Originally Posted by :
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.
We all knew it would take some time to get Bolton on the field full time but it still sucks that we’ll have to watch Neimann get his ass kicked over and over again while we wait [Reply]
Originally Posted by RunKC:
We all knew it would take some time to get Bolton on the field full time but it still sucks that we’ll have to watch Neimann get his ass kicked over and over again while we wait
They'll likely win every one of those games. Yeah, it's really going to suck. [Reply]
Defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo on rookie LB Nick Bolton: "We're going to try to find ways to get him on the field. It may take a little while.''
Defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo on rookie LB Nick Bolton: "We're going to try to find ways to get him on the field. It may take a little while.''
Originally Posted by htismaqe:
It's entirely possible that he's even better than advertised and still doesn't take Niemann's job right away.
It's like these coaches have no idea what they're doing or something. They're just looking for ways to frustrate fans.
I have faith in the coaches, I'm just hopeful that Bolton will get ahead of the curve and earn a spot in the lineup sooner than we think. I enjoy watching quality LB play, and Niemann doesn't provide that. [Reply]
Originally Posted by AdolfOliverBush:
I have faith in the coaches, I'm just hopeful that Bolton will get ahead of the curve and earn a spot in the lineup sooner than we think. I enjoy watching quality LB play, and Niemann doesn't provide that.
I enjoy seeing the team win, and Niemann hasn't affected that at all. :-) [Reply]
Originally Posted by htismaqe:
I enjoy seeing the team win, and Niemann hasn't affected that at all. :-)
Meh, we almost always win. I want to see the Chiefs win AND crush their enemies, see them driven before us, and hear the lamentation of their women! [Reply]
Originally Posted by AdolfOliverBush:
Meh, we almost always win. I want to see the Chiefs win AND crush their enemies, see them driven before us, and hear the lamentation of their women!
Yeah, I've gotten to the point where I don't care about any of that. Just win baby. [Reply]
Originally Posted by htismaqe:
Yeah, I've gotten to the point where I don't care about any of that. Just win baby.
Agreed.
Even if we don't win, I just try and savor every moment of Mahomes. Even if the Chiefs can't win the team game, I enjoy watching the best to ever do it. [Reply]
