The Kansas City Chiefs will face some tough defenses this season with secondaries that feature Pro Bowl players, and some that are going to the Hall of Fame someday. Among the notable cornerback and safety groups QB Matt Cassel and the Chiefs will face are the Ravens, Steelers and Bengals.
Cassel adds the Falcons secondary to that list.
"The secondary in general is an outstanding secondary, probably one of the best secondaries we'll go up against all year," Cassel said on a conference call Wednesday. "They've got experience and depth."
The Falcons added Asante Samuel in the offseason to a starting CB duo of Brent Grimes and Dunta Robinson. Atlanta returns starters Thomas DeCoud and William Moore at safety, starting together for the third season.
Cassel is familiar with Samuel from their days together as members of the New England Patriots and he sees the addition of his former teammate only making Atlanta's secondary stronger.
"They've got a strong secondary with Robinson, Grimes and Asante," the QB said. "Even their safeties are outstanding as well with DeCoud and Moore."
Under new coordinator Mike Nolan's scheme, the Falcons will deploy all three corners on the field often and against the Chiefs it will be necessary. Kansas City features three wideouts that are capable of doing damage on offense in Dwayne Bowe, Jon Baldwin and Steve Breaston.
Robinson, Grimes, DeCoud and Moore have played together for two seasons and Samuel is still regarded as one of the smartest corners in the league. Their experience, Cassel thinks, is one of the reasons they're so dangerous and why his wideouts will have a tough challenge in Week 1.
"You talk about Robinson, Grimes, Asante and also the safeties with DeCoud and Moore," Cassel said. "They play well together and they're an experienced group. It's definitely one of the better secondaries we'll play all year."
