Trent McDuffie prepares for brand spanking new function vs. Eagles this time round

The final time Kansas Metropolis Chiefs star cornerback Trent McDuffie performed in opposition to the Philadelphia Eagles (in final yr’s common season), he predominantly performed from the slot whereas ex-teammate and present Tennessee Titan L’Jarius Sneed held down the perimeter.

Quick ahead to this yr, and the gauntlet of being the person on the skin has fallen at McDuffie’s ft. It’s a problem he has taken head-on and is wanting ahead to on Sunday in Tremendous Bowl LIX in New Orleans.

To arrange for the sport, McDuffie stated he watched Tremendous Bowl LIVII, during which the Chiefs defeated the Eagles — and the 2024 matchup, during which the Eagles defeated their house workforce.

“Honestly, really just looking at how they were attacking us, seeing just the things that I can improve upon as far as technique-wise,” defined McDuffie from the rostrum on Wednesday. “I’m on the outside this time, so just watching more tape on A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith.”

It’s a problem that McDuffie says he relishes, particularly inside the model of protection the Chiefs play.

“I love how aggressive coach [defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo] is,” McDuffie stated. “To play in a defense like that. It’s been a lot of fun because he’s going to utilize you in multiple ways. So I always say, like before the game pre-week, it takes a little bit more discipline to really know your plays — studying and making sure you know at each certain situation what we can call knowing that he will call certain plays. Just knowing that at the end of the day like he’s going to trust us to go out there and make plays. And that gives you a lot of confidence.”

That is as large of a stage as you can find in soccer. There has by no means been an even bigger recreation within the recreation’s historical past, and due to that, McDuffie stated it’s a must to play as near good as potential.

“[We gotta] watch the film, making sure that on the back end, we know what we’re doing, you know, and don’t have any mistakes… I say it’s one of them games where it’s just a man-on-man, It’s who at the end of the day, is going to do their best technique-wise and who’s going to make the most plays? We love these challenges. We love being in these moments when you get to go against two top receivers really in the league, and I know at the backing we’re excited to go out there and compete.”

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A.J. Brown

“A.J. Brown does a really good job being physical at the point of attack, going up, getting the ball,” stated McDuffie, complimenting his upcoming foe. “He’s got a great catch radius, and he’s someone that (Philadelphia quarterback) Jalen Hurts really trusts.”

With a man Brown’s measurement and power, McDuffie stated it’s essential to match “fire with fire.”

“AJ Brown’s physical,” he repeated. “And likes to get dirty, you know?”

McDuffie appears like he has a good suggestion of what Brown likes to do, however realizing it and stopping it are two various things.

“He likes to slant. He likes his big jump ball fades, and what I’ve seen is just his connection with Jalen Hurts… You gotta make sure you’re on point at all times.”

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DeVonta Smith

On the opposite facet of the sphere, McDuffie has a wholly totally different set of issues to mitigate with Smith.

“[He’s] one of those guys that has a lot of speed,” warned McDuffie. “He is a winner. So you got to respect that. And I mean, Jaylen Hurts finds him. He gets the ball to him.”

Along with being quick, Smith can be a wonderful route runner who can slip a defender with the most effective of them, “DeVonta, he smooth. You know he’s a Heisman winner. Someone who can make plays all around the field, so you got to have respect.”

The Chiefs are one recreation away from the immortal title of being the one workforce in historical past three-peat as Tremendous Bowl Champions. Nevertheless it’s one thing that McDuffie hasn’t allowed himself to consider till now.

“The mentality of this team is, it’s very much like one week at a time. One goal at a time… it was never like a topic of conversation that was like we got to achieve this. Always just like, let’s just keep working— let’s just get to our next goal.”

That modified barely after the Chiefs defeated the Buffalo Payments within the AFC Championship Sport two weeks in the past, “After we beat the Bills, I remember sitting there with B Cook (Bryan Cook) just like. Damn, bro. Like we actually have this opportunity. We can’t let nothing get in our way to distract us when it comes to that goal.”

McDuffie needs to win for himself and to have the ability to put his title in as a part of a slice of this historic second. Nonetheless, he stated he additionally needs it as a lot for his teammates as he does for himself, “Everybody is genuinely family, and that’s why we’re able to have such a mindset out there of just confidence in going out there and playing free.”