I think I'm buying the Josh Simmons hype
We're only two padded practices in, but it's hard to deny the eye test and other smoke.
I’m breaking SO many of my own rules by writing this.
Try to keep a level head until the football is real. Don’t count on flashes from rookies to be more than that and expect them to be average at best. And for the love of all things holy, don’t get too hyped up by anything that is happening in training camp.
That said.
That. Said.
We’re two padded practices into the Chiefs’ 2025 training camp, and I’m here to tell you that I’m buying the hype surrounding Josh Simmons.
Wait, hear me out! Let me explain that this isn’t just me trying to confirm my priors after loving his college film! And I swear, I can manage to make a case that I’m still following my own rules as to what matters and doesn’t matter in training camp! In fact, it’s in part BECAUSE of those rules that I’m having a very, very difficult time keeping my raging optimism in check.
Let’s talk about the reasons for the Simmons hype that is taking the Chiefs by storm, because it involves more than just the clips making their way out of St. Joseph that are sending fans into a frenzy. Though to be fair to said frenzied fans, those clips are… really impressive, especially since the pads came on yesterday.
(NOTE - All clips here are going to be from padded practices, as utilizing reps of OL/DL not in pads would be… not terribly useful)
(Shout out to Harold Kuntz, who is providing terrific training camp coverage, for the video clip)
This isn’t the most dominant rep that has made its way to social media (we’ll come back to that one later, because PHEW), but I’d argue that this (and the rep that follows, which is another one we’ll come back to) is the one that caught my eye the most. There are a couple of reasons for that, the first and most important being that the guy Simmons is facing here (in a 1x1 drill where generally speaking the DL has an advantage given all the space they have to work with) is Charles Omenihu, a starting caliber defensive end.
Even more importantly, it’s the nature of the rep that catches my eye, as it’s an opportunity for Simmons to show how he handles a bull rush. Keep in mind that Omenihu possesses exceptional size and length for a DE, playing at over 275 pounds and possessing 36 inch arms (that’s not a typo, his arms are freakishly long). And given the space he has to operate in during this drill, it’s tough to block a bull rush given the need to be sure there aren’t lanes given up inside or outside.
Simmons is best known for his athleticism, which has been apparent from the time training camp started (one of the few things you can gauge when someone isn’t in pads is how well they’re moving). This is an opportunity for him to show his ability to anchor against a big, strong pass rusher with length and momentum. And Simmons doesn’t disappoint, utilizing his easy movement skills to get to the spot quickly, which allows him time to be set for Omenihu’s power. And once they engage, Simmons shows off that upper body power he flashed at the collegiate level while also anchoring without getting his balance shifted too far ahead (which would allow Omenihu to perhaps shed one direction or the other).
It’s a nice win against quality competition. Of course, as I’ve written here repeatedly, single reps shouldn’t be read into that much. Everyone has good reps (and bad reps) at the pro level. Changing your mind (or solidifying your opinion) based off one rep is a bad process.
Here’s the thing, though, I also wrote, “When you start putting together good performances day after day after day (especially when the pads come on), that’s something that’s worth noticing a bit more and at least adding to the list of “stuff I’m looking for in a preseason game.”
And over the course of two padded practices, Simmons has had a lot more than one good rep that has made the rounds. And it’s enough to make me bend my rules just a little to talk about what Simmons has done through two days since the pads came on, and why it feels like there’s a LOT of smoke around how well he’s done so far.
(Shout out to old friend Lyle Graversen, who is providing some terrific videos from training camp and deserves a follow)
The above rep is the one that set off an absolute firestorm of tweets during/after today’s practice, and it’s easy to understand why. Simmons is matched up against fellow rookie Ashton Gillotte, whose tape I loved coming out but is of course subject to the same “we’ll see who he is” rookie treatment as anyone else. Gillotte is a rusher who lacks length but was a very good power rusher in college (with a fair amount of athleticism as well), but Simmons has a dominant rep against him. You can see once again that upper body power that Simmons is able to draw on, but that’s only after he shows that smooth and fast (two different things!) movement to the spot, as well as the ability to sink his hips and stay low with his feet underneath him.
Gillotte isn’t able to generate any “push” thanks to Simmons’ combination of power, length, and foot placement, though he shows a lot of fight attempting to break free. Unfortunately for him, Simmons is able to use that fight to generate some momentum and shows off some TORQUE as he throws Gillotte to the ground.
Any time you can get your opponent horizontal, it’s a dominant win.
I’ll talk about more clips in a second, because again, it’s about what is occurring with consistency more so than any individual rep. But first, I want to work through (quickly) the other reasons I’m feeling bullish on Simmons after just a couple of padded practices besides what we’ve seen on the (practice, remember it’s just practice!) field. In short, there’s a lot of smoke here that makes it hard to not believe in the fire.