouraging message,” Bolton said of Gay. “He told me to just trust myself. Doing it for Willie, I know he’s going to come back strong for us. While I’m filling in for him, I just want to execute. He’s definitely a big brother. I’m looking forward to playing with him. When he gets back with us, I’m excited for what we’ve got.”

Gay, along with Reid and Spagnuolo, was happy to see how well Bolton played in the fourth quarter, when the Chiefs denied the Browns from scoring on their final three drives.

Bolton played a supportive role when star defensive lineman Chris Jones used his speed from the edge to sack quarterback Baker Mayfield for a 6-yard loss. Mayfield wanted to throw the ball to receiver Donovan Peoples-Jones, who ran a slant route. But Bolton was in the proper spot in zone coverage, which forced Mayfield to hold on to the ball before being sacked. On the next snap, Bolton showed his speed and tenacity by tackling running back Kareem Hunt on the perimeter the moment after Mayfield’s pass was completed to surrender just a four-yard gain.

“We stayed ahead of the sticks,” Bolton said. “Plays started coming to me. I’m just looking forward to building on that.”

The next opponent for the Chiefs is the Baltimore Ravens, another AFC contender known for their rushing prowess. When watching the Ravens, Bolton knows he will have to be disciplined with his assignments against quarterback Lamar Jackson, who is capable of defeating opponents by passing the ball and running with it.

In Sunday’s game, the first teammate to praise Bolton — for his tackle for loss against Chubb and his reliable tackle of Hunt in coverage — was Hitchens. Even before the Chiefs’ opener, Hitchens predicted that he would commend Bolton plenty of times this season.

“He’s a natural,” Hitchens said of Bolton. “He’s smart and he owns up to his mistakes, so a guy like that, you can count on. He’s even keel. He just stays in the moment. Guys like that can play a long time in this league.”





Injury update

Every player participated in Wednesday’s practice. Backup center Austin Blythe (abdomen from sports hernia surgery) and defensive tackle Khalen Saunders (glute) were limited. Clark (hamstring spasm), star receiver Tyreek Hill (toe), running back Clyde Edwards-Helaire (right inside ankle sprain), defensive tackle Derrick Nnadi (hip) and defensive end Mike Danna (groin) were full participants.

Mathieu wasn’t on the Chiefs’ injury report. He was a full participant in his first practice in two weeks after rejoining the active roster on Saturday. Mathieu missed Sunday’s game because he was on the NFL reserve/COVID-19 list for 10 days after testing positive for the virus earlier this month.

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[O.city]

Would be awesome if Bolton and gay were our version of Willis and bowman or Wagner and Wright

[Beef Supreme]

Would be awesome if we could keep teams from averaging 7 yards a carry on the ground. I'm not asking for Hall of Fame play here. Just stop the ****ing hemorrhaging.

[Hog's Gone Fishin]

Sux we're going to be without Gay 2 more weeks but it'll give Bolton valuable snaps and we'll be better off when Gay is back.

[milkshock]

Dude looks a handful

[PHOG]

Originally Posted by O.city

Would be awesome if Bolton and gay were our version of Willis and bowman or Wagner and Wright

It'll be nice to get Gay back onto GEHA Field, along with Bolton.

[ChiTown]

Originally Posted by KChiefs1

He is so ****ing great!!!!

MIZ!!!!!!


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In spite of his poor College choice, I like the lad!

[O.city]

We've always pointed to one or two guys but the run defense is a whole unit mentality. It's all gotta work together.

[tredadda]

Originally Posted by PHOG

It'll be nice to get Gay back onto GEHA Field, along with Bolton.

Since it appears like Bolton is filling in for Gay, I am curious as to how Spags uses him once Gay returns.

[Fansy the Famous Bard]

Originally Posted by tredadda

Since it appears like Bolton is filling in for Gay, I am curious as to how Spags uses him once Gay returns.

It's always awkward when the Gay returns.