Arrowhead Pride
Kansas City’s rookie defensive end took questions after Saturday’s practice.
Halfway through the Kansas City Chiefs’ training camp at Missouri Western State University in St. Joseph, rookie defensive end Ashton Gillotte had a chance to assess his performance — and his first taste of NFL action.
But first, the Louisville product noted that St. Joseph had been hotter than even his high school days in Boca Raton, Florida had prepared him to endure.
“That’s just how it’s been,” he remarked after Saturday’s practice, which had been the second straight day with cooler temperatures. “It’s been hot — very hot.”
Still, it’s been a positive experience for the rookie.
“I think it’s been pretty good,” he said. “It’s obviously been a lot. There’s a whole playbook. We’re doing more and more install. Being able to run [with] and mix in with the ones — it’s been a privilege and an honor. So, I’m just taking it in stride and just making sure to keep my head up through it and realize that some mistakes are going to happen, but I’m making my best to make sure I don’t do the same mistake twice.”
On Wednesday, defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo suggested that, at least initially, the playbook may be streamlined so that the rookie defensive end can exclusively be used outside. Beyond learning a complicated defensive scheme, Gillotte acknowledged the heavy expectations Kansas City places on rookies.
“[I’m] Just feeling like you have that responsibility to uphold the standard,” he noted. “We don’t slow down just because [a rookie is] put in. So we’ve got to be able to uphold the same standard, get the same amount of pressure [and] know the playbook. So for me, it’s just feeling accountable. I’ve to be able to rise to that challenge and do my part. I can’t get blown with the ball. I can’t basically go dead on a pass rusher rep.”
Fortunately, there are plenty of experienced Chiefs players who are ready to help him meet that standard. Before Kansas City drafted him in the third round in April’s NFL Draft, Gillotte already had a relationship with fourth-year defensive end George Karlaftis through Louisville defensive line coach Mark Hagen, who had coached Karlaftis at Purdue.
“It’s a blessing,” declared Gillotte. “[Karlaftis] and Mike Danna, especially, have helped a lot in terms of just mentoring, making sure that my head stays straight, and just pointing me in the same direction — but you get it from all those guys. [They’re] all great teammates to have and great teammates to be around.”
Gillotte believes the traits he shares with Karlaftis should allow him to improve his game.
“I think we’re similar,” he observed, “but obviously, George is definitely a different rusher. We definitely have our strengths and weaknesses — and it can be different — but George is a grinder. He makes sure he gets after the ball. He’s very, very technical and very, very fluid in his rush, which are things like I can...
